Play Nice (Make the Play Book 3) by Amber Garza Page B

window. Hayes is racing into the parking lot, his cell phone pressed to his ear. His expression is one of panic. My stomach twists.
    “I know. But we have to be strong for him,” he speaks into the phone, still moving swiftly. Reaching in his pocket with his free hand, he yanks out his keys. Then he drops them and they crash to the ground. He mutters a curse word under his breath and bends over.
    “Mom, I’ll be there as soon as I can, okay?” His voice is muffled as he snatches up the keys. After standing up, he shoves his phone into the pocket of his jeans and blows out a shaky breath. His words kick around in my head until I find it difficult to draw breath. There’s only one person he could possibly be talking about.
    I think of Henry and how sweet he was to me at the coffee shop. Without thinking, I drop my sandwich on the seat and step out of my vehicle. Hayes’ head swivels in my direction, a confused look cloaking his face. I expect him to ask me if I’ve been eating in my car, but he doesn’t. In fact, he doesn’t acknowledge me at all. He turns in the other direction, hurrying toward his car.
    “Hayes!” I call after him, my curiosity getting the better of me.
    He peers back at me, exasperated. “Make it quick. I’m in a hurry, Ashley.”
    I walk toward him. “I can see that. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
    He snorts. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I don’t have time for it.”
    “I overheard you on the phone,” I say. “Is it Henry? Did something happen to him?” My own grandpa’s face flashes in my mind, and my chest tightens.
    His expression hardens. “What is your sudden interest in my grandpa?”
    His words hit me like a sucker punch. Surely he knows I’m not into his grandpa. “Despite all of the rumors, I don’t have a thing for your grandpa. He was just nice to me, which is more than I can say for anyone else.”
    His face instantly softens, reminding me of what a good guy he is. “Sorry.” He shakes his head. “I’m just on edge. Worried, you know?”
    “So…something did happen to Henry?”
    Nodding, he says, “He fell, and he’s in bad shape. They suspect a broken hip.”
    My hand flies to my mouth, a small gasp escaping. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
    Hayes grunts in frustration. “I hate that I wasn’t home with him, you know? He had to call an ambulance himself. I still don’t even know how he did it.”
    The pain etched in his features cuts to my heart, and I reach out to gently touch his arm. He flinches as if stunned. And the truth is I kind of am too. I’ve never touched Hayes willingly before. And I’m not really good at comforting people. This may be one of the first times I’ve attempted it. “You can’t beat yourself up, Hayes. You were at school.” I toss him a smile. “I mean, it’s the law, right? We kind of have to be here.”
    One side of his lip curls upward. “Wow, you suddenly care about the law, huh?”
    Shrugging, I chuckle.
    Hayes takes a deep breath. “I really have to get to the hospital.”
    I pull my arm back and nod. “Say hi to him for me.”
    Hayes cocks his head to the side. “He really made an impression on you.”
    It isn’t a question, but I feel compelled to answer. “He’s a pretty cool guy.”
    “For what it’s worth, you made an impression on him too.” Without saying goodbye, Hayes whirls around and sprints to his car. I watch as he pulls out of the lot and speeds down the street. Once he’s gone, I glance around the empty parking lot feeling like an idiot. My gaze darts to the school, and I half expect to see the entire student body gawking at me. But no one is watching. Most likely they’re all busy eating lunch and chatting with their friends.
    Shoulders slumping, I head back to my car to finish my sandwich. As I slide into the driver’s seat, Hayes’ last words skate through my mind.
    You made an impression on him too.
     
    ***
     
    Hayes is gone the rest of the day. I look for