Playing for the Other Team Read Online Free

I already mentioned, we’d never even really talked before. My sneaking glances at him during an entire semester of art class didn’t really count for much in the friendship department. I had never given him any reaction to his letter either, which had probably disappointed him.
    Was it stupid that I suddenly felt bad about it, more than four years after the fact?
    “Thank you,” I said. I sounded drained and weary to my own ears. “Really, thank you.”
    “Yeah,” he replied and slid closer. His arm came around both my shoulders, and the warmth in my belly turned into a full-size bonfire. I figured I could probably get away with leaning my head on his shoulder at this point, so I did. His smell was familiar, subtle and fresh yet earthy somehow. It calmed me a little bit.
    “Do you have any questions?” he asked.
    I considered it. “What about…”
    “What about what?”
    The warmth of his body was still comforting, and I pressed myself a little closer. I was still trembling, in about equal parts from nerves, point-blank terror, and Jasper’s proximity. “What about dating? Does it work differently between guys?”
    Jasper sighed. He was quiet, probably thinking through the answer before voicing it. I felt his fingers suddenly running through my hair, massaging my scalp with slight pressure. It felt good, and I echoed his sigh as I allowed myself to relax slightly.
    “Sometimes,” he began his answer. “Guys tend to be…well, not as big on romance, though there’s always exceptions. I think there’s a larger amount of one-night stands, random hookups and stuff. It’s easy to get laid if you know where to go. But plenty of relationships start out with friendship or dating, pretty much like a straight couple would, at least as far as I know. I guess what I’m trying to say is, it depends on what you’re looking for.”
    “Okay,” I said and tried to formulate my next question. The sound of steps nearby caused me to tense. I slid away from Jasper and stared at the door, through which Trip stormed a moment later. He was steaming.
    “What the hell is wrong with you?” he snapped, ignoring Jasper completely. “You keep running off in the middle of our prom. What the fuck, dude? This is supposed to be our night. Nova said you were too drunk to get it up, but you haven’t even been drinking!”
    He glared down at me, clearly challenging me. I’d known Trip far too long to be surprised by his confrontational attitude when he was upset; it emerged rather a lot during our baseball games, when it luckily wasn’t directed at me. It still threw me off, though.
    “I just didn’t want her, okay? Lay off,” I growled. It was either get mad or die of embarrassment right then, because this was happening in front of Jasper.
    “Then why didn’t you just say no, thanks , you tool?”
    “Because she was all over me!” I threw my arms up, matching Trip’s aggravation. “And I told you no, thanks. You just wouldn’t hear it.”
    For a long moment, he just looked at me. Then he grabbed my arm and pulled. I let him drag me out of the room but didn’t make it easy for him.
    “I don’t know what your deal is,” he growled. “Prom is supposed to be about having fun.”
    “I was having fun,” I lied.
    “What, talking to that emo douche?”
    I was so baffled by that descriptor that it took me several seconds to figure out he was talking about Jasper. Desire to drop the subject warred with a sudden compulsion to defend him.
    “He’s not emo,” I muttered halfheartedly.
    Trip rolled his eyes. “Jesus fuck , Bryson.”
    “Just shut up,” I snapped, and he finally did.
    We made it to a weight room where a large group of people was already assembled. I spotted Elle among them, and Nova, who was sitting on the lap of a big guy called Fletcher. My rejection didn’t appear to have bruised her ego overmuch. As soon as I had stepped up to join them, someone held out a cup to me.
    I took it without thinking, had a