Free Play Nice (Make the Play Book 3) by Amber Garza

deal. And we all know Chris has had his share of fights.” She shrugs. “Ashley has found her own way to cope.” Lowering her hand, she adds, “Trust me, I’ll take joking any day over Ashley’s rudeness or Christian’s anger problems. Try to see her side a little.”
    “I see her side, Mom. I’m just not gonna let her walk all over me anymore.”
    “And I’m not saying you should.” Mom stands. “I’d love to sit here and chat more about this, but I’ve got errands to run.” She glances down at me. “Can you hang with Grandpa for a bit?”
    “No problem.” As she starts to leave, I reach for her hand. “What I said about our family going through the ringer, it’s not been that bad.”
    She smiles. “It’s okay, Hayes. I know it was hard for you when your dad and I divorced. You don’t have to apologize for saying something about it.” But I do feel bad. None of it was Mom’s fault. She’s done her best to give me a good life. “You two have fun today,” Mom calls out as she leaves the room.
    Grandpa and I both holler out goodbyes, and then I take another sip of hot coffee. The bitter flavor lingers on my tongue.
    “What your mom said is true, you know,” Grandpa speaks into the silence, and my head bounces up. “That girl is clearly wrestling with her own demons, and I really think she could use a friend.”
    I set my coffee down on the coffee table. “No way. I’m not letting Ashley reject me again.”
    “I’m not asking you to date her. Just be a friend.”
    I blow out a breath. Grandpa means well, but he doesn’t know Ashley. He doesn’t know what she’s capable of.
    “I saw Talia and a friend pulling into the coffee shop when your mom and I were leaving,” Grandpa says.
    “Was Ashley still there?”
    A knowing expression passes over Grandpa’s face, and I inwardly groan. “For not being her friend, you seem to be worried about her.”
    “I’m not. I was just curious.”
    “Yeah. Ashley was still there,” he answers my initial question. “I take it she and Talia aren’t friends anymore?”
    “No, they’re not.” I try to imagine how things went down between Talia and Ashley at the coffee shop, and it makes my stomach hurt. It’s crazy that Ashley can elicit so much sympathy from me when she’s treated me like crap for years. But ever since that party I’ve been confused about her. It’s like she’s a completely different person. And now that she’s been kind to Grandpa, I’m even more confused. I think about all the cruel stunts she’s played on her so called friends. Like how she manipulated and betrayed Emmy. How she pretended to be her friend just to get to Cal. And none of it resonates with the picture Grandpa’s painting. Or even of the girl who hides in her car during lunch. And then it hits me: Ashley’s playing a part. It’s what she does. She made Emmy believe they were best friends when they weren’t. How is that any different than her pretending to be sweet to my grandpa? Her meanness wasn’t paying off, so she’s switched tactics. I know my Grandpa means well, and I get how charming Ashley can be. But I’m not falling for her stupid game. Not now. Not ever.

ASHLEY
     
    I’ve never faked being sick to get out of going to school. I never had to. In middle school I learned to forge my mom’s signature. And when I skipped school it was to meet a boy or hang out with friends. Not stay home, hidden under the covers in my bed. However, that’s precisely what I’m doing today.
    This morning I faked a cough and a sore throat, told my mom I wasn’t feeling well. She called the school office while I hurried back to my room feeling like a loser. But I couldn’t do it again. Couldn’t face everyone’s gloating stares in the hallway. Couldn’t hide in my car at lunch.
    I know it’s not a permanent fix. It’s not like I can fake sickness every day for the rest of the year, no matter how tempting that is. Eventually I’ll have to face everything.