Free The Playmaker (A Big Play Novel Book 1) by Jordan Ford

but the shorts keep riding up my butt. I think I got a little overzealous with the scissors last night.”
    “Aren’t you worried that all these changes are turning you into someone you won’t like very much? I’m sure Colt will still think you’re awesome if you go back to your maxi dresses and bell bottoms.”
    “He won’t hang out with me if I’m dressed like a hippie freak. I need to conform.”
    “Ugh.” Amy pokes out her tongue like I’ve just said a bad word.
    “Oh, come on. I don’t look that bad, do I?” I pull back to check out my clothes.
    “You could tone it down a little and still look smoking hot.”
    “Maybe you’re right.” I pull a face.
    She gives me an adoring smile and passes me another carrot. “You’ll figure out the perfect blend. Don’t worry.”
    I snag the carrot and give her a doubtful frown before shoving it in my mouth. Her sweet expression starts to fall and my insides pitch with warning.
    “Are you sure you really want this? I mean, really sure?”
    “You know I am.” My voice is firm.
    “I don’t want to fight or anything, but come on, making this year completely epic is not going to change the fact that you need to make a decision.”
    My mouth drops open. “You think I’m doing all this to avoid thinking about my future?”
    “Yes.”
    The air in my throat evaporates and I can’t make a sound as I stare at her honest expression.
    “You know I’m right,” she says.
    I look away from her and grit my teeth. “I’m doing this because I like him.”
    “Winning Colt’s heart is not going to stop the inevitable. You still have to make a decision about what you want to do with your life, whether you have a boyfriend or not.”
    My throat feels thick and dry, making it hard to swallow. I shake my head, unable to form any kind of argument as my fears for the future rise and swell. I’ve been trying so hard to forget about the fact that I have no idea what I want to do or be. I’ve applied to Idaho State where my sister is studying, but have no clue what I want to study when I get there. I don’t even know if I want to go to college. Why do we have to make such huge decisions when we have the rest of our lives ahead of us? I like my home, my town. I don’t want to leave it. I don’t want to go into the big wide world and discover that I can’t be anything more than my candle-making mother.
    Amy’s hand lands on my arm and gives it a squeeze. “I know you hate hearing this stuff, and I honestly want you to have the best senior year ever, but don’t do this for the wrong reasons. That’s all I’m saying.”
    Great. Now I have two mothers.
    My smile is so tight it almost hurts, but I force my lips north and murmur a word of thanks. Only a best friend calls you on your crap. I suck in a breath and glance over my shoulder. Colt is sitting next to Mack now, chatting with Roxy. My heart does this big hiccup then relaxes with a swooning sigh.
    Maybe some of my reasons aren’t great, but the truth still remains: I think I’m in love with Colt Burgess, and I don’t want that feeling to ever go away.

 
    #12:
    Double Threat
     
    Colt
     
    I hate this feeling.
    It’s plagued me all my life. I want to run from it, sweat it out of my body, but the truth will always remain the same: I’m a complete dumb-ass.
    School is getting harder by the day. I’m doing okay in a couple of subjects, but this massive history assignment is looming and I haven’t even started it yet. It’s too big. I don’t even know where to begin. It’s easier to pretend it doesn’t exist and pour all my energy and focus into football. Surely if I play my best, Coach won’t mind if my grades slide…but it’s not up to Coach. Dammit.
    I sprint a little harder, pumping my arms as sweat pours down the side of my face.
    “Go, go, go! One more! One more!” Coach Watson yells at us.
    I spin and hurtle down the field, determined to reach the end zone before anybody else. I dash across the line