Page 19

CHAPTER 19

Charlie

“We’re going to catch you, Cade, no sense in running. You’re just making it more fun for us.” The voice echoes off of the locker room walls as I run from it. I look down each row of lockers and search for a place to hide, coming up empty.

The showers. I’ll run and hide in the showers and hopefully Troy and the others won’t find me there. I turn the corner and head towards them. I run back to the farthest stall and push past the tiny shower curtain, then tug it in place behind me.

I sit in the far corner and pull my legs up, bending my knees. My breathing has picked up significantly, but I’m trying to calm it so I don’t clue them in as to where I am. The more I try to quiet it though, the harder and louder it seems to get. I hear their laughter and sneering get closer and their footsteps bound toward me. I bury my head in my knees and pray they won’t find me.

I’m startled by the sound of the plastic rings scraping on the metal rod as the shower curtain is pulled back.

“Found ya.”

I jerk awake, panting heavily and covered in sweat, and a chill passes through me at the memory of Troy Price’s sneering voice. Looking over at the clock I see it’s ten minutes past eight in the morning and I sigh deeply as I realize I’m at home and not back in high school. I’m safe. I remind myself of it over and over as I work to regulate my breathing.

It’s still pitch black in my room considering the early hour and my blackout curtains, but the sounds of the city help to ground me and bring me back into my body. The nightmares don’t happen often, but I notice they get worse when I get less sleep. Sleeping on an airplane after an exhausting game doesn’t usually trigger it, but that on top of falling asleep at Cami’s and leaving to come here in the middle of the night created the perfect storm.

I can’t believe I fell asleep at her house last night. I mean, I guess I can. Her bed is insanely comfortable and I felt relaxed for the first time in days after being with the guys and performing on the ice.

Cami’s presence is soothing for me, something I am just noticing now that my sister is gone. Alana has always been a safe place for me to land, and I just figured Cami was along for the ride because they were always together. But now that I’m spending more time with her alone, I realize she provides that same kind of comfort that Alana does.

Regardless of the fact that it was innocent, I know it isn’t a good idea to get in the habit of staying over. Plus, that damn kiss. Why did I kiss her when I left? I wasn’t thinking, and she is not the kind of woman I can be thoughtless with. She deserves more than that.

We have to keep clear boundaries if this whole fake dating thing is ever going to work and she has told me more than once how she’s scared it will ruin our friendship. I’ve promised it won’t, and I intend to keep that promise, which means no sleepovers.

Come to think of it, maybe we need some rules. I grab my phone and pull up my texts with Cami, then type one out and press send.

Me

I think we need to establish some rules.

Cami

Oh come on. I hate rules

Cami

Wait, rules for what?

Me

For our relationship.

Cami

What relationship?

I hesitate, because what does she mean? She knows what relationship, we just spent the whole prior evening discussing it. I type and delete, then type and delete, over and over trying to figure out what to say. Then my phone buzzes as another text from her comes in.

Cami

Just kidding

Me

You’re annoying. Anyone ever told you that?

Cami

Yep. Why do we need rules?

Me

You don’t want this to mess with our friendship, and neither do I. I think we probably should set some boundaries to make sure that doesn’t happen.

She takes a little while to respond to that one. I would like to pretend that I’m not staring at my phone waiting to see what she says, but that would be a lie because I am. Finally, it buzzes.

Cami

Okay that’s probably not a bad idea. What were you thinking?

Me

For one, no sleepovers.

Cami

I really don’t think these rules are necessary, but if you feel like they are, then okay. No sleepovers. What else?

Me

No touching.

Cami

Like, ever? I think you’ll need to touch me if we’re going to convince anyone that we’re dating.

Me

Okay no touching unless we’re in public.

Cami

I assume the same rule applies to kissing?

Suddenly the room is hot and I’m sweating again. Just thinking about kissing her is causing my breathing to quicken for some reason. Probably because it’s weird to think about kissing her, considering we’re such good friends. I know, though, that at some point we likely will have to kiss. I breathe deeply and reply.

Me

Yes.

Cami

A man of many words

Me

We’ll edit and adjust the rules as needed.

Cami

Sounds good, captain. What time are you picking me up for the nutcracker tomorrow?

Me

Is six okay? The ballet starts at seven.

Cami

Yep. I’m going to wear a pink dress if you want to coordinate colors. Not sure if Sophie is planning on having press there for pictures for our first night out or if we’re just doing social media, but either way it would look better if we match

I’m reminded of how grateful I am that I chose her to do this with me. She’s constantly looking out for me and is smart when it comes to the world of public opinion.

Me

Pink. Got it. I’ll coordinate, thanks.

Cami

Sure, see you tomorrow

I crawl out of bed and shuffle into the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee. Pressing the button to brew, I stand and watch the coffee drip into my mug as I think through what I’m going to wear. I’ll likely choose mostly black, and let her color be the showstopper. I’d rather blend into the background anyways.

I move through the morning slowly, getting dressed and scrolling on my phone until I gather enough motivation to head down to the gym where I do some weightlifting and walking on the treadmill.

Our outing to The Nutcracker is one that we do every year, but this year it’s different because Alana isn’t around. That and the fact that Cami and I will be pretending to date, a fact I am trying not to overthink even though that seems impossible.

I shake the thoughts from my mind and head back to my room to shower.