Page 13 of Cross Check Daddies (Miami Icemen #3)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Brooke

I’ve been burying myself in work, trying to focus on the game launch, but I can’t help it. My mind keeps wandering back to the King brothers.

Tanner’s smile, his touch, and the way he made me feel like I was a lot more than just a woman in a room full of men. And then there’s Cam. The tension between us still lingers, even though it’s been days since we last spoke—since he left my office that day—and the guilt is eating at me.

I’m distracted, so I log into Call of Duty again.

If I’m being honest, I need the escape. I need something that’s purely mine—where the only thing I’m thinking about is how to outplay my opponents, not how my body reacts when I’m near any of the Kings.

So every night, without fail, I find myself sniping someone in particular. And not only at night.

IceVice versus PixelVixen. I laugh at myself every time.

Whoever this guy is, I can’t stop obsessing over him. The way he plays, the way he taunts me with every kill. I didn't win a single game against him yesterday, which is so unlike me, but I also don’t care. It’s like he’s this perfect puzzle I can’t solve, and I need to.

I’m deep into another round when Lisa knocks on my door. “The coder is here for the meeting,” she says, poking her head inside. I roll my shoulders, stretch, and shut my laptop.

“Thanks, Lisa. I’ll be right there,” I call after her.

I take a deep breath, trying to push aside the chaos in my head.

This meeting is important. The game is important .

It needs my full attention. I can’t afford distractions.

But I know how things can be with me—how quickly I can get caught up in a thought, a person, or a feeling. I need to focus on the task at hand.

I meet the coder in the conference room. He’s a quiet guy, serious but efficient. His name is Alan, and he’s been working on the code for the past week. He’s young, a bit socially awkward, but he knows his stuff. I take a seat at the table, my notes and sketches scattered in front of me.

“So, we’ve got the base game mechanics locked in,” I tell Alan as I go over the latest build.

“Character customization is coming along nicely. But we still need a few more tweaks to the AI behavior. We want the enemies to react realistically, especially when it comes to strategy and adapting to player moves.”

Alan nods, tapping away on his laptop. “I’ve been working on that. The behavior models are almost done. Should be ready for testing soon.”

“Great,” I say, reviewing the design doc. “The game’s world-building is also looking solid. We’ve got the levels mapped out, but I think we need more variety in terms of location design. We don’t want things to get repetitive.”

I pause for a moment, considering the next piece of the puzzle. “I’ve got some names ready for the game—things we’re shopping around, but I think IceMen makes the most sense… What do you think?”

Alan leans forward, eyes scanning the rest of the names. He thinks for a moment, nodding slightly. “Naming it after the team will guarantee recognition not only from the target audience, but everyone.”

I smile. He gets it. “Alright, I’ll bring it up in the next round of meetings.”

As the conversation moves on, I can’t ignore the knot in my stomach.

I’m trying to stay focused on the game development, but it’s hard when my thoughts are still buzzing with all the unspoken tension around the King brothers.

I clear my throat, pushing the feelings aside.

I can’t afford to let it distract me, not now.

The meeting wraps up quickly, and as I walk out of the room, I check my watch. I’ve got a meeting with the team coordinator next, at the arena. Another part of the project is moving along. Another step toward getting this game out the door.

I'm just out of the office when I hear someone call my name. I freeze.

“Brooke,” he calls again.

It’s Cam.

He steps toward me, his hands tucked into his pockets, his face unreadable.

“Hi. What are you doing here?”

“I had business on your side of town and thought I should pass by and say hey. How are you?”

I tuck away a strand of my hair, forcing my heart to calm down. Why does he look so damn good in his suit! “I am okay. You?”

“Good. How’s the game development going?” he asks, his voice casual, as if nothing happened.

I nod, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s going well. A lot of moving parts, but we’re making progress.”

“Good to hear,” he says. He’s still watching me with that intensity, like he knows something I don’t. Or maybe it’s just the way he always looks at me.

The silence hangs between us for a moment, but Cam doesn’t seem bothered by it. I’m the one shifting uncomfortably, unable to figure out what to say next.

“I’ve been around,” he continues. “Thought you might need some space, though.”

I feel a pang of guilt at his words. Did I need space? Or was I just avoiding the inevitable? Avoiding the messy situation I created by being attracted to both him and Tanner?

He waits for me to respond, but I don’t have anything to say. I can’t make this sound simple when it’s anything but. I settle for a vague answer. “Yeah, I’ve been pretty busy. There’s a lot going on with the game.”

He nods, as if that explanation is enough. “I get it. Anyway, I should probably let you go. You’re on your way to the arena, right?”

I nod. “Yeah. I’m meeting with the team coordinator.”

“Alright,” he says. “I’ll catch you later.”

I start to walk away, but Cam’s voice stops me. “By the way, Brooke,” he says, his voice softer this time. “We’re good, right?”

I look back at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. For a second, I want to tell him everything. Tell him about Tanner, about the confusion I feel, about the mess I’ve gotten myself into. But instead, I just nod.

“Yeah, we’re good,” I say, my voice almost a whisper.

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Alright. Take care.”

I watch him walk away, feeling a mix of relief and regret. The conversation was simple. But there’s still so much left unsaid.

I exhale slowly, trying to shake the guilt off. I’ve got to keep my focus. I have a job to do. I can’t let this thing with the Kings distract me any longer. But the problem is, it already has.

My phone buzzes just as I’m crossing the street toward the arena. It’s a text from Tanner.

You free for dinner tonight?

I stop walking for a second, caught between the noise of the city and the weight curling in my chest. I stare at the screen.

Last time was fun—too fun. Too easy to get swept into his orbit. His mouth, his hands, the way he looked at me like I wasn’t just Cam’s ex or some girl with too much baggage. And now here I am, trying to convince myself that one night of connection doesn’t mean anything more.

I step into the shadowed lobby of the arena and open my messages. My thumbs hover over the keyboard longer than they should.

Hey… last time was really fun. I mean that. But I think it’s better if we don’t see each other again. At least not like that.

I hit send before I can talk myself out of it. The knot in my stomach twists tighter. I pace in front of the elevator and type again.

Work is just… a lot right now. I need to stay focused.

I send that one too, even though we both know it’s not just work.

There’s no immediate reply. Just the soft hum of the elevator as the doors slide open. I step inside, alone with my reflection in the polished metal. My face looks calm. Almost blank. But my thoughts are a wreck.

Maybe he won’t respond. Maybe that’s good. A clean break is the best option. The responsible one.

But as the elevator glides upward, I check my phone again. Still nothing.

I press it to my chest. Close my eyes.

Part of me wants him to respond. Just to say something. Anything. Because that would mean he cared. It would mean I’m not the only one stuck in this tangle of wanting something I shouldn’t.

But another part of me hopes he lets it drop. That he hears what I didn’t say aloud— I can’t afford this.

Not with the game. Not with Cam. Not with all the things I haven’t worked through.

The elevator dings. I step out, walking down the hall like nothing’s changed. Like I didn’t just shut down something that made me feel again.

My phone stays silent in my hand the whole way down the corridor.