Page 23

CHAPTER 23

CAMDEN

T he warmth of the spring day meant that I would be wearing a pair of loose, cropped jeans with fashionable rips and a Knights T-shirt to the game. I’d take a hoodie just in case, but under the sun, I couldn’t imagine needing it.

Soon enough, I wouldn’t have to take one because I’d be able to store an extra in my own office.

The idea of starting work with the Knights shot a bolt of exhilaration through me. We hadn’t settled on a date, but it’d be soon. Plus, I’d still get to do some work with the camp because that was all part of it.

Then I met Harlowe and Kelsie near the box office. She’d quickly gone home to change too and was now wearing an outfit similar to mine, though her Knight’s shirt had Briggs on the back with Brooks’ number.

Suddenly, I wanted to wear Jenner’s number like we were in high school.

We were both wearing sunglasses to calm down the brightness of the sun and there was always the option to use Mom’s box if it got to be too much for the baby.

As if for me, the Knights played some of their best baseball so far this season. My brothers had all acknowledged our existence—as had Jenner—but then their focus was on the game.

After the game, Harlowe said she was just going straight home because the girlfriends would be meeting their men there. She didn’t want anyone waiting outside.

At first, I was just going to go with her but then decided to wait for my brothers to come out to see Jenner really quickly. Being adept at avoiding them, I hung back in this little alcove where they’d never look as they left in a group. Then I outed myself and got closer to the clubhouse door to wait for Jenner.

When he came out, he didn’t look in my direction. Instead, he just started walking toward the same door my brothers had just gone out of and he was looking down at his phone the entire time. It was so easy to come up from behind and quickly slide in next to him to say, “Who are you texting?”

“Jesus Christ!” His voice echoed down the hallway and I laughed as if I’d planned on startling him. I suppose I had, but the fact that it had worked so well was funny. “What’re you doing here?”

I furrowed my brows as our footsteps came to stop. “You’re texting Jesus Christ? And you knew I was here. Unless it was someone else you gave the sexy smile head nod combo to.”

He chuckled. “You’re in a really good mood. I was about to text you.”

“I am.” I put my hands behind my back and held them as I swayed a little. “I’m officially done with school and I’m telling my brothers about us tonight. Now, I’m a little nervous about telling them, but it’ll be good that it’s out there, right?”

Nodding, he said, “Right. I just wish you’d let me come with you. ”

“Pft. I know how to manage my brothers, but I don’t know. I feel like it’s something I want to handle on my own.”

“Right.” He sighed as he ran his hands up my arms. “Independence.”

I snorted. “Exactly. I’m a strong, independent woman, Jenner. You’ll have to get used to that.”

“I am,” he countered. “I love that about you, but fuck. I want to be there.” His hands didn’t stop until he was cupping my cheeks. “Congratulations on your graduation, by the way.”

“Thank you.” My voice was much quieter and more serious than it had been. It was the moment before a kiss. Now, this wasn’t a first kiss—clearly—but there was still anticipation.

When his lips met mine, they were firm and warm at first. Then they softened so that I could sneak my tongue into his mouth. He groaned as he fell back against the wall, taking me with him. Right as his arms wrapped around my waist, I heard, “Camden?”

At the sound of my mother’s voice, I pulled away from Jenner so quickly, you would’ve thought he was on fire. I wasn’t a teenager anymore but suddenly, felt like I was. “Mom.” I quickly ran the back of my hand over my mouth as Jenner stood to his full height. “What’re you—”

“I was down here on some club business and thought I heard your voice.” Her stern, hazel eyes dragged away from me to settle on Jenner before she raised an eyebrow. Then she focused back in on me. “Do your brothers know about this? ”

I sighed. Mom wasn’t about to give me a hard time. She must’ve just been surprised at finding me with my tongue in Jenner’s mouth. I mean, who wouldn’t have been surprised? “I’m telling them tonight.” Which was the only reason I’d let Jenner kiss me here where someone could’ve seen. Other players absolutely would’ve given Jenner shit about it in the locker room tomorrow and my brothers would’ve known then.

She sighed as if she were being put upon. “So tomorrow should be great.” Meaning, she thought my brothers would be pissy with me the entire time.

“Tomorrow will be fine,” I told her.

“Hm.” Though I wasn’t sure she believed me. “I guess the years of hating baseball players is no more.”

My cheeks flamed. Of course my entire family knew I hated baseball players. “Turns out, I didn’t hate all baseball players.” I pointed my thumb at Jenner. “Just this one.”

“And now?”

“Definitely don’t hate him anymore.” Then I moved closer to my mom. “Could you not say anything to Dad or the guys until tomorrow? Please?”

Finally, she smiled. “Sure, Camden. Trust me. I don’t want to be the one to break this news.” Then she took her gaze to Jenner. “I’ll see you at dinner tomorrow, Jenner. Unless, of course, you have plans with your own mother.”

He shook his head. “My Mother’s Day gift to her was a vacation they kept saying they wanted to take. So they’re somewhere tropical right about now. ”

She gave him a genuine smile. Mom had always liked Jenner from when he and my brothers had been kids. “That’s a good son. Then I assume I’ll see you tomorrow.” Mom walked away, leaving me feeling like a sixteen-year-old who’d just been caught making out with her boyfriend.

Only some of that was true.

Before I could move, Jenner was at my back. “See? You should let me come with you tonight.”

But I shook my head as I turned to face him. “Actually, my mom just reinforced that you need to let us have this out as siblings.”

“The girlfriends will be there,” he countered and he wasn’t wrong.

“Yes, but they’ll be on my side and tell my brothers that they’re being dickheads if necessary. Or if they cross any lines.”

“I can do that, too.”

“I know you can, but it’s not the same. A lot of their shock will be directed at you and I don’t want that.”

“Camden—”

I shrugged and cut him off because he was about to tell me he could handle it. I knew he could. Of course he could. I just wanted to handle this on my own.. “We already decided, so I have to get going.” I slipped my hand into his so that I could give him a tug and he’d walk with me.

After kissing goodbye, we parted ways just outside the door. Him walking me to my car wasn’t a good idea because he’d keep pressing about going with me and I just might’ve folded like a deck of cards when in reality, I really wanted to do this alone.

Everyone was already at Harlowe’s when I arrived. There was a wave of greetings with the girlfriends, but then I gave Harlowe a look that hopefully said, “Now or never” and headed to the kitchen.

“We should go in there,” Harlowe said to the other ladies, so then I had my best support system on this right behind me.

Harlowe, Monroe, Amity, and Everly gathered behind me with Amity whispering, “What’s going on?” but not getting an answer.

When I didn’t say anything to my brothers, who were all busy making something in the kitchen, Harlowe slid in beside me and nudged me with her elbow.

“So I have something to tell you guys,” I said, bringing their conversation to an end and all of their attention to me.

“You’re here!” Cobb was the first to cross the kitchen and hug me. “We’re so proud of you, little sister.”

The rest of the guys followed suit and Brooks even lifted me off the floor with his bear hug.

“Thanks,” I told them as I giggled. They were really excited about me finishing college. “Really. It means a lot to me.” Then I swallowed hard. “I have something to tell you all, though.”

“We already know you’re working for the Knights,” Urban told me. “Mom can’t keep a secret. ”

I really hoped that wasn’t true, but she sure as hell didn’t call them right away to spill the beans about everything she knew, clearly. Because they’d be all over me if they’d known.

“What’s up?” Brooks asked more seriously.

Suddenly I was glad that Mom and Dad had something tonight and couldn’t be here. Though they’d offered to cancel, I didn’t want them to. Tonight was for the siblings and I couldn’t take my dad blowing up right now. If he did. I wasn’t sure how he’d react given the changes he’d gone through since his last fight about one of our relationships.

I pursed my lips and blew out a breath, making Brooks raise an eyebrow. He seemed to be the only one paying attention to the little details. “I have…” I cleared my throat, suddenly a bit nervous. “I’m in love with a baseball player.” My heart thumped erratically against my chest.

At first, the guys were silent. Then they burst out into a round of loud laughter, bringing their girlfriends closer to me, as if they wanted to protect me against this.

“Why is this funny?” I called out over them.

“Because you hate baseball players,” Silas said for them, though he was still laughing so hard that I almost couldn’t understand him.

“Yeah,” Urban agreed. “You’ve always hated baseball players.”

“Not always,” I said in a normal voice, but I didn’t think they could hear me. So I took another deep breath and tried again, but they didn’t seem to notice .

“Brooks,” Harlowe snapped, getting his attention. Her arm rested across my lower back. “Your sister is trying to tell you something.”

That at least got his attention. “Guys,” he called out, bringing them all under control. “Sorry, Camden. Go on. You’re in love with a baseball player.” He fought a smile as he said it.

Still, Urban snorted behind him and I swore that if they started laughing again, someone was getting stabbed.

“I didn’t always hate baseball players,” I said again. “Remember the night I got hurt?” Without realizing it, I scratched at the scar above my breast. “That happened because I told a baseball player I was in love with him. He rejected me. I got embarrassed, so I ran off, tripped, and there I was bleeding on the ground.” With half a tree trunk impaling me, but I left that part out. We all knew what had happened.

Brooks’s eyes darkened as he set his hand on the island that stood between us. “Are you saying someone did that to you?”

“No,” I told him quickly. “It was me. My fault, but I ran off. I’m just saying I loved a baseball player then and I love one now.”

Cobb furrowed his brows. “Wait. So are you in love with the same baseball player now as then?” I nodded, but that didn’t help his confusion. “Brooks wasn’t there, but the rest of us were. There were so many players around so you’re saying we know him?” I nodded .

“Who?” Silas asked, but his jaw and gaze tightened indicating that he already had a suspicion.

“You know everyone,” I answered Cobb, ignoring Silas.

“That’s not what I meant,” Cobb countered, so I took a calming breath.

“Yeah. You know him.”

“Who?” Silas asked again, this time much closer than he had been. He was definitely already putting it together.

After quickly wetting my lips, I said, “Jenner.”

“Oh, fuck no.” Silas pushed away from the island.

“Are you serious right now?” Brooks asked while the rest of my brothers freaked out. I didn’t pay attention to what they were saying. “He’s the one who found you that night. But you’re saying he’s the reason you were there?”

“No,” I countered. “He wasn’t the reason I was there. Yes, he hurt my feelings, but I was the one who went running. But whatever. That’s in the past and we’re together now.”

“For how long?” Silas demanded.

“Not long,” was the only answer he was going to get. Also because I wasn’t sure which day we were going to consider the relationship had started.

“This is some bullshit, Camden!” Silas yelled at me. This was why I hadn’t wanted Jenner here. I’d known there’d be some yelling and he’d want to step in to protect me. I didn’t need him to protect me from my brothers and I could handle a little yelling. “He’s my best friend. ”

“And Harlowe is my best friend!” Which made Brooks snap his mouth shut. “Amity is one of your best friend’s sisters.”

“That’s true,” Amity added. “I don’t think Jayce would’ve had this response,” she said quieter, but I’d bet everything that Silas had heard her.

“It’s not the same thing.”

“Why not?”

That… he couldn’t answer.

Instead, Silas shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re getting into. Jenner doesn’t do relationships, Camden. Not since high school. If you think he’s going to now because it’s you, you’re being naive.”

“Whoa.” Amity slid closer to him. “Did I not know what I was getting into? What about them?” She swung her arm toward Monroe and Everly. “I did know. Even knowing, I still jumped in. Honestly, that’s probably worse. Knowing what you guys can be like… seeing it… and still falling for you, anyway…” She huffed out an almost disgusted sounding grunt.

“Didn’t Camden grow up with all of you?” Monroe asked. “Wouldn’t she know better than any of us what being with one of you is like? I mean, even her dad is a baseball player.”

“Baby,” Cobb countered, “we’re nothing like our dad.”

“Really?” I asked. “Because you’re all sounding awfully familiar right now.”

Now this had landed each of them in some hot water with their own women, which had been part of my plan. Not that I wanted them to argue, but they’d chosen girl’s girls, so that was on them. These women had my back.

“Look,” Silas said loudly, bringing the noise to an end. “All I’m going to say is that you don’t know Jenner, Camden. Not like I do. You don’t know what he’s really like.”

A knot formed in my stomach. I’d known Jenner as long as Silas had, but I couldn’t lie to myself that I knew him in the same way. Guys talked just as much as women did and details flowed both ways. Which meant my brothers probably did know things about him that I didn’t even want to.

What if they were right?

“I’m not sure how you can say that,” Harlowe told him. “Jenner has been loyal to you guys all these years and always looked out for Camden. Just as much as you did. Especially when you weren’t around. He was even there in the woods after she fell.”

“Yeah,” Cobb agreed. “But now I’m wondering why.”

A growl came out, which the girlfriends took to mean they should step in. I didn’t need them too, but the guys kept cooking and four different conversations were happening in the room. Then Everly threw her hands up and stomped away from Urban.

Once she was back by me, she quietly said, “I’m glad I’m here this time. I usually miss everything.”

I snorted but gave her a hug.

Finally, the noise calmed down and dinner was done. As they brought the food to the table, Brooks told me, “Look. We aren’t happy. But we aren’t going to yell anymore.” Silas grunted as he passed by.

But Silas reeked of anger and didn’t talk to me the rest of the night.

I’d grown up with them, so I was fully capable of dealing with them, but the silent treatment stung.

What I hated was that little niggle of doubt that they’d planted, which had me questioning everything.