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Chase simply nods and turns around, ignoring everyone as he hops back over the railing, heading for the tunnel.

That’s when I spot them, and my ears grow warm.

Cameron is leaning over the guard, and Alister is smiling up at her like she’s an angel that just popped out of the damn sky. He’s talking animatedly, laughing and nodding, and then her hands are moving, explaining the play the way she saw it, if I had my guess.

They both laugh now, and I watch as they forget to speak, simply staring at each other a moment.

There’s a little kick behind my ribs that draws a frown to my face, so I start to turn around, but then an older couple climbs down the stairs, and Alister looks up.

His grin is broad, clearly happily surprised at the sight of them.

He jumps onto the wide cement guard, offering the younger boy with them a hug before leaning into the adults’ embrace as well.

Looks like his family came out to see him after all.

A small smile tugs at my lips, but there’s this strain in my chest that tightens when I look back to the blond girl standing all sweet and shyly at his side.

“What am I missing, son?” Evan mutters, and I can feel his gaze when it lands on my face.

Don’t ask me why, but I’m pretty sure a flush is threatening to crawl up my chest—no, a blush. I don’t blush, so I clear my throat and put on my best grin, turning away so I don’t have to watch her get introduced to the dude’s family.

“Come on now, Evan. I thought you were as good a mind reader as I am,” I tease. “Or maybe that’s just your wife.”

The moment the words leave me, though, I regret them because now his gaze is gauging, roaming across my features to try and figure out what he, in fact, is missing.

We didn’t exactly tell our family we were fake dating and I’m 90 percent positive Alister’s name has never been purposefully mentioned to any of our parents.

If I say something now, I’ll have to admit that there’s a word in that little equation that no longer fits, and I’m not sure I’m ready to say that out loud.

It doesn’t matter, though, because he’s already nodding, his dad senses kicking in, I’m sure. Somehow parents just…know.

When he returns his attention to where I know Cameron to be standing, he frowns. “Why does she look like she’s about to cry?”

My entire body yanks around, eyes narrowing.

What the hell?

Cameron is walking back this way, her lips pressed tight, eyes immediately seeking mine.

“Interesting,” he muses, but I don’t wait to hear what comes next.

I’m already moving, squeezing between people, and offering friendly but quick hellos to the AU crowd, but my focus is on one thing and that’s getting to her.

It takes a minute, but then I’m hopping over a row of seats and standing before her, tugging her into me for a hug I somehow know she needs.

She doesn’t care that my undershirt is covered in sweat.

Her arms come around me, and she presses her face into my chest with a sigh, like maybe this was all she needed to settle—me.

My gaze snaps to where Alister is still standing, his ex-girlfriend, Allana, now right beside him, but his eyes? They’re on the girl in my arms and then they move to me.

He wants to come over here. He doesn’t want her to assume something is going on that isn’t. It’s all right there in his eyes.

A plea from him to me.

Don’t let her think this is more than it is . That’s what he’s asking me.

My muscles coil, my teeth clamping tight, but I’m not sure why. Who the hell is he to ask me this? As far as he knows, she’s mine.

Is he not threatened by that ?

Does he not believe she could ever be with a man like me?

Why do I agree?

What is happening in my head right now?

Shaking the thoughts as she pulls back, I glance down at her, her chin now resting between my pecs.

She and I seem to look at each other at the same time, and she hits me with the softest of smiles. It does a little something to me, so as much as I want to be selfish, I just can’t be. Not when all she ever looks at me with is complete and total confidence.

So I shift us slightly. That way, if she looks to her right, she’ll see them again, and like I knew she would, she can’t help but take a peek.

She’s drawn to him the way I wish someone were drawn to me.

No, not someone…

I clear my throat, and I hold her tighter, running my fingers through the length of her hair.

“They’re just talking, Cammie Baby,” I reassure her, the words like acid on my tongue.

She nods but doesn’t say anything. She just…keeps staring. Finally, her tired blue eyes meet mine. “Come on, Big Guy. Let’s go. We’ve got a party to get ready for.”

“Wanna tell me what you’re gonna dress up as?”

“Not a chance.”

I chuckle, and finally, her smile reaches her eyes. I kiss her forehead, then lead her toward the others.

We say our goodbyes, and I hop back onto the field just as Mason passes Deaton over to his dad.

Us guys move back to the tunnel to get changed and deal with after-game interviews, Alister jogging and falling in place beside us.

I don’t look his way, even though he’s waiting for me to.

I did what he wanted.

I did what was right for her, tried to ease her spinning mind and remind her it’s her he wants .

I told her I’d help her, give her the time and distraction she needed to work through her own thoughts. Maybe she has.

Maybe she’s finally realized what I’ve known for a while now.

She doesn’t need a fake boyfriend anymore—not when she’s ready for a real one.