Page 54

She’s happy to see him.

Her bare feet carry her past me, my pulse pounding harder every step she takes. She moves into his open arms, and the moment his close around her, lifting her off her feet the way I like to, a fire lights in the pit of my stomach.

It burns, a physical heat that scalds all the way up and into my throat, demanding I say something because who the hell does he think he is, holding someone else’s girl like that?

She was his first , a voice in my head screams, but I strangle it the way I’m imagining strangling him.

And, man, that’s unfortunate, because I really like the guy. I got to know him my first year at AU, back when he was the talk of our defense.

It used to be his name the broadcasters said when they wanted to talk about the magic of the Sharks’ defense.

It’s mine now.

Just like she is.

Fuck.

My eyes finally leave the back of her head, shifting to look at Trey.

I forgot what a big fucker he is, and he only looks stronger than the last time I saw him.

Finally, he lets her go, and satisfaction serves as a bucket of water for the burning sensation in my gut when she takes a few small steps back.

Distance. Yes. That’s good.

He smiles at her, and I’m reminded Alister is here when he appears beside me.

Trey grins at Cameron. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not surprised I’m here?”

Yeah, why?

A frown falls over my face .

“Ari might have given me a little warning,” Cameron admits.

“A warning, huh?” He smirks. “Do you think you needed one, or was she just being her sweet little self.”

“Meh, maybe a little bit of both,” she says, playing along.

“Should I be hurt you didn’t feel the need to get all dolled up for me?” he teases, and they both laugh.

“Nah, I only play that game before they bite. Why waste a good worm when you’ve already landed the fish, right?”

She’s not flirting, she’s just being Cameron, and Trey grins.

“The dirty sweats, bare feet, and sandy hair are a hazard of a completely necessary dash down to the water, so I guess I looked a tad better about five minutes before you got here.”

“You look perfect.”

All heads turn to me, and I realize that wasn’t just my internal monologue talking.

The answering smile she gives me makes me wish I said it on purpose.

“What’s up, Lancaster?” Trey finally realizes it’s not just him and her in here and walks over, dapping me up with a grin. “Been watching your highlights. Moving over to my side of the ball was the move for you, man.”

“Thanks, bro.” I look to Cameron, subtly giving a nod toward Alister, figuring it’s her job to introduce the guy, but she’s busy biting her nails, staring between us all.

Two men she’s dated and the one she pretended to all standing in the kitchen together, silently sizing each other up, and not necessarily because of the beautiful blond staring at us.

Her brows pull tighter, but then she comes closer, waving a hand between the two. “Trey, this is Alister Howl. Alister, this is Trey Donovan.”

“That’s it?” Trey goads her, and I find myself hiding a smirk. “No details? You gonna make me guess, ’cause I’ll tell you, Butterfly, the fact that you’re the one introducing and not the teammate he’s standing beside is pretty telling. ”

Alister stands taller, accepting Trey’s handshake when he offers it.

“Nice to meet you, man,” Alister says respectfully.

Trey chuckles again, knowing it is not, in fact, nice to meet the guy the girl you’re into used to date. “You too. I take it you’re on the team?”

“Team, bench, same thing,” Alister jokes.

Trey nods his head. “I know how that is. I was a red-card player once upon a time. Had to sit out and watch. That shit’s hard.”

Noah comes around the corner then, and I grin, meeting him for a bro hug. “Good to fucking see you, my guy.” I step back, gripping his shoulder with a serious expression. “Don’t get your panties twisted when I whoop your ass tomorrow.”

“Deal.” Noah grins, striding up to Alister with a hand out. “Noah.”

“I know,” Alister laughs, shaking his head. “Sorry, but I’m a little starstruck right now.”

Noah, ever the humble man, doesn’t say anything about that, not wanting to talk about himself or how badass of a ball player he is. “I’m glad you could make it. You’re going to like it here.”

Alister nods like an eager puppy, and I roll my eyes at him.

“Okay, so, I’m going to steal Brady so we can go put away our things.

” Cameron grips the sleeve of my hoodie and yanks, dragging me through the space, around the corner, and past the back of the couch.

She releases me, only to step behind and nudge me until I start to climb the stairs, my shoulders shaking in silent laughter at her antics.

“Oh, ho, get all the laughs out now, because you are not about to be laughing, Brady freaking Lancaster.” We reach her room, and she shoves me inside.

She closes the door, then whirls on me, a sexy little fire in her eyes I don’t quite get but like .

“What?”

“What?” she deadpans, coming back with sass. “You know what! Why is Alister in the kitchen?”

“I’m sure he’s stepped outside by now.”

“Brady!” she hisses, coming closer until she’s right in front of me. “Why is he here? How is he here, and before you say something like ‘he rode with who the hell ever’—smooth by the way—just…don’t.”

I smile at her, reaching out to push stray strands of hair behind her ear. “I was hoping you’d be happy to see him.”

A small frown pulls at her brows, and she leans into my knuckles when they slide along her cheek. “Were you?”

“No,” I admit.

A surprised chuckle leaves her, and she sighs, her shoulders falling as she stares at me, the tense tenderness in her gaze almost too much.

“Honestly, I’m just enjoying the fact that you told Trey we were sharing a room too much to pick up what you’re putting down right now.”

She rolls her eyes, but her lips twitch. “That is not what I said.”

Wrapping my arms around her waist, I twist my hips and gently tackle her to the mattress. “In man talk, that is exactly what you said.”

She fights a smile, but it tugs at her lips regardless, and I reach out, pressing at the corner and lifting it a little higher. She laughs lightly, opening her mouth and snapping her teeth at me, but I pull back before she can catch me.

Not sure why.

I want her to catch me.

I want to tear up that metaphorical worm she spoke about.

We stare at each other for a few minutes and when the longing in my chest gets to be too much, I drop my head back on the pillow .

“He has no one,” I tell her. “We were talking about our plans for the weekend and what we’re all up to, and he mentioned he’d be staying back at the school.

Chase told him he should go home if he could, rest up for the last stretch of the season and all that, and he said the only people back home were Allana’s family.

” I look down, meeting her gaze. “I got the feeling he didn’t want to go there because he figured it could hurt or disappoint you.

He doesn’t want to do that, Cammie Baby, and I couldn’t let him be alone when he didn’t have to be. ”

Her expression softens, then it’s her turn to reach out and run her hands through my hair. “You are something else, Big Guy.”

I want to be yours.

I watch her closely, but then I remember this morning and sit back with a small frown. “Wait, why are you acting surprised he’s here?”

Her brows snap together. “Because I had no idea he would be. I nearly choked on Pacific Cooler when I saw him standing there.”

“But you said you already knew.” Her confusion prompts me to continue. “This morning. I told you it wasn’t just going to be us, and you said you knew.”

She goes to open her mouth but then her face softens, and it only grows more and more gentle the longer she stares. “I wasn’t referring to Alister…”

“Trey.”

She nods, watching me closely—too closely.

So I pull myself off the bed and turn away.

She knew he was coming.

Is that why she acted how she did when I said we’d room together? Did she not want to so he wouldn’t get the wrong idea?

“You didn’t know he was coming, did you?” she whispers.

A humorless laugh leaves me before I can stop it, and I shake my head. “No. I did not. ”

“Brady,” she begins, but I hold my hand up and slowly slip from the room.

I can’t do this right now.

I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to.