Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
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.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Cameron
The night was long and restless, sleeping next to Brady without sleeping next to Brady. He stayed downstairs as long as possible, tiptoeing in well into the night and passing out on top of the covers.
When I woke, he was already out of the room. That was a couple of hours ago now, and the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving morning, turned afternoon, has slowed some. That means I can no longer hide behind a long list of tasks.
Sucking it up, I step out the back door, walking over to where Alister is leaning against the deck, looking down the beach.
He does a double take, a small smile forming on his lips. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey.” I tip my head. “Take a walk with me?”
He holds my gaze a long moment, his chest rising in a full breath because he knows what this is. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
We head the way that leads to Parker’s and Lolli’s houses, moving closer to the water as we go.
“I hope you’re not upset I’m here.” He glances over. “I should have asked you first.”
“No.” I grip his arm, squeezing. “No, I’m glad you came. I would have been upset if I found out you were going to be by yourself and only turned down the invite because of me.”
“Me, turn down a chance at being near you?” He smirks my way, but there’s no mirth to it.
“Ha-ha.” I shove him, and he grins for real this time.
We grow quiet again, and I see Mason up ahead, my favorite curly head of dark hair walking beside him in the sand.
My lips curve and I pause, shifting to face the ocean.
“Cameron, it’s okay,” Alister says. “You don’t have to do all this. I know where things with us are, and I understand.”
My eyes grow watery, and I bite at my inner lip. “I know, but I just…be real with me. I was honest with you from the start, right?” I worry. “I don’t mean before shit hit the fan but after. I told you I couldn’t trust you and trust is…”
“Everything in a relationship?” he offers softly. “If you can trust anything I say, let it be that I do understand that—all too well. I just couldn’t let go of that little bit of hope.”