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)
So why does it feel like I lost?
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Cameron
I hit Submit on the last slide for phase four of the Instructional Design project, hoping our most recent idea is as strong as the others have been.
With a sigh, I lean back against the couch, closing my eyes a moment.
I’m not feeling the best today. I thought it was but a massive hangover from one too many beers mixed with Jell-O shots on Saturday night, but it’s Wednesday and I’m still feeling like shit.
I finish off my water bottle and open the syllabus, scanning over this week’s lecture points one more time just in case.
“Are we going to talk about Saturday?” Alister asks suddenly.
My fingers freeze over the track pad, eyes darting to meet his.
“What do you mean?” Okay, that was not the smartest question to lead with.
He gives me a knowing look, and I put my hands under the table, running my suddenly sweaty palms over my leggings.
“You kind of freaked out when Allana came over to say hi.” He shifts on the carpet, facing me a little more.
“I hope the words ‘understandably so’ are about to leave your mouth next?”
He nods and remains quiet for a few seconds too long. “I wanted to introduce you.”
The scoff that leaves me can’t be stopped, and I shake my head. “You wanted to introduce me to your ex-girlfriend and her family?”
“Not necessarily her, but her parents, yes.”
I gape at him. “Do you not see how fucking odd that statement alone is, not to mention the actual act of doing so?”
Alister nods again, his gaze falling to his lap briefly. “I do, but…they’re important to me.”
My eyes slide his way, and I want to ask him what that has to do with me, but that’s just me being pissy.
“Her parents were there for me when I didn’t have anyone,” he shares. “You know they didn’t even know she was pregnant until I flipped out and accused them of tricking me into coming here.”
I’m not sure I want to talk about this, but the topic isn’t as uncomfortable as it used to be.
Is that progress or something else entirely?
I swallow. “Did they trick you?”
He shakes his head. “No. They were just excited that I loved her so much I was willing to risk my football career to be with her. Once they found out she’d been lying to all of us, they offered to take out a second mortgage to cover my tuition if I wanted to try to transfer somewhere else.”
“That was nice of them.”
He smiles slightly, propping his chin on his palm. “Can I ask you something?”
Unease washes over me, and I fold my arms over my knees, shrugging a shoulder.
“Do you think you would be with Brady now if I didn’t screw things up?”
I tense, gaze narrowing. “What…what kind of question is that? I mean, how would I even answer? You and I would either still be together, or we wouldn’t, and who is to say what would have happened after? I’m not a cheater, if that’s what you mean.”
“It’s not.” He watches me closely.
Too closely.
I shoot to my feet, taking quick steps into the kitchen, and I hear him move to join me.
“I guess I’m just wondering if there has always been something between you two.” He comes around the little bar top, leaning back against the counter as I take a soda from the fridge and pop it open.
Turning away from him, I take a few small drinks.
I guess that’s a fair question when you think about it. He knows I’ve known Brady for forever. Just like him and Allana.
Of course, he has no idea what Brady and I have isn’t real.
I mean, what we are to each other is real, but we’re not.
That makes sense, right?
Suddenly, there’s a hard chest at my back and I tense.
Alister is my height, so when I look over my shoulder, I don’t have to tilt my head up to meet his eyes like I do with Brady.
“What are you doing?” I rasp.
His hands finds my hips, and I drop my gaze to my sock-covered feet. “Cameron,” he whispers, his forehead falling to the back of my head. “Am I too late?”
For what? I want to ask. Isn’t it obvious he’s too late? He thinks I’m dating Brady. Should that not answer his question?
He doesn’t know we’re fake. That all the times Brady and I have kissed, Brady felt nothing.
I mean, we felt nothing.
Fuck, I can’t think with him so close.
I spin, pressing my arms to his chest.
The door swings open and my head snaps left, eyes locking on a pair of brown ones.
Brady freezes there, an oomph sounding behind him, followed by laughter.
“Brady, what the heck,” Ari chuckles. “Move.”
He doesn’t move. His eyes move from mine to my hands. I look down too, realizing they are still plastered to Alister’s chest.