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)
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.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Brady
The team is hyped. Drinks are already flowing, and it’s easy to see it’s going to be a long, loud night here at the football house. Nearly everyone is home, showered, and changed into their costumes, the sorority across the street having taken on the task of setting up for the Halloween party tonight while we were at the game.
There’s not too much to the decorations, just some black lights and neon-green spiderwebs tacked along the walls, a few streamers and things hanging, and one of those foil fridge curtain things you have to push aside to slip in the door.
Someone vetoed the “Monster Mash” shit they had playing, so it’s back to the repeated party playlist.
Chase steps through the patio door, spotting me across the bonfire, and we both start laughing.
“Bro, did I step back in time?” He grins, slapping my shoulder and taking a cup from the table, filling it to the brim with foamy beer.
“I look good, yeah?” I smirk, holding my arms out, the cheap faux-fur robe-like thing clipped around my neck nearly sliding off my shoulders.
“You look like you’re in your element.” He chuckles and I join in.
“Right? Can’t wait for Cameron to see.”
Chase is dressed as Maverick from Top Gun, the aviators a damn good look on him, and he’s got the perfect hair for it. He raises a brow at my comment, and I shrug.
“Inside joke.”
“Oh, you’ve got those now, huh?” His green eyes are teasing as he meets mine over the rim of his cup.
I flip him off, bending slightly to look in the kitchen when it gets a little louder, and spot the source of the commotion. Alister has made his way down, grinning and dapping people up—full acceptance in the house for what might be the first time. Someone hands him a beer, another stops him for a shot, and I can’t help but watch.