“Daniella, hey, where do you live?” Cami asked, ignoring me completely. “Put her down.” She shuffled us toward a bench a block away, and once we got the poor girl set on the bench, Cami pushed Daniella’s hair out of her face.
God, the streetlight hit her just right, showcasing all her curves, and my throat dried up. The things I wanted to do to her. The heat and beer must’ve been getting to me because she was not the girl for me. She’d led me on and ditched me. I needed to remember that. Cami was heartache wrapped up in a bow, my special form of kryptonite.
“Daniella, wake up.” She flicked the girl’s forehead and groaned. “This would happen to me. Of all the people.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and crouched. “Daniella,” she said again, louder, but the girl didn’t move.
In her crouched position with her spine curved, it was the second time I thought about touching her skin there. She had dimples at the base, and my god, I was a back man now. Especially Cami’s.
I cleared my throat, desperately needing a cold shower the second I got back. “Is there someone you can call?”
“Her friends left her, and no one else on the team is here. I’m sure they’d all love to see their new captain like this. Passed out on a fucking bench. This is leadership right here. Sure, I party but never like this.”
“What are you going on about?”
“Oh, didn’t you hear? Coach says I’m not leadership material, so this chick got the captain role.” Cami sat on the bench, crossed her arms, and pushed her tits up so high in the process I couldn’t focus on her face. They’d fit in my hands but barely. And why were they so perky? It wasn’t cold out, and yet her nipples strained against the fabric.
“Wait, you’re not the captain of the team?” My words were strained, almost hoarse as her eyes flashed with hurt. That snapped me out of my lust.
“Nope.” She swallowed, her throat making a clicking sound. Her entire body seemed to slump, the sadness radiating off her almost palpable, and I had the most aggressive urge to hug her.
“Swanna go home,” the girl mumbled right before she hurled on the side of the bench, splattering all over the ground. I jumped back, but some clearly got on Cami. I tensed, waiting for her to freak out or squeal or yell, but she did none of those things. She took a hair tie from her wrist and pulled the girl’s hair back.
“Get it out now, but can you tell me where you live? Is your roommate here?” Cami’s tone wasn’t nice or mean.
“No,” the girl said, sobs coming out. “No, I don’t know. Cami, are you going to tell Coach? Or the girls? I can’t… I might die.”
If I wasn’t watching Cami so closely because I was obsessed with her facial expressions, I would’ve missed the shadow and misery crossing her face. Her ice-cold shield lowered for half a second, and the emotion rooted me to the ground. My insides clenched with how wrong I’d been about judging her. Here she was, taking care of this mess of a girl when she didn’t seem to like her. But the misery… I understood that. There was a slight chance I didn’t know Cami at all, and that didn’t sit well with me because the most intrusive thought kept going on repeat.
I maybe sorta wanted to learn more about her.
Cami blinked and tilted her face up toward the sky. When she opened her eyes again, they were wet, but it was over so fast. She sniffed, sat up straighter, and patted the girl’s shoulder. “You’ll come back with me. It’s hot as fuck, but you can’t be alone.”
“The team. What will Audrey say?”
The muscles along Cami’s jaw clenched as she swallowed hard. “We’ll keep it between us, but we’re talking in the morning. Come on, get up. We’re walking back, and you’re not puking in my room.”
“Thanks, Cami,” the girl said, slurring her words as Cami pushed her up to her feet. The girl swayed, and her top shifted again. Cami met my eyes for a second before I took off my shirt and handed it to her.
“Cover her up. I can get it back tomorrow.”
“Good call. Thank you.” It took a few tries, but Cami got it around the girl’s shoulders, and I didn’t feel as weird with my arm around her since she had fabric between us. We looked like we were competing in the world’s pathetic three-legged race as we headed down the party street on campus toward the hot as hell dorms.
I wasn’t sure what would happen when we got back, but I knew one thing—I wasn’t going to let my misconceptions about her linger anymore. Cami Simpson had layers, and I wanted to peel them back.
CHAPTER
FIVE
Cami
“Unnn, I’m dying.”
“Drink the water, and if you puke, don’t miss the trash can,” I said, unable to believe my night out ended with taking care of fucking Daniella. The girl who stole my dream because she was a better leader. God, my blood boiled.
When I saw her passed out with a bunch of bros around her, I knew I had to help her. No question about it. But damn, I was pissed. And she’d puked on my feet. Gross. I grabbed my towel and caddy and went toward the bathroom for a quick rinse. It only took fifteen minutes to walk here with Freddie’s help, and I refused to think about his bare chest.
Sure, he was hot, but my self-esteem could only handle so many hits. She was a fragile bitch lately, and while I was proud of my vanity most days, the digs on my intelligence and leadership qualities stung.
I started the hot water, letting it burn my face and chest. Some people liked cool showers, but I craved the heat. The cloud that surrounded me in the stall. The way I could focus on the water hitting my skin instead of my life. I didn’t think about the first day of practice where just call me Captain Dani led the warmup and stretches.
She had no plan for our performance. No routines lined up. Just, we’ll figure it out, right?
Fuck. Why did I think I could do this?
I scrubbed every ounce of makeup from my face until the water ran cold. Could I live without dance this year?
My mind drifted to Daniella and Audrey and the fact the captain of the dance team was drunk on the floor of my dorm room. Maybe I could live without it.
I could focus on school or volunteer? I wasn’t sure, but no answers were going to be found today. I wrapped the towel tight around my chest and walked out of the stall to see Freddie standing at the sink, brushing his teeth. His back faced me, but our gazes met in the mirror, and those gray eyes dragged from my face all the way down my legs.
I felt his attention between my thighs, but it was past time for me to stop letting guys like him take up space in my life. It’d been fun teasing him and flirting with him when I knew it annoyed him, but it was different now. Teasing wasn’t fun.
I was sick of myself, enjoying that flicker of lust only for it to hurt later on. My skin tingled from his intense stare, and I swallowed hard.
My feet weighed a million pounds as I walked toward the exit. He trailed my movements, and my heart raced from his attention, but I managed to walk out of the bathroom with dignity and barely got to my room before he was out in the hallway.
A little bit of toothpaste was on the outside of his mouth, and damn, it was cute. His entire appearance from the strong bare chest to loose gray shorts that hung low on his hips almost had me smiling at him. But he didn’t deserve my smile.
Just a thank you. “I appreciate you helping us walk back. I could’ve done it, but you’re right. It was better that you were with us.”
“Of course, yeah, glad I could help.” He grabbed the back of his neck and never broke eye contact. “Do you need--”
“I guess I should--”
He flashed a quick smile and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I was going to say, if you want to uh, talk or hang out or avoid your temporary guest for a bit, you could chill in my room.”
“In my towel? What a fun offer,” I teased, unable to stop myself. The tips of his ears turned pink, and it was just another thing to add to the FREDDIE CUTE LIST.
DELETE THE LIST, CAMI. I shook my head to settle my thoughts.
�
��You can change,” he said, letting his gaze drop to my legs and linger there.
“How thoughtful of you.”
He let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m trying to be nice.”
“Why start now?” I fired back, my attitude returning. I’d been beaten down lately, and I missed the sassitude I’d carried like an accessory as a child. Seeing him recoil made me stand taller. I had none of my armor on (lipstick, mascara, perfume) and yet, I felt powerful. I arched my still-wet brow and waited.
Freddie worked his jaw like he chewed on food before he let out the softest sigh. “Because you look sad.”
Whoa. Honest answer.
Real observation too. But the familiar feeling of get out now bitch took over. I didn’t want to talk about why I was sad. Not with him. Not even a little bit. “Trying to be a hero, Clark Kent?”
He flushed, took a step back, and shook his head. “No. Not at all, I just--” he paused and ran a hand over his face. “You took care of her even though it was hard for you.”
“Because I’m not a cold-hearted bitch.” I scoffed and felt that fire dim a bit when the realization hit me. Freddie assumed I was just that--cold-hearted. Like Naomi did…
“Look, thanks for helping tonight, but I’m not friends with people who think the absolute worst of me. Goodnight, Freddie.”
I didn’t wait for a reply before going into my room and shutting the door. Daniella reeked of beer and vomit, and the heat of the room was enough to make me gag. It was already two am, and we’d have to be up for practice at seven, so did I tough it out or try to sleep a little in the shoebox room of horrible scents?
This was what I got for trying to be a decent person. It was exhausting. I put on a purple sports bra and loose black shorts and went back out into the hall. There was a couch at the end of it, and it’d be better to catch a few hours here than in the hot room that smelled like armpits. The temperature wasn’t any better in the foyer, but I didn’t have to hear Daniella breathing like an ox.
My body didn’t react well to stress, even though I acted like I did. My ‘ice princess’ shell was built to protect myself, starting when my parents got divorced, and it only solidified through the years. But it was getting more and more exhausting being that way, seeming totally fine all the time when really, my soul hurt.
My twin had a tight circle of friends who had her back for life. She had a boyfriend who saw her, loved her, and brought out the best in her. A twinge of jealousy worked its way down my spine, making me hate myself. Envy was okay. I was allowed to be envious of my sister without wishing her anything but the best. She deserved the world, but when had our lives become so different?
I pinched my nose and stared at the ceiling fan, watching the blades move in a circle for a full ten minutes. My body ached from the stretches and routines, and tomorrow would be worse. Thank god I could come back and nap.
Unless… I didn’t go.
“What are you doing?”
Freddie. I didn’t move from my position to stare at him, but my muscles tightened. “Trying to rest in silence.”
“You’re not sleeping out here.”
“What world do you live in where you think you can tell me what to do?” I pushed up onto my elbows and hit him with my meanest glare. I used it once a day, but this time, I meant it. He stood, shirtless, with his hands on his hips and his gray eyes narrowed in annoyance behind his frames. Him being angry was beautiful. Made me want to rip those glasses off his face.
“Look at you.” He waved his hand up and down in the air, heat mixing with the irritation in his eyes. The gray color reminded me of a summer thunderstorm. “You can’t sleep out here. You don’t know who lives here or what weird shit could happen. Like Nathan or Chase.”
“Well, I’m a light sleeper, and my room smells like armpit vomit.”
His mouth twitched, just a bit. “Armpit vomit? Creative.”
“Not lying about it,” I said, moving back toward my position on the couch. “Feel free to leave.”
“Use my room. I can sleep here.”
“No.”
“Cami, please,” he said, trailing off. Something shuffled on the floor. I didn’t bother seeing what it was. Stay in his room? No way. It had nothing to do with my attraction to him and everything to do with what he thought of me.
I’d probably sleep-talk or do something horrible in there. Whatever. The silence went on, and a thud sounded to my right. I bolted up, aware that I was alone in a lobby with three doors that led to the rooms. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest decision to sleep exposed to everyone.
I was being that girl. The one in movies that made me roll my eyes. Fuck. I couldn’t go back on my word to Freddie. That was a hard no still, but I should tough out the vomit smell. Before I made up my mind, Freddie was back with a pillow.
To say I was relieved was an understatement. Did I share my gratitude with him? No. Hell no. But I rested against the cushion as he positioned himself on the other couch. His frame was too large to fit, and he groaned and grunted quite a few times.
“No one asked you to stay with me, you know,” I said, a little softer than before. It was clear he did this to protect me. Whatever his reasons were, this was a nice move. I could acknowledge that without overthinking it.
“I imagined this week being chill as hell at the apartment. Probably going to a few parties. Hanging out on balconies. Never did I think I’d be in this shithole.”
I guess we were having a talk. Cool. I rolled onto my side and made the mistake of facing him. His gray eyes were open and staring right back at me. “Bad luck for both of us.”
“You didn’t have to take care of her. You did.”
I shrugged, closing my eyes. “Shh. I’m trying to sleep.”
“Okay.” He sighed, and I snuck a quick glance at him. He rolled onto his back, and his legs hung over the edge all the way up to his knees. Freddie put his arm over his eyes. Exhaustion won, but my last thought was how weird it felt to be protected by him.
The gentle giant in glasses. Despite all the reasons he pissed me off, the overwhelming sense of peace I had around him was a bit alarming. I couldn’t remember the last time someone looked out for me.
I woke with a crick in my neck and my abs clenching. Sleeping on a couch was a terrible idea, but damn, the view of Freddie sleeping might’ve been worth it. His legs sprawled out at an awkward angle, but his face… It was all soft, and there wasn’t a single annoyed line anywhere. He was handsome. No other word for it with his strong brows and jawline and slightly off-centered nose. His full lips parted slightly as he breathed deep, and for a moment, I wondered what it would feel like to cuddle against him. He’d be warm and comforting. Like my favorite hoodie.
His eyes opened. He blinked a few times, put on his glasses, then said, “Watching me sleep?”
“Jesus, not really.” My face heated, and I pushed up to a sitting position. The sun woke at six am in the summer, and it was no different today. The beams crashed through the window and lit up the small room. They also showcased his chest. There was a line with sweat on it, and damn if that wasn’t sexy. “I actually was thinking how nice your face is when you’re not being mean.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face and mirrored my sitting position. The lines I was so used to appeared all around his eyes, and he frowned. Those full lips curved down at the sides. “I might’ve misjudged you, Cami, and I’m sorry.”
“Not the first person to do that, won’t be the last.” I got up, stretched my arms over my head in a yawn, and watched as Freddie’s eyes traveled the length of me. It was weird to know he was attracted to me yet thought I was the worst. When I was done, I met his gaze head on, and there was no denying the heat there now. It made my throat feel tighter than normal, and my scratchy voice was a dead giveaway to the raging feelings inside me. “You didn’t have to stay out here with me, so thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He ran a hand over his jaw a few times and opened his mouth like he had something
to say, but a door flew open with a loud bang. Someone--Daniella--ran into the bathroom.
“Hoping it’s a good sign she’s in the bathroom. Fingers crossed it’s my lucky day and there’s no puke in my room.” I cracked my neck from side to side and glanced one more time at the sleepy and sexy Freddie.
His eyes were darker in the morning, like he was still waking up and they didn’t take on their light gray color until later. Very interesting. Not that I had any business wondering about his eyes. With a little wave, I left the lobby and went into the bathroom. The lovely sounds of retching had to be from Daniella, so I waited against the doorframe. “You gonna make it?”
“I’m dying inside,” she said, throwing up again. I cringed, definitely relating to how a hangover felt, but I’d learned to never drink like that when there was dance the next day.
“You’ll survive but listen, if you want to be someone in the dance world, you can’t do this shit before boot camp. You’re going to sweat and smell like alcohol, and the girls will know. It sets a terrible example.”
She flushed and walked out of the stall and toward the sink. Her skin was pale and gross, and she met my gaze in the mirror as she washed her face. “Why is this place so damn hot?”
“No air. It’s hell.”
“You live here?”
“Temporarily.” I held up a finger. “Wait here.”
I went into my room and got mouthwash and a washcloth for her. I gritted my teeth, but I also grabbed a pair of workout shorts and a sports bra she could wear too. It was difficult to help the person who stole my dream. I rubbed my chest, a pang of envy and bitterness forming behind my ribs. No other way around it though. It was my reality. “Rinse up, change. Then, we’re heading to camp.”
“I can’t… I can’t go. I’ll throw up.”
“Yeah, you probably will, but this is on you. You’re captain of the squad,” I said, my voice getting a little louder. “You’ll own up to it, be embarrassed, and power through it. What if this was halftime while our game was live on TV? Would you just let a teammate not dance because she was hungover? No. You tough it out for your teammates. Today is like that.”
From the Top (Central State) Page 5
