Fair Play

by Fox, Cathryn

  “Really?” I ask, a bit surprised by that. “She actually brought up Cameron to you?”

  “Yeah, right after the game tonight. He’s so totally her type.”

  I scrub my face, and shake my head, trying to wrap my brain around that. Jesus, I really never thought a smart girl like her would fall for his charm. He’s had three years to perfect it, though, so the blame isn’t all hers. “Cameron isn’t a good guy, Ivy.”

  She frowns at me. “I know something happened between you two, but the past is the past. We’re all grown-ups now, Landon, and I think he really likes her.” I shake my head. Of course she does, that’s how he plays the game. “It’s time to move on from your dispute, don’t you think?”

  I look at her. Could Cameron really be interested in Ella? I don’t see why he wouldn’t be. She’s the whole package. Maybe Ivy is right, and it is time for me to move on and forget about our dispute, forget about Ella. Maybe she never was the girl for me. Why then does it feel so damn right when I’m with her? I would never forgive myself if Cameron chewed her up and spit her out, just to get back at me. I spot Peyton, who is taking off her apron and it gives me a measure of relief to know that she’ll be home with Ella.

  “Come on.” Ivy wraps herself around my body. “Let’s get you in the party mood, and I bought a little something today that will put a smile on your face,” she says and undoes the top button on her shirt to give me a quick peek at the black lace beneath. She orders two shots for us and I down the Patron. She does the same, and for the next couple of hours we party and drink, until I’m a little numb inside.

  The next thing I know, I wake up in my bed, Ivy beside me. I let loose a groan, and wrack my brain, trying to figure out what happened last night. Jesus Christ, I pray to God I didn’t sleep with Ivy again. Does it really matter, though? Ella is with Cameron, and I can’t be with her anyway, not after sleeping with her sister, and I guess maybe I never slept with Ella in the first place. She straight up told me she had no idea what I was talking about.

  I push the covers off and check for a condom. When I don’t find one, I tug on my jeans and head to the bathroom. One look at my face, and I groan. Shit, I look like fucking hell. I make my way to the kitchen and put on a big pot of coffee. My thoughts go to Ella as I sip it, and drop down to the table to read over some notes, but can’t clear the fog from my brain. I grab my phone, and shoot a text off to Ella before I can think better of it.

  Me: Sorry about last night. Can we just forget about it?

  Ella: It’s fine.

  Me: Are you studying today?

  Ella: Yeah, going over notes later.

  Me: Study together?

  Ella: I don’t think that’s a great idea.

  Me: Well you are my tutor, aren’t you?

  Me: Don’t you have a camera with your name on it?

  When she doesn’t answer, I text back.

  Me: I really could use your help.

  Ella: Okay, let’s go to the library.

  Me: See you there.

  I start to pack up my books, when Ivy enters the kitchen, looking sleepy and hung over.

  “Going somewhere?” she asks.

  “Big test on Monday. Got to study.”

  “Is my sister still tutoring you?”

  “Yeah,” I say and glance down, not wanting my eyes to give my feelings away.

  “Heard she and Cameron did it last night,” Ivy says with a wicked grin.

  My stomach clenches tight, and my gaze lifts, but she’s walking to the coffee pot and pours a big mug and can’t see the storm inside me.

  I clear my throat, wanting to sound casual. “How did you hear that?”

  “Girls talk, Landon.” She laughs like it was a silly question for me to ask, and takes a sip of her coffee. “I think they make a cute couple, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, sure.” I take in her kiss-swollen lips. Pieces of last night start to fill in, and I’m pretty certain we didn’t have sex. I was so drunk there was no way I could have gotten it up anyway. How then, did she get those marks on her neck, and why does she look like a well-fucked woman this morning?

  She walks up to me and puts her arms around my shoulders as she sits on my lap, her sex aligned with mine. “How long are you going to be?”

  “A couple hours at least.” I tap her backside, to get her off me.

  She pouts. “That long?”

  “I have to pass English, or I’m off the team.”

  She climbs off me. “We definitely can’t let that happen. My man needs to make it to the NFL. Text me when you’re done and tell Ella I’m happy about her and Cameron.”

  “Sure,” I say and storm out of the house. Not even the early morning sunshine or the birds help my mood as I cut across campus and head to the library. The second I enter, and find Ella sitting there, absently twirling her hair in her fingers, my heart misses a beat. Man, I am so fucked. I’m with one twin, sort of—I’m not even sure I was given a choice here—and falling hard for the other. Not that I can do anything about that. She’s with douche bag Cameron, and I honestly pray to fuck he’s not doing this as revenge, and he really does like her.

  “Hey,” I say quietly, and her head lifts. The second our eyes meet and lock, energy arcs between us. Jesus Christ, am I imagining this, or does she feel exactly what I’m feeling? I must just be projecting, because she slept with Cameron last night. Her smile is so goddamn warm and inviting as she gestures for me to take a seat across from her, it’s all I can do not to lean over the table and taste her sweetness.

  I want to ask her how her night went, but it’s not my business, and I’m terrified of what she might say, so I plunk down, and pull out my books. “Did you enjoy your second read of Huck?” she asks me.

  “Believe it or not, I did, and it made much more sense to me.”

  “Okay, let’s go over what I think will be on the test,” she says, and our fingers touch as she reaches for my book. My throat tightens, and I’m pretty damn sure a little breathy sound escaped her lips. “Sorry,” she says and pulls her hand back. “Just turn to page eighteen.”

  I open my book and for the next hour or so we talk quietly, and I have to say, I really enjoy being with her, no one else around but us two. I like closing the world out. Just as we’re finishing up, I say, “Can I ask you a question?”

  She slides her laptop into her bag. “Sure.”

  “What movie was it?”

  “Movie?”

  “Last night, we were going to watch a movie. Which one did you pick?”

  She smiles. “One of my favorites. Citizen Kane.”

  I laugh, and then lower my voice when she puts her finger to her lips. “I love that one. Did you, uh, watch it last night?” Okay, I know I’m fishing for information, but I can’t help it.

  Her face falls, and she averts my gaze. “No.”

  “Ella?”

  Her head lifts. “Yeah?”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, fine,” she says, a little too quickly, and I bite the inside of my mouth to keep myself from asking if she slept with Cameron.

  “If you’re not doing anything later, maybe we can still watch it.”

  “I’m sure Ivy has plans for you both. When she texted me from your bed this morning, she told me not to keep you too long.”

  My heart tumbles into my stomach as Ella stands. “Ella,” I begin, wanting to tell her how I feel about her, that it’s her I want to be with, but how can I do that to her? Why the fuck would she want a guy who slept with her sister just hours after he took her virginity? She deserves better than that. She hikes her bag over her shoulder, and I stand as questioning eyes watch me, waiting for me to continue.

  “What is it?” she asks as I stand there staring at her.

  “I got this,” I say and take her bag and put it over my shoulder. The truth is, I don’t ‘got this.’ I don’t got anything, least of all the girl I want to be with.

  No one ever said life was fair, Landon.

>   15

  Ella

  September and October fly by in a blur, between tutoring Landon, and keeping my head down, busy with my own work and filming the games, I’ve barely had a minute to catch my breath. Honestly though, while I enjoy recording the games and need the credit, it’s not easy for me to see my sister all over Landon at every turn, and maybe, deep down, it really guts me to stand back, and watch it happen. But there’s nothing I can do about that, and I have to remind myself that she didn’t know I was into him, or that I slept with him nearly two months ago. Heck, he doesn’t know it either. It boils down to this, we might have a love of movies in common, but she’s clearly the girl for him.

  My mind goes back to the night Landon came to my place when I was having lasagna with Cameron. My God, when he asked if it was me in his bed, I nearly swallowed my tongue. I was so damned embarrassed I denied it, pretended not to know what he was talking about, and if he thought it was me, if he had one little inkling that he slept with the nerdy twin first, why the hell did he sleep with Ivy afterward? See, none of that makes sense unless he really is an egotistical asshole, and I really have the feeling he’s not.

  I glance down and find a text from Cameron, and an uneasy feeling closes in on me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something shifted in him that night at my place after Landon showed up at the door. Or maybe it was my imagination, but the genuine worry, the deep-seated fear in Landon’s eyes made me stand up and take notice—pay more attention to my intuition.

  I don’t consider myself a bad judge of character, and my sister didn’t seem to have a problem with Cameron when I asked about him, but still, little warning bells went off in my brain after Landon left, leaving me alone with the guy he clearly hates. Peyton came home right away, and that’s when Cameron left. I still don’t know what they were talking about, the girl, the thing from freshman year, or why I would be used in some revenge plot. None of it made any sense. I asked Peyton and she was clueless too. Perhaps my sister knows, but I never have five seconds alone with her for a private conversation. But, like Cameron pointed out, if it was revenge he was after, he’d go after Ivy.

  We’ve been texting over the last couple months, but between school, filming the football team and Cameron’s baseball games, the two of us have been too busy to meet up, but tonight Peyton is working and there is a good band playing so I agreed to meet Cameron at the Growler.

  I make my way home from campus and change into a pair of jeans and T-shirt, and head to the pub. The night air is a bit cooler now that we are into late fall. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I hug myself, wishing I’d grabbed a jacket. I hurry my pace and make it to the Growler quickly. Hard to believe I never used to come here and now I’m here all the time. I pull open the door and the place is packed, but then again, it’s Saturday night.

  I make my way to the bar, and Peyton gives me a big smile as she slides a fruity blue drink across the countertop. “You look hot tonight.”

  “I was running to get here.”

  She shakes her head. “That is not what I mean. You look hot in those jeans, and that T-shirt really shows off your tits.”

  I laugh at that and take a sip. Mmm, I’m not sure what she’s given me, but it’s delicious. “Thank you but I hardly look hot.”

  “Uh, yeah, you do.” She puts her hands on her hips, daring me to challenge her. “Don’t you see all the guys looking at you?”

  “They’re probably looking at you.” I look to my left, find Caleb at the end of the bar. “Actually, Caleb is looking at you. What’s going on with you two anyway?” Her face flushes and it never flushes. Nothing embarrasses Peyton. “Do you have something to tell me?”

  “Nothing. I hate him.”

  Wow, something horrible must have happened. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, he’s a jerk with a capital J.”

  I give her hand a squeeze and leave it at that. She clearly doesn’t want to talk about it. “I know all about stupid mistakes,” I tell her.

  “Speaking of stupid mistakes, yours is looking at you right now.”

  Landon Brooks. My stupid mistake. I laugh at that. What else can I do? Cry? Hell no. Peyton gestures with the tip of her chin. I spin on my stool and when my gaze lands on Landon, my breath leaves my lungs in a whoosh. My God, he’s so gorgeous, dressed in low slung jeans and a T-shirt that shapes his muscles. You’d think after all the time we’ve been spending together studying I’d have gotten used to it, but no. I still react like a love-struck teenager. He rubs the fresh bruise beneath his eye. I’m guessing he got that at practice today. I consider his other scars. He never did tell me what they were from.

  Landon moves through the crowd and takes the seat next to me. His big body crowds mine, and I try not to react when his thigh brushes against my leg. His fresh soapy scent fills my nostrils and I breathe him in.

  “How did you do on yesterday’s exam?” he asks.

  “Pretty good.” I turn to my drink, trying to appear unfazed. “How do you think you did?”

  “Not bad, thanks to you.” He lifts his beer and clinks it with my glass of whatever it is I’m drinking. “I really appreciate all your help, Ella.” The sincerity in his voice wraps around me and I lift my gaze and admire his rough and rugged face.

  “I’m glad to help. Getting closer and closer to buying that camera.” He shifts in his seat and his leg presses harder against mine. Oh boy. “Where’s Ivy?” I ask, a reminder to myself that while I’m insanely attracted to this guy, my body emitting enough energy to light the town, he’s with my sister.

  He frowns, and I try to think back to the last time I saw her. It was days ago on the field. She wasn’t her normal self, less bubbly and vibrant. Did Landon Brooks break her heart? As much as I hope he hasn’t, there is a small selfish part of me that kind of wishes they weren’t together. Although their separation wouldn’t affect me in any way. Landon’s not into me.

  “I’m not sure where she is. She hasn’t been well lately, actually. I was wondering if you knew what was going on.”

  I sit up a little straighter. “Really? She never said anything to me.” My heart starts to race with worry. I glance around the pub but she’s nowhere to be found. Maybe she’s just exhausted like the rest of us. Midterms were killer, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We all need the break. I’m not sure if she asked Landon to come back to the orchard yet, and I have no idea if he agreed. I resist the urge to snort. Some break that’s going to be for me if he comes. Watching the two of them together all the time. Maybe I’ll stay with Peyton. I grab my phone and shoot her a text.

  Me: Hey, Ivy. How’s it going?

  Ivy: I feel like crap.

  Me: Do you have the flu?

  Ivy: I think so. I’m going to go to the clinic, I think.

  Me: Do you want me to go with you?

  Ivy: No, I’m okay.

  Ivy: I can’t get a hold of Landon.

  I hold my phone out and show it to Landon. Air seems to slowly leak from his lungs, he looks deflated, and I can’t help but wonder if there’s trouble on the home front.

  “You guys okay?” I ask.

  “I uh…” he hedges, and his words fall off when Cameron takes the seat beside me. From behind me, his legs spread and he puts them around my body. I glance at him over the shoulder.

  “Hi,” I say. “Just a second. I’m checking on my sister.” I turn back to Landon, take in the stiffness in his body, the tightening of his hand on his beer, rage emanating off him in waves. What the hell is going on with him? I realize he doesn’t like Cameron, but who I’m with is none of his business. Not that I’m with Cameron. I just want to keep things platonic. “What should I tell her?” I ask.

  He pulls his phone from his pocket. “Nothing. I’ll text her myself.” He climbs from the stool, and I lose sight of him in the crowd.

  “What the fuck was that all about?” Cameron asks, and spins my stool until I’m facing him and his legs are wrapped around mine. The po
sition is intimate, too intimate for our friendship, and a little possessive. I try to move, shift a little but he keeps me in place.

  “What are you drinking?” he asks.

  I glance at the blue magic in my glass. “Not even a clue.”

  He laughs and Peyton leans into us. “It’s a Blue Lagoon.”

  He makes a face like he might have just sucked a lemon. “I think I’ll stick with beer.”

  Peyton pours him a draft, slides it across the counter and disappears to help the next customer. I turn to take in the bodies on the dance floor.

  “Looks like you want to dance, Peaches.”

  “No, actually I don’t.” I notice a red haired guy sitting at a table close to the bar, studying me. With a sly grin, his gaze slowly slides from me to Cameron, back to me. Do I know him? I can’t quite place him or figure out why he looks so familiar. He’s probably in one of my classes.

  “Drink up,” Cameron says, and tips my glass to my mouth.

  “Are you trying to get me drunk?” I tease and once again that uncomfortable feeling takes up residence in my gut. I shift again, and put my hands on his legs to move them so I can turn on my stool. Am I being silly? Reading too much into this? He eyes me, and I turn my focus to the band. “They’re pretty good, aren’t they?”

  “Yeah, pretty good,” he says and I look back at him.

  “I’m talking about the band.”

  “I’m not.” He leans into me. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “And go where?”

  He reaches into his coat, and pulls out a movie. I gasp when I see that it’s A Tale of Two Cities.

  “Where did you get that? That’s one of my favorites.” I eye him suspiciously. “Wait, how did you know?’

  He grins. “I know everything, remember?”

  I narrow my eyes in on him, and something just beyond his shoulder catches my eye. I lift my gaze and find the same guy with the red hair, leaning over the counter, trying to get Peyton’s attention. Those little alarm bells jangle again. How do I know him?

  “Seriously, Cameron. How did you know?” I ask. He picks up his drink and his eyes go to Peyton. She smiles at us and reaches into the fridge for the orange juice. Ah, that makes sense. He asked Peyton, and really that’s kind of sweet. “You really want to watch this?” I laugh. “That does not seem like your thing at all.”