by L A Cotton
“And that’s a bad thing?” Because it sounded damn near perfect to me.
“Well, no, I just thought... it doesn’t matter, it’s silly.”
“Hailee, stop. Nothing you could say or do is silly. Now tell me what’s going on in that head of yours?”
“It’s just you’re used to hanging out at Bell’s, or parties at Asher’s house. This,”—her eyes flicked over to The Alley—“isn’t exactly what you’re used to.” Hailee lowered her gaze and my chest tightened. She genuinely thought I gave two shits about where we were? We could have been in the school cafeteria surrounded by our nosy classmates and it wouldn’t have mattered.
I stole another kiss from her before flashing her a smile. “Come on, or we’ll be late.”
“Late, but—” Her voice drowned out as I climbed out of the truck waiting for her.
“Ready?” I held out my hand as she came around to me, still frowning.
“What are you planning, Cameron Chase?”
“Why don’t you come find out?”
Tate, the owner, met us inside. “Cameron, Hailee, glad you could make it. Your table is all set.”
I glanced down at the girl beside me, grinning when I saw her dumbfounded expression. “Hmm, Tate,” she said quietly. “What is happening right now? And how do the two of you know each other?” Hailee looked from him up at me and back again.
“My lips are sealed, Hailee, sorry.” He gave me a knowing smile, leading us to the diner part of the building. I’d asked for a specific booth overlooking the river. The Alley might have been Hailee’s Switzerland, but it didn’t take long before people noticed us, whispering and pointing as we followed Tate, my hand on the small of Hailee’s back.
“Everyone’s staring,” she whispered, her posture tense. I leaned forward, brushing the shell of her ear, and replied, “Let them look.”
I had no problem with everyone knowing she was mine. In fact, if I didn’t think she’d kick me in the balls, I would have kissed the crap out of her, giving them the show they were hoping for.
“I hope this is okay?” Tate said as we stopped at the last booth removing the handwritten ‘reserved’ sign. It was as private as it was going to get, but Flick had shot down my first suggestion of asking Tate for exclusive use of the place. ‘Do you know Hailee at all?’, she’d asked me with an air of amusement before proceeding to tell me I just needed to be myself—not Raider Cameron, but the guy underneath the bravado—and nothing else.
“It’s great, thank you.” I held out my hand and he shook it before leaving us to it.
Hailee stuttered, her eyes moving from the booth to me. “What is happening right now?”
“We’re about to eat dinner and then I’m going to kick your very cute ass at bowling.” I took her hand and gently nudged her into the booth, sliding in opposite her. “So, what’s good here?” I picked up the menu.
“I can’t believe you had Tate reserve us a table.”
“It could have been worse. I could have booked out the whole place just for the two of us.”
I’d expected to see her nose wrinkle at the obscene over-the-top idea, but it didn’t. Instead, her pupils dilated, that sexy-as-fuck blush spreading up her neck. “Would you have wanted that?” I asked.
“Maybe.” She chewed her bottom lip, desire simmering in her eyes.
My brow rose. “Yeah? Here?” I scanned the place quickly, imagining all the places I could lay her out and—
“Hailee?” A dark-haired guy approached the booth, his eyes darting between us.
“Hey, Toby.” Her expression fell.
Toby.
My spine went rigid as I sat up straighter.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt, I can see you’re... busy.” He swallowed thickly. “I just wanted to apologize for what happened. You didn’t text me back and I...”
“You need to leave, now.” I ground out, my fingers curled around the Formica table.
“Cameron,” Hailee said gently. “It’s okay. Toby, this is Cameron, my—”
“Her boyfriend.” I locked eyes on him, sending him a silent message. Hailee’s foot kicked me under the table and I jerked in my seat.
“Behave,” she mouthed. “I’m sorry I didn’t text you back, Toby, but it didn’t feel right, not after...”
“Yeah, I get it.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I just felt bad about what happened, and I wanted you to know I had no idea Thatcher was going to pull that shit. He might be my cousin but that was not cool.”
“Are you done?” I said coolly.
Credit to him, the guy looked me right in the eye as he said, “Yeah, I’m done.” His gaze slid back to Hailee. “And I’m sorry again. I guess I’ll see you around.”
She gave him a little nod and he left, and I breathed a huge fucking sigh of relief.
“You didn’t have to be so rude.” Hailee scolded, trying, and failing to keep the amusement out of her voice.
“Rude? That was me being polite, Sunshine.”
“Cameron, come on...” She gave me a pointed look, but I wasn’t about to waiver. Not on this.
“Hailee.” I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “He took you to a party where you were drugged and...” The words lodged in my throat. “I’m never going to be okay with that.” He was lucky I hadn’t introduced my fist to his face.
“I know, I just... You did some pretty shitty things to me too, Cameron.”
Her words cut like a knife and my eyes shuttered as I inhaled a deep breath. “You’re never going let me forget, are you?” My stomach sank as I met her eyes once more, scared of what I might find there.
“I’m sure there are ways you can make it up to me.” Lust dripped from her words and my eyes snapped to hers.
“Yeah?” I practically panted, and her smirk grew.
And just like that all thoughts of Toby and Thatcher evaporated.
An hour later, stuffed full of Alley burgers and milkshakes, we’d attracted quite the audience. But I only had eyes for the girl opposite me. With every question I asked, every graze of my fingers against hers, Hailee relaxed. We’d talked about everything: her mom, her dad, how she got into art, her plans for after graduation.
“So, Stamps is an art and design school?”
“Yeah,” she said helping herself to a big spoonful of the sundae we’d decided to share. “It’s part of the University of Michigan.”
“You don’t say.” My heart picked up speed; a plan—albeit a crazy one—unfolding in my mind.
“What will you do if you decide not to play college football?” Hailee turned the spotlight on me.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve always liked numbers, so maybe business or finance or something.”
“And you can do that just about anywhere,” she said. “So you can stay local if your family needs you. Crap, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“Hailee.” I covered her hand with mine. “It’s okay. I’m okay.” Was I terrified about what next week would bring? Yes. But I had to trust the doctors knew what they were doing. And with Hailee by my side, everything seemed that much easier to process.
“Have you figured out what you’re going to tell Coach?” She changed the subject.
“Not yet. But I can’t think about the team until after the surgery.”
Giving me a reassuring nod, Hailee smiled. “She’ll be okay, Cameron.”
“I hope so.” I suddenly didn’t feel hungry anymore. Because the reality was, I wasn’t thinking past the surgery. The ‘what ifs’ or maybes. Because Hailee was right, Mom would be okay.
She had to be.
After beating me at bowling, twice, I drove Hailee back to my house. The tension between us was almost at breaking point. All night, Hailee had teased me with little kisses and subtle touches. I was surprised how tactile she was with me, given the constant stares and whispers aimed in our direction. But we were both too drunk on each other to care.
When I pulled into the driveway and cut the engi
ne, Hailee turned to me. “Thank you, for tonight. It was perfect.”
“No.” I leaned over, capturing a strand of hair between my fingers. “You’re perfect.”
Hailee lowered her eyes, blushing. But I gently gripped her chin, forcing her to look at me. “Whatever happens next week, it won’t change how I feel about you. I want you to know that.”
“Cameron, I—”
“Wait, just hear me out, okay?” I needed to get this off my chest. “I might get angry and confused and I’ll probably screw this up, but just know that I love you and I’m so fucking relieved I have you by my side going into this.”
Hailee climbed across the console and onto my lap, slipping her legs over mine and looping her arms around my neck. “I’m not going anywhere. You should know by now, I don’t break easily.” She leaned in to kiss me, teasing me with her tongue.
“I never wanted to break you,” I confessed. “I only wanted you to see me.”
Pressing her head to mine, Hailee’s eyes glowed with fierce possessiveness. “I see you, Cameron.
“I. See. You.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Hailee
“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” I said as we sat in Cameron’s truck in the school parking lot. He’d insisted on giving me a ride to school.
Twisting his body to me, he let out a long sigh. Kids had already started to notice us, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before the entire school had heard, if they hadn’t already after our date at The Alley last night.
“Hailee, look at me.” My eyes slowly slid to his. “I love you. Nothing anyone does or says will change that.”
Butterflies fluttered wildly in my stomach. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to hearing him say those words. Even if I hadn’t said them back yet.
A loud knock startled us, and Asher pressed his face up against Cameron’s window. “Are you guys going to sit in there all morning?”
Cameron groaned. “I’m sorry.” He mouthed at me, and I chuckled softly.
“Me and Fee are waiting.”
That had me craning my head around Cameron to find Flick standing to Asher’s side, looking like a deer caught in headlights. Shouldering the door, I climbed out of the truck and went around to meet my best friend.
“Hi,” she said giving me a small smile. “This is... what is this exactly?”
I went to reply, but Cameron climbed out and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me back against his chest. “Me and Hailee are together now.”
Flick grinned while Asher’s eyes almost bugged out of his head. “Together, together? Or like fuck buddies together, because I thought—” His lips flattened at whatever Cameron was mouthing to him.
I glanced back at Cameron and he dipped his head, capturing my lips in a soft kiss. “I apologize now for anything that might come out of his mouth.”
“I heard that,” Asher grumbled.
“You were supposed to.”
“Not that I’m not happy for you,” he went on. “I am, but does Jase know about this?”
Cameron’s arm tightened around me as he said, “It doesn’t matter.”
Asher looked past me to his best friend. “There is so much I want to say but, oh... speak of the devil.”
We all turned in the direction he was looking to find Jason walking toward school with some of the guys from the team. As if he felt us watching, his eyes found us across the lawn, locking on me and Cameron. Everything slowed down: the stream of kids walking into the building, the incessant chatter and laughter, the oxygen filtering around my body. I’d known things would be awkward, but I hadn’t expected it to feel like a new line was being drawn between us. I could practically feel the shift in the air, the invisible wall being erected between us. Me, Flick, Cameron, and Asher one side; and Jason on the other.
I shuddered at the realization.
“Hey,” Cameron’s voice anchored me back to him. “It’ll be okay; he’ll come around.” He kissed my cheek.
Flick glanced at me nervously and I offered her a weak smile. But it was Asher who broke the stifling tension. “Well,” he said. “I guess it’s you and me, Fee, baby.” He slung his arm around my best friend, who shot me a ‘help’ expression. A smile tugged at my mouth. It was a shame she had friend-zoned him for her mystery guy because despite Asher’s manwhore tendencies, they made a seriously cute couple. But I had enough to worry about without getting involved in my best friend’s love life.
“Are you ready?” I asked Cameron quietly, but of course Asher overhead.
“Ready? Ready for what?”
Cameron’s expression fell as he said, “I have to talk to Coach.”
We survived the day at school. After the rumor mill almost exploded with news of me and Cameron, things settled down. But I was going to have to get used to my newfound popularity now I was with a Raider.
With a Raider. There was something I never thought I’d say.
“What are you smiling at?” Cameron asked me as he met me outside class.
“Oh nothing.” I smirked, letting him take the pile of books from me. “But having a boyfriend has its uses.”
We stopped by my locker and I traded the books I needed for homework with the ones in Cameron’s arms. When I was done, I found myself crowded against the locker bank, stormy gray-blue eyes fixed right on me. The hall was emptying, but a few kids watched us with mild curiosity and amusement.
“We have an audience.” My hands slid up his chest as I flicked my head to the group of junior girls openly gawking in our direction.
“We should probably give them something to talk about then.” Cameron closed the distance between us, fixing his mouth over mine, his tongue slipping between my lips. “God, I love you,” he breathed, pulling me closer.
“I love you too,” I said a little louder than I intended earning us a round of hoots and hollers from a few of Cameron’s teammates who passed us. “I’m in love with you.”
It was the truth, I was completely and utterly in love with Cameron Chase.
“Yeah?” He pulled back. “You’re not just saying it because you want my body or to say you bagged a Raider?”
I reached out, tweaking his nipple before drifting my hand down his solid chest, mentally counting off the ridges of his abs. “Well, this is definitely an added bonus…”
His smooth laughter washed over me, giving me a warm squishy feeling inside. “Fuck, we waited too long for this. You know that, right? It should have been me and you all along.”
“I…” I didn’t know what to say to that. But I didn’t have to say anything because Cameron slanted his mouth over mine again. I was so lost in the kiss, in the rightness of his lips moving against mine, I almost didn’t hear someone clear their throat.
But Cameron heard it and he pulled away, expelling a long breath.
“So, the rumors are true then,” a girl with long dark hair said. “Cameron Chase is finally off the market.”
“Miley, this is my girlfriend Hailee. Hailee this is Miley.”
Miley.
I knew this girl. It was the same one from Homecoming, and I was pretty sure she was the girl from the night of Asher’s party when I tagged Jason’s car. “Hi.” I lifted my hand in a small wave.
“Hey.” Her cool gaze swept over me, but it didn’t seem scathing like some of the girls in our class. “A little heads up would have been nice.” She was staring at Cameron now, hurt lingering in her eyes.
“Give me a second,” he said to me before guiding Miley down the hall just out of earshot. My stomach knotted as I watched them talk. They stood close, him staring down at her, her gazing up at him. She was gorgeous, lean and toned, an athlete for sure. And for as much as I didn’t want to feel jealous, it burned through me like acid.
After a minute or two, Miley nodded and turned on her heel and walked off down the hall. Cameron approached me slowly, his eyes drinking me in. Trying to tell me things I couldn’t quite decipher.
“So that’s Mil
ey,” I said. “She’s pretty. Were the two of you, like, a thing?”
“Hailee, don’t do this.” He let out a heavy sigh. “Miley is not important to me.”
“But she was someone to you?”
Cameron crowded me against the locker again, cupping my jaw, angling my face to his. “Listen to me when I say this. It’s you, I want. You, I need. Miley was someone to fill the void for a little while. But that’s all. Me and you, this, it’s real.” He lowered his head to mine. “I need you, Hailee. I need you so much it fucking terrifies me.” Vulnerability glittered in his eyes like stars across the night sky.
Lifting my hand against his cheek, I breathed him in, and said, “You have me.” Every single piece. “Now take me home and show me just how much you need me.”
Cameron didn’t come to school again after that. He wanted to be there for his mom’s appointments and to help with Xander. So I was surprised when he asked me to go to the game with him Friday night.
“Are you okay?” I squeezed his hand as we watched the Raiders run out onto the field below. We were in the family section, using his two tickets reserved for his parents, and Asher had been kind enough to let Flick have one of his tickets since his parents were out of town.
“I’m okay.” Cameron nodded before leaning down to capture my lips in a slow kiss.
“Hmm, guys, right here. I’m right here.”
“Sorry.” I peeked around Cameron and pouted at my best friend.
“You’re so cute I can’t even stay mad at you, ugh,” she groaned, readjusting her Raiders ball cap. “I need a man.”
“What about Ash—”
I clapped my hand over Cameron’s mouth. “Don’t put ideas into her head.”
“He’s nice and all,” Flick said completely ignoring me and Cameron. “But he’s not my type.”
“There’s another type beside cocky arrogant jock?”
“Sunshine,” Cameron warned.
