Page 23 of Keep Me

“I don’t trust Travis around her, okay? I’m making sure she’s okay.”

“You could’ve texted me to keep an eye on Millie Moo, but I must admit your presence here has really made my night,” he tells me earnestly.

“It’s a good party,” I tell him, trying not to be an asshole. There are tons of people, the music’s good, and laughter’s constantly bouncing throughout the rooms. Telltale signs of a good party.

Theo dramatically puts a hand over his heart. “Thank you. Now go find your girl.”

I don’t stay to correct him, even though he’s wrong. She’s not mine, and she never will be.

Yeah, right, my mind mocks me.

Ignoring it, I barrel down the stairs and see a couple of guys from the team dancing. I want to laugh at the sight, but a flash of silky champagne hair redirects my focus.

I find Camille in the hall with her back against the wall, looking uncomfortable and bored as Travis leans over her while she looks away. I see fucking red as I march over to her, not stopping until I yank on Travis’s shirt, pulling him away from her as I shove him against the opposite wall.

“Dude, what the hell?” Travis huffs, struggling against my arm that’s over his chest.

“What did I tell you?” I seethe.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Get off me.” He attempts to move, but I hold him in place.

“That girl is off-limits and looks uncomfortable as fuck with you towering over her. If I see you near her, you’ll never throw a baseball again,” I threaten him.

Travis chuckles. “That sounds familiar. Isn’t that how you got arrested before?”

I narrow my eyes as I shove against him harder before letting him go. I don’t know how he knows about that, but it’s not something I want getting out to the press. I was never charged. They made me do community service instead, but it still doesn’t look good for draft prospects.

He walks away, leaving Camille and me alone in the hallway. She looks like a knockout tonight, dressed in ripped jeans, her signature high-top white Converse and a cropped sweatshirt. It’s different from her usual outfits, but I like it all the same. Honestly, she could wear a paper bag and still be the most stunning girl in the world.

“Are you okay?” I ask. I was so lost in my rage while I had him against the wall that I didn’t check on her.

I should have done that first.

“Yeah,” she breathes out, running a hand through her hair. “You didn’t need to do that. I can stand up for myself.”

“I never said you couldn’t.” I look at her intently because something tells me she doesn’t believe in herself that she could’ve. “But sometimes it’s nice to have someone looking out for you too.”

“It is,” she whispers.

I take a slow step toward her, gauging her reaction. Her eyes flit back to mine, a sense of hope in them, for what, I don’t know. I carefully bring my hand to her chin, and she sucks in a breath.

“Did Travis do or say anything else I should know of?”

She shakes her head, those big eyes of hers locked on mine. It takes the fucking breath out of my lungs. Her eyes dart to my lips, sending a low growl to slip past my lips as I put the other hand on her hip and bring her closer to me.

Camille closes her eyes for a beat, and when they open again, it nearly brings me to my knees. She looks so damn vulnerable, open, and trusting. Her breaths come in quicker, her eyes dipping to my lips once more.

I know she wants me to kiss her, and I fucking want it more than anything, but we can’t. I need to get out of this hallway before I do something stupid. So I clear my throat and drop my hand, letting it fall away as I take a step back.

Camille looks disappointed, but quickly covers it with a smile.

“Well, thanks for…uhm, yeah, good night.” Her tone is hurried and awkward as she walks away from me.

Not on my watch.

I follow her through the house, all the way out the front door. She begins walking down the sidewalk, when I cut her short as I step in front of her.

“Where do you think you’re going, princess?”

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