Page 9 of Out of Bounds

I shuffle around for a while, but can’t really hear anything over the low hum of the refrigerator. Then the AC kicks on and I give up entirely, heading out to the living room.

Plopping onto the sofa, I pick up my cell and text Gracelyn.

Sloane: GRACE! You’ll never guess who’s in my backyard right now…

Bestie: Tom Holland?

Sloane: Really? Why would Tom Hollandbe in my yard?

Bestie: IDK. You said I’d never guess

Sloane: LOL. Think more local

Bestie: That guy from last night at Mustang’s? Rick something or other?

Sloane: Mercifully, no

Bestie: What? I thought he was kinda cute

Sloane: No. He had that odd smirk thing going. And wouldn’t stop talking about how great Dallas is gonna be this year. And we all know that means he’s delulu

Bestie: Truth. Okay, I give up. Who’s there???

Sloane: Cam

Bestie: OMFG

Sloane: I KNOW

Bestie: Are you totally freaking out rn? Did you have sex with him?

Sloane: What? No

Bestie: Oh. I thought he came to profess his love for you and whisk you away to Chicago

Sloane: Not exactly…

Bestie: Ohhhh—spill

Sloane: He’s kind of in a bad spot right now

“Sloane?”

My dad’s deep voice startles me and I almost fall off the sofa as he and Cam saunter into the living room. I slam my cell face down on the cushion, the vibration of an incoming message rattling against my palm.

Gracelyn’s going to have to wait.

I flick my eyes from my dad to Cam, trying to read their expressions. My dad seems happy, his broad chest puffed up. Cam seems…I don’t know. Confused, maybe? Not sad or anything, but not happy either, his brow wrinkled.

“What’s up?” My foot bounces in the air, crossed over my knee.

“Can you throw sheets on the guest bed?” Dad asks, folding his arms across his chest.

I bite at my lower lip, my mouth going dry. “Uh, yeah. Sure, no problem.”

I don’t move, my bottom glued to the sofa. The metal of my cell continues to vibrate against my palm—Gracelyn cannot take a freaking hint.

“Cam’s going to be staying with us for a while.” My dad grins over at Cam like he’s the prodigal freaking son and my insides twist.

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