Page 64 of Playmaker

My eyes practically bug out of my head.“What?”

He shrugs and fixes the towel around his waist. “I told you I’ve never fucked without a condom. Didn’t want to take the risk.”

“And yet you did with me.”

His eyes meet mine in a blazing, ferocious emerald, and I suddenly can’t find the air to breathe as the oxygen is seemingly sucked out of the room. “Yes, I did, and now I don’t know how the hell I’m ever going to have sexwitha condom again.”

“Was it really that—”

“Cameron! Where the hell are you? I’ve been calling your phone for the past thirty minutes!”

Time instantly freezes at the realization of who that voice belongs to.

Please,no.

Not now.

I’m not sure who panics first, because my body is frozen in shock when Cameron lunges for the bathroom door and twists the lock. A fist knocks heavily against it seconds later, and I slap a hand over my mouth to silence the heaving gasps racking my body.

There’s no way inhellthis is happening.

But I’m proven just how wrong I am when my brother’s voice echoes from the other side of the door. “What are you—” His voice falters, and then he laughs. “Ah,mystery girlis here. That explains a lot. You’re going to have to come out at some point, Cameron, considering her thong and other articles of clothing are out here.”

I’m completely naked aside from the towel wrapped around my body, and with no windows in this room, there’s no chance of escape. Cameron seems to be thinking the same before he spins to face me and clasps my arms. “Stay here,” he says so quietly I can barely hear him. “Don’t panic, okay? I’ll get rid of him.”

“What if he comes in here?” I whisper hiss.

“He won’t. Just stay here and don’t make a sound, okay?”

I can’t breathe when he closes the curtain to hide me in the shower, giving me little sense of security. My body is trembling, and it has nothing to do with the cold. Cameron and Ijuststarted resolving our problems and figuring out what this could be between us, and is it really going to come crashing down this quickly?

If it wasn’t for having to stay quiet, I’d laugh at the unfairness of it.

Releasing a shaky breath, I try to calm my heartbeat when Cameron opens the door, the future of our relationship hanging in the balance of one conversation.

Here goes nothing.

Twenty-six

Cameron

What a fucking nightmare.

Since Maddie and I began whatever the hell this is between us, my biggest fear aside from hurting her again has been this exact situation. Ethan is standing outside of this door, knowing I have a girl over, but little does he know the girl I’m hiding in my shower isMaddie.

If he had shown up less than a minute before he did, he would have heard his sister’s voice for sure with the way she was screaming my name, and if I wasn’t on fucking edge about this whole thing I’d probably smile at the memory.

With a deep breath, I slip out the bathroom door with just a towel wrapped around my waist, ensuring to close it behind me. Ethan is sitting in the office chair beside my desk with an amused grin.

With both hands behind his head, he leans back in the chair and asks, “Well, who is it?”

I keep my eyes trained on his, refusing to let him see an ounce of the fear coursing through me. “I told you I’m keeping it a secret for now. It’s better this way.”Better for my face, if I’m being honest. I’d prefer not to get a broken nose before going back to school. Coach wouldn’t be impressed if I had to sit out during practice.

“Hmm.” His hands are folded across his stomach now, as he contemplates my answer. “To be honest, it’s a relief you have someone over. When you weren’t answering my calls, I assumed you were still hung up on your dad leaving, so I’m glad it was other endeavors keeping your attention instead.”

“You used the spare key I gave you?” I guess.

He nods and holds up the key in question. “Although now I’ll probably think twice before barging in again. You’ve never . . . well, I’m not used to you having a girl over here. You never bring them home with you.”

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