Page 80 of Playmaker

“Youmorethan kissed.”

“Thus the reason I just said the date went well.”

The smile on my best friend’s face says it all. She’s ecstatic to be with Ethan, and why shouldn’tallof us be happy? If I can accept Ethan and Maya being together, then shouldn’t my brother return the favor and allow me to be with Cam?

I’m tired of hiding.

Tired of being secretive.

Even Cam said he wished my brother knew, so maybe gettingtheirsecret out in the open will allow us to express ours in the near future.

“Ethan!” I shout across the clearing. His head whips around to meet my gaze. “It’s about damn time!”

Confusion passes across his features while it looks like Cameron is explaining that I’ve known something has been going on between him and Maya for a while now.

“You’re cool with it?” he shouts back.

I give him a thumbs-up, and the smile he sends me makes the tension in my shoulders lessen bit by bit.

“Finally.” Maya sighs. “Now can we take this picture so we can get out of here? I think the hot tub is calling our names.”

“Couldn’t agree more.”

Rising to my feet again, I wince at the soreness and take a step back to find a good angle, but instead I slip and stumble backward. I try to catch myself with my hand, but my ankle twists, and I release a bone-chilling cry when I glance down to see it stuck between two rocks. It slipped between the cracks, and now when I attempt to tug it out, it doesn’t budge.

I can’t move it.

“Holyfuck!” I scream out in pain. Tears stream down my cheeks and pain lances up my calf and into my knee as Maya sinks beside me to try to help. I can feel my ankle beginning to swell, making it impossible to free it.

“Mads, hold on!” Cam sprints across the clearing, Ethan following close on his heels. No matter how hard I try, the rock won’t move, and Maya is trying to reassure me everything will be okay, but I can’t hear her. My ears are ringing as panic begins to seep in.

“Hold on,” Maya says. “The boys are coming.”

Cam reaches me first, falling to his knees to inspect the damage. I can tell he’s trying not to seem worried, but it’s written all over his face. I’m stuck between two boulders that might as well be larger than Spaceship Earth at Disney World. I don’t know how the hell I’m getting out of this.

“I just want it out,” I sob. “Fuck. I can’t look at it.”

“Should I call 9-1-1?” Maya asks.

Ethan nods. “Yeah. Let them know the trail we’re on. Tell them we’re at the clearing.” He helps her down from the rocks before shifting his attention back to me.

The panic becomes so overwhelming that I begin to hyperventilate. No amount of air I drag down seems to be enough. It feels as if my throat is closing, and I’m terrified that I’ll never get out of this fucking mess.

What if I lose my foot?

“Mads.” Cam’s soothing voice brings me back to reality, and when I meet his emerald eyes, I can finally drag in my first breath after a full minute. Worry flickers in his stare, but he’s keeping it together for me. “You’re going to be okay, all right? I’ll make sure of it.”

“What if they can’t get it out?”

Cam grasps my chin when it begins to tremble, and for a second, all I can focus on is him. “What did I tell you all those years ago?” he asks. “I’ve got you, Maddie.Always.”

Now I’m beginning to hyperventilate for a completely different reason. He remembered my bike accident. He remembered that sentiment I’ve thought about more times than I can count, and now I’m wondering if he’s thought about it too.

Another wave of pain breaks through the slight reprieve, and I cry out in agony, gripping my leg while seeing stars.

“Baby,breathe.”

Two words.

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