Page 82 of Playmaker

With me cradled against his chest, Cameron climbs carefully over the rocks before storming off in the direction of the trail.

“The trail is miles!” I sob. “Cam, you can’t carry me all that way.”

Pure determination lines his face when his eyes meet mine. “Watch me.”

My eyes are stinging from all the crying and my ankle is throbbing, yet all I can think about is the fact that Cameron stood up for me. Forus. He didn’t cower at my brother’s blatant denial of this, and my fragile heart can’t help but cling to the frayed hope that maybe, justmaybe, Cameron will choose us in the face of all this chaos.

The urge to know overpowers my pain when I ask, “Are you going to break up with me?”

His lips twitch, threatening a smile. “Jesus, Mads. That isnotwhat you should be worrying about.”

“Well, are you?” I press.

He sighs, giving a shake of his head. “No, Maddie. I’m not breaking up with you. I think the pain is making you delusional.”

I want to laugh but I’m in so much pain that it sounds more like a chortled sob mixed with a laugh.

Cam bends down to kiss my forehead, his steps steady and sure as he forges down the path. “We’re going to get you help,” he reassures me, glancing over his shoulder for any sign of Ethan or Maya. “Even if I have to carry you to the car by my damn self, I’m going to make sure you’re okay.”

Even through the pain, I smile faintly against his bare chest because the more feelings develop between us, the more I realize that I might be more important to him than I imagined myself to be. I’ve spent years thinking Michael got a black eye from my brother, but it was Cameron who defended my honor that day. It wasCameronwho has always done his best to protect my heart in his own way. And with that knowledge, maybe we’ll choose to face this chaos together.

“I know,” I reply as I cling to his chest. “You’ve got me.Always.”

Thirty-two

Cameron

Blinking my eyes open under the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital room, I shield my face from the brightness, shifting in the uncomfortable chair for the umpteenth time since we arrived.

I carried Maddie for three miles, and because of that, every one of my muscles is in pure agony. With every movement I make, my body barks out in pain. This overexertion won’t help with my training, and if my dad finds out, I’ll be sure to get an earful.

Not that I care.

Not when Maddie whimpered and cried the entirety of the way back to the car. In those moments, I didn’t even feel the strain I was putting on my body. Adrenaline pushed it to the side, and it stayed that way until we got here and the doctors checked her out. She had to get multiple X-rays and imaging scans done, and when she finally got pain medicine and passed out, onlythendid I find the time to close my eyes and fall asleep.

Mud, sweat, and dirt stick to my skin. Thankfully, one of the nurses gave me a hospital gown since I was shirtless on the hike, and now Maddie and I look like a pair in matching outfits. I’d laugh if I wasn’t so plagued by exhaustion, concern, and downright panic as I scan the room for Ethan.

There are no signs of anyone else in the room, but I know better than to assume her family isn’t nearby. I called Richard and Mary as soon as we made it back to the car, and Ethan and Maya came to the emergency room with us. Ethan didn’t speak to me the entire ride, but with the adrenaline coursing through my veins I barely noticed. My only concern was making sure Maddie was okay.

But now, as I watch her sleeping, all the worry I pushed to the side creeps back in. Ethan found out about us, and he definitely wasn’t understanding or happy like I hoped he would be. Instead, he was everything I feared, and now I’m terrified I’ll have to make a choice between my best friend and the girl who is slowly but surely bringing me back to life.

I always thought if it came to this that I’d know who I’d choose. I would never choose a girl over my friendship with Ethan, but now . . .

I can’t imagine giving her up. I don’t even want to think about how lonely I’d be without her friendship and these intimate moments with her. She makes me a better person. She makes me want to believe I’m not the emotionless robot I think I am.

How am I supposed to let her go when I just got her back?

The curtain opens, pulling me from my thoughts, and Mary and Richard are standing there, each holding coffee cups. Mary holds an extra cup out to me, her eyes red rimmed and puffy from crying. “Figured you could use the caffeine,” she whispers.

Do they know?

Did Ethan tell them?

I want to ask, but given the events of today, I think better of it and bite my tongue. “Thank you,” I reply, gratefully taking the cup. “Did she wake up while I was out?”

“No,” Richard says. “She’s been out like a light from those pain meds.”

Mary places a hand over her heart, stifling a sob. “Thank you, Cameron. It could have been so much worse if you hadn’t carried her all that way. Ethan told us the details earlier, and I can’t imagine—” She sniffles, and Richard places his free hand on her lower back. “I can’t imagine how much effort that took, but just know we aresograteful.”

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