Page 88 of Playmaker

“Well, just like we’ll have to manage in a few days when we go back to school. I’ll drive to you some weekends, or you’ll drive to me when you’re free. If you’re drafted to Arizona, I’ll find the time to break away from school and fly out for your games and stay for breaks or any free time I have.”

Right. Because Maddie is studying to become a doctor, which requires a hell of a lot more schooling than a degree in physical education.

“And when you’re done with school?”

She laughs. “This is a deep conversation for wanting to take thingsslow.” Then, after a beat she adds, “When I’m done with school, I suppose where I end up will be determined by my relationship status at the time. Who knows who I’ll be with at that point?”

I narrow my eyes while she attempts to hide a smile. “Was that supposed to be a joke? If so, it was a cruel one.”

“I’m not trying to be cruel! I guess I’m just surprised you’re thinking that far ahead. You aren’t the type to get serious with anyone.”

“Didn’t I say before you weren’t like the others? Iwanta future with you, Maddie, I’m just afraid I won’t be able to give you what you want out of life. I don’t want to let you down and fuck this up.”

The wind blows a few strands of hair in her face, so I gently push them behind her ear at the same time she reaches up to cup my cheek. “You’realwaysgoing to be enough for me, even at your lowest, Cameron.”

I can’t breathe as she holds my gaze, and I have to bite down on my tongue with so much force to stop myself from saying I love her. Withholding it feels more and more futile when my actions speak differently, but until I can find the strength to get out from beneath my father’s thumb and become an independent person capable of providing her with the world, I refuse to admit it. I’m terrified of fucking things up. Terrified of commitment. Terrified of what’s growing between us and being unable to stop myself from falling head over heels for her.

But despite the fear, I’ve waited my entire life for this opportunity, and if I continue to push through all this uncertainty, I’ll have to reach the better side eventually,right?

Clearing my throat of the emotion clogging it, I reach down to grab the champagne and top off our glasses. “What should we toast to?”

She hums appreciatively, bringing the glass inches from her lips. “The future.”

“I like that,” I say, clinking my glass against hers. “To the future, baby.”

—

Now that we’ve rekindled our friendship and started a relationship as adults, I’m learning new things about Maddie the more time we spend together. She enjoys reality television now, and the books she reads have become far more scandalous than the ones she read in middle school.

And now, as she erupts into a fit of giggles walking back to the car, I’ve discovered she’s a lightweight.

“Careful.” I bite back a laugh when she stumbles in the gravel, but it quickly subsides when she presses me up against the side of the car, her hands landing on my chest. “You okay?”

“More than okay,” she says, working at the buttons of my shirt. It’s pitch black outside now, and with the pilot already gone for the night, we’re alone in the middle of a field with not a soul around us for miles.

My cock thickens at the possibilities.

“Mads,” I warn when her nails drag down my abs. “If you keep doing that I’ll—”

“Give me what I want?” she teases. “I don’t see anyone else out here, do you? There’s a perfectly suitable car behind you, and I fully intend to make good use of it.”

Fucking hell.

I’m opening the door of the backseat before I can think twice about it. The possibility of getting caught and having the cops called on us should make me take a pause to consider the consequences, but I’ll acceptanyconsequences that follow if it means I’ll be able to fool around in the backseat with her.

“You’re so fucking hot,” she groans, as if it’s painful, shoving me down. After only two small glasses of champagne, there’s no way she’s drunk. Tipsy maybe, but not drunk. I can’t tell if her confidence is from the small bit of alcohol or becoming more comfortable with this and doing it with me.

I sincerely hope it’s the latter.

Even lying across the backseat, my legs still can’t be stretched out the entire way. I keep both legs bent with one foot on the floor, allowing her to straddle my thighs. Her hands find the buckle of my belt, desperately trying to undo it.

“I want you,” she pants. “So badly.”

“You have me,” I reassure her. “All of me.”

Her eyes briefly flick to mine at the admission, but she’s too wrapped up in lust to process it, and so am I. I lift up my hips to drag my pants and briefs down, springing myself free, and just as I’m about to pushheronto her back, she surprises me and flings her underwear to the front seat before grabbing my cock with greedy fingers.

“I want to try this,” she whispers shakily, lining herself up with my cock.

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