Page 17 of Playmaker

Cameron kneels beside my bike as he pumps the last wisps of air I’ll need into the tires. His chest is glorious, and his biceps flex with every stroke of the pump. The man could be on any magazine cover in the world, and if hedoesmake it to the NFL like others are predicting, his face will be the most sought-after one on the market for advertisements. I have no doubt.

“Fuck.” He swipes at his forehead to push back the curls stuck there. “I was expecting a leisurely bike ride, not wearing out my already-tired muscles from arm day at the gym.”

I stare pointedly at his chest while he isn’t looking and sneak some graham crackers out of the picnic basket perched beside me on the hood of my car. “It’d be a lot easier to dry your sweat if you wore ashirt.”

He lifts his eyes to mine, and the heat of his gaze almost makes me choke on the cracker. “Youwant to lecturemeon my outfit of choice today? Have you looked in the mirror?”

I glance down at what I chose to change into, trying but failing to hide my smile. He showed up for a bike ride without a shirt knowing the effect it would have on me, so I decided to play the game right back. I changed into the shortest and tightest athletic shorts I own along with a sports bra that leaves little to the imagination.

Now that I know he’s attracted to me, it’s difficult not to tease him about it. He’d never make a move, but the image of him thinking about me in that way late at night while he . . .

Nope!

Change of subject.

Now.

I shrug and pick at an invisible speck of lint on my shorts. “It’s hot outside.”

“Mm-hm. I’m sure.” He rises from the asphalt and pats the seat of my bike. “She’s all yours.”

Riding a bike shouldn’t be as terrifying as it is, but all I can remember is flying midair and the smack of pavement against my skin. I agreed to go bike riding with him, but now that it’s actuallyhappening?

“What if I don’t remember how to ride anymore?” I ask. “It’s been forever since I fell.”

“Riding a bike is one of those skills you never lose. Trust me. As soon as you pedal a couple of feet it’ll come back to you.”

Sliding off the hood of my car, I cautiously approach the bike and throw one of my legs over. The sun is beating down on my back, and the leather is practically boiling against my ass.

Cameron steps behind me and places his hands over mine on the handlebars. I can feel his bare skin against my lower back, and I pull my lip between my teeth in response to thezingof electricity. I want things to go back to the way they used to be between us, but after that night at Myrtle Beach I don’t know how they could. He almost kissed me, and even though he didn’t follow through with it, it changedeverything.

He dips his head until his lips are pressed against my ear. “We’ll take it slow, okay?”

Time comes to a pause, the earth stops moving, and the only thing on my mind, the only thing that makessenseis for me to turn my head and—

“Oh my god,Cameron?”

The moment dissipates as quickly as it appeared. Cameron takes a step back to look at a girl around my age, maybe a few years older. She’s flawless, with a perfect tiny figure. I’ve never felt self-conscious about the curves I have, but I don’t have a workout regimen, and the abs glistening on her body make me feel stupid for wearing these shorts where a tiny roll of mine shows over the top.

“It’s been a while,” she says. Her eyes slide to mine in a calculating, snarky way when she adds, “Jessica, remember?”

The silence from him is telling. He doesn’t remember her, but she doesn’t seem offended. Instead, she giggles softly and places a hand on his arm. “High school? We spent time together in the gym after cheer practice . . .”

His body stiffens, a forced smile appearing. “Oh right. Jessica. How are you?”

Dark hair to my blond. Skinny to my curvy. Hazel eyes to my ocean blues. We’re complete opposites, and that seems to be the trend for him. The girls he’s into are the complete opposite of me. Sadie with her red hair and freckles,Jessicawith brunet locks. Then again, maybe Cameron is the kind of guy who doesn’t have a type. He sleeps around a lot.

“Are you going to Jamie’s party tonight? Becca thought you might come.”

Is this what spring break consists of?Partying every other day and getting shit-faced? Granted, with no school or finals to study for, what else is there to do around here? The desert doesn’t have much else to offer.

“Probably not. I train during the week, so all my focus has to be on that.”

She glances between us again. “Is that what you’re doing? Training?”

After a moment of contemplation, he dips his chin in acknowledgment. “Cardio is part of my training, so sometimes I like to bike instead of run.”

Is that what this is?

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