Page 4 of Playmaker

Maddie spins around and stalks off down the hallway. I should let her walk away from me, but I don’t know if this incessant fucking need I feel to check on her will ever disappear. Maybe it stems from the guilt of not following her the last time I made her cry, but whatever the reason, I can’t stand by and do nothing.

“I’m going to talk to her,” I tell Sadie before I can change my mind.

Sadie’s eyebrows shoot to her hairline. “What?I’mnaked, Cameron!”

I live up to my reputation when I slam the door behind me and chase Maddie down the hall. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time I’ve left a one-night stand without an explanation, and I’m afraid to admit it probably won’t be the last either.

“Maddie!” I call. At the sound of my voice, she whirls to face me, nothing but pure, unfiltered rage staring back at me. “Look, I didn’t mean to offend you, okay? We needed a place to go, and Ethan said—”

“I don’t give ashitwhat Ethan said! What is wrong with you? Can you not keep your dick in your pants for more than twenty-four hours? You have a whole house to yourself, and yet you choose to fuck someone underourroof. I don’t get it.”

“It’s aparty, Maddie. People fuck at parties. It happens.”

“Well, I don’t want to hear you—” Her mouth snaps shut.

Nowthatgrabs my attention.

“You don’t want to hear me what?” I ask, taking a step closer. Despite how much she tries to fight it, her eyes dip to my exposed torso, where my abs are on full display to her. My cock twitches in response. “You don’t want to hear mefuck?”

I watch her gulp before she averts her eyes.

“Why would it bother you to hear me fuck, Mads?”

“Don’t call me that,” she says, seething.

I ignore the crushing sensation in my chest and continue to push her. Being out here in the hallway with her is dangerous, especially when I barely have any clothes on and she’s in a tank top so thin I can see her nipples, begging to be released, but I can’t ignore the force of attraction that draws us together. If I’m a magnet, she’s steel, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

Now that I’m standing directly in front of her, I tower over her. She has to tilt her head up to look me in the eyes. One more step and I’ll be able to feel her nipples against my chest. One more step and I’ll inhale the scent of vanilla and honey that seems to give me more of a hit than weed ever will.

“You want to know whatIthink?” I breathe onto her lips.

She continues to hold my stare with her chin held high like a soldier heading into battle. I’m fighting the urge to shove her against this wall and do what we’vebothwanted to do for years. If things were different and Ethan wasn’t her brother, we’d have fucked each other senseless a billion times already, and that’s saying something considering I never have sex with the same girl twice. However, if I had an exception to that rule, Maddie Davis would be it.

“No,” she replies in a choked whisper. “Idon’twant to know, but if you decide to fuck that girl in the guest room, at least have the decency to throw the sheets in the wash before our parents return from their trip.”

All I can do is watch in disbelief when she walks away from me and closes her bedroom door behind her.

Three

Cameron

The morning after the party reminds me why I don’t drink anymore.

My dad taught me that alcohol compromises my motor skills, and with me playing quarterback, Ineedmy motor skills. Reaction time, hand-eye coordination—all of it matters, and I didn’t want to risk getting dropped from the team when I worked so hard to get into West Bridge in the first place. As soon as I started training, alcohol and drugs were off the table.

The light shining through the windows is blinding, and my back is fucked-up from sleeping on the couch. I can feel my heartbeat thumping against my temples as I slowly sit up, wincing from the pain.

I used to think my dad was spewing bullshit at first, but now I fully believe him. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to work out this morning.

What time is it?

Falling back onto the couch, I smack my hand around on the coffee table until I find my phone. There are two voicemails from Sadie—no doubt both of them consist of her cussing me out—and that’s all I need for last night’s memories to hit me like a train.

I almost made a move on Maddie. For a split second I thought about giving in to the temptation and just getting it out of the way so it wouldn’t hang over our heads like a fucking storm cloud all the time.

What amistakethat would have been.

The sounds of pots and pans clattering in the kitchen make me groan, but I sit up regardless and peek over the top of the couch. Maddie is cooking breakfast, and there are three plates on the island with eggs and toast on them. She’s busy plating the bacon when I join her in the kitchen, and the delicious smell makes my stomach growl.

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