Page 85 of Playmaker

When the curtain shuts behind them, leaving us alone, I scoot my chair closer and brush a stray curl away from her face. “You scared the hell out of me today.”

“Trust me, I scaredmyselfenough for the both of us. I don’t think I’ll ever climb rocks again.” Fussing with the edge of the sheet on top of her, she adds, “Ethan is really okay with this?”

“I wouldn’t say he’s thrilled about it, but he’s trying to understand it, and that’s better than nothing. We won’t have to hide anymore, which is a relief in itself.”

“Except if your dad finds out,” she says pointedly.

I scoff. “Trust me, he’s not coming back until Christmas. This last visit was a spur of the moment type of the thing—something he doesn’t do often.”

“Hmm,” she hums, sinking back into the pillows. That same loopy smile falls onto her face before she says, “No hiding, huh? I wonder what that’ll be like.”

“Well, for starters . . .” Leaning up to press my lips against hers, I kiss her deeply, and after everything that’s happened today, it’s exactly what I need. Kissing Maddie grounds me. It brings me to a state of relaxation that no elixir could provide. “I can kiss you without fear of someone walking in on us, so that’s nice.”

She giggles, bringing her hands up to run through my curls. “Has anyone ever mentioned that you’reinsanelyhot?”

I arch a brow. “Do you want the truth?”

“No,” she hums happily. “Lie to me.”

I kiss her cheek, then her forehead. “Then you’re the only one who’s ever said I’m insanely hot.”

“Okay, the lie didn’t make me feel any better.” She pouts, frowning at the thought. “Now all I’m thinking of are the numerous girls who’ve probably called you hot.”

“Want to know the truth, then?”

“Fine,” she groans. “Let me hear the damage. How many?”

My mother raised me not to be an idiot when it comes to girls. I’m in no way, shape, or form going to tell her how many of them I’ve heard call me hot. Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to count the actual number, as bad as that sounds. I don’t want to be cocky, but alotof girls have said I’m hot.

I lock eyes with her, swallowing thickly as the emotions from the day catch up to me. She got hurt today, and those screams . . . I didn’t realize how important she was to me until that moment. My body kicked into overdrive, desperate to save her. Hell, I carried her threemilesback to the car. As much as I want to say I’m not emotionally ready, my actions are telling me otherwise.

Just take the leap.

Fucking tell her.

But looking into her eyes, I’m reminded of my conversation with Ethan and how I can’t be certain that I won’t hurt her. I don’t know if I’m ready to say those three words because of the value they hold, but isanyoneever ready to say them?

My emotions may still be on the fence, but I can at least give her one truth that I’m more than confident in.

I hover my lips above hers with that seductive grin she loves so much. “The truth is, plenty of girls have called me hot, Maddie, but you’re the only one I’ve ever wanted to hear it from.”

Thirty-three

Cameron

When I show up on Maddie’s doorstep with a dozen roses clutched in my hands, I’m more nervous than I thought I’d be. Dates have always been an obstacle to get to the end goal for me. I never cared about them or took them seriously, but everything with Maddie is different. She’s someone I genuinely want to impress, and for her first real date, I don’t want to disappoint.

Ethan opens the door, eyeing my button-down shirt and jeans before cracking a grin. “You look like a sap,” he says. “I never thought I’d see the day where CameronHoldenlooks like a love-stricken fool, but here we are.”

“Shut up,” I grumble. “Did you do what I asked?”

He nods. “She’s almost finished getting ready. Although you owe me. She’s been giving me the cold shoulder since we got back from the Grand Canyon.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have punched me, then,” I reply with a teasing grin of my own. “Are you going to let me inside, or . . .”

He leans against the doorway, blocking the entry. “I don’t know, I think I’m going to have a little fun with this. Shouldn’t I be interrogating you?”

“Isn’t that yourfather’sjob?”

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