Page 96 of Playmaker

Cameron called four times last night but I didn’t have the strength to answer. Hearing his voice would only make this more difficult than it needs to be. I still want him as part of my life, but it’ll take some time before we can get to the point where things return to being platonic.

I’m attempting to sit on my suitcase when knocks on the doorway pull me from my failing effort. Ethan strides into the room, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, lips pursed into a frown. We haven’t spoken since he decked Cameron at the canyon, and I don’t plan on starting now.

“Is there a reason you’re in my room?” I ask, aggressively removing a sweater and tossing it to the floor.

“I wanted to apologize to you.”

My eyes shoot up to his, the aggressive unpacking coming to a halt. “Come again?” An apology from my brother is like finding a needle in a haystack.

An impossibly rare occurrence.

“I’m apologizing,” he reiterates. “I shouldn’t have punched Cameron when I’m doing the same thing with Maya. He’s my best friend, and regardless of his track record, I should have listened and heard you both out. Although it’ll take some getting used to, I’ll be fine with it eventually.”

I force a smile, swallowing thickly when he comes to the bed to help me zip my suitcase. Little does he know there’s nothing to be okay with anymore. Fighting on those rocks was all for nothing, and soon enough, things will go back to how they used to be.

“Thanks,” I manage to reply. When I’m ready to talk to him about it, I will. For now, I need to heal through this heartbreak on my own. “That means a lot, Ethan. I know apologizing isn’t your strong suit, but if I’m being honest, I owe an apology to you too. You went about things with Maya the right way, and I’m sorry I wasn’t more considerate of your feelings before starting things with Cameron. You deserved better than that from me.”

“I appreciate that,” he says. “So, are we good now?”

“We’re good,” I confirm.

After another two attempts, we finally manage to get my suitcase shut, and he hauls it off for the bed for me, taking a glance around the room. “Are you all packed?”

I nod, looking for anything I might have missed. “Yep. That was the last of it.”

“Well, you better get going then. He’s outside waiting.”

“Dad? I thought Mom was driving me to the airport.”

Ethan stares at me as if I’m losing it. “No, Cameron is. We pulled in at the same time, but I asked if I could talk to you first before you leave.”

Cameron.

Cameron ishere.

Outside.

“I’m confused,” my brother continues. “Didn’t you know he was taking you?”

I thought he was leaving for school today too. I thought he’d be long gone by now, not outside in my driveway waiting for me. Ethan apparently doesn’t know we broke up, so I have to act like everything is fine until I figure out what Cameron’s here for.

And despite me chastising my heart to stop getting ahead of itself, it’s beating like a drum at the possibility of why Cameron would show up here unexpectedly.

Stop it, I warn.It doesn’t mean he changed his mind.

“No, I did. I just forgot.”

“You forgot,” Ethan enunciates slowly, clearly not believing me.

“Yeah. I probably shouldn’t keep him waiting, though. I’ll be back.” My palms are sweaty, and my heart is racing when I leave Ethan behind in my bedroom and try to walk calmly down the stairs. I’m a trembling mess as I step onto the porch, seeing Cameron leaning against the hood of his car. He’s twirling something between his fingertips, seeming deep in thought, but as soon as he hears the front door click shut behind me, his eyes lift to mine, and then hesmiles.

It’s such a switch from the version I saw yesterday that I almost don’t believe it’s him, but that smile can only belong to one person, and those green eyes are ones that live in every fantasy I have. He’s wearing a white T-shirt that’s snug to his muscled body and a backward white cap holds his curls at bay. That damn chain glistens beneath the sunlight, and damn him for making me feel like this. Damn him for breaking my heart and showing up here as if nothing happened. Damn myheartfor ignoring the heartbreak and instead trying to persuade me to run right into his arms.

Traitorous bastard.

“Hi,” he says softly.

“What are you doing here?” I’m rooted on the porch, unable to move another muscle until he tells me why the hell he showed up.

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