Page 38 of Knotted Laces

Fuckingenough.

“I reallyamsorry,” he says again. “You shouldn’t have had to come here and?—”

“I was already in Tahoe,” I say quickly. “Lex called and it took no time to pop over, Cam.” His expression doesn’t change, and I reach over and take his hand. “I mean it. I was pissed when you were here, and I found you sleeping. I just…I was concerned that something really bad happened and?—”

I had more words on the tip of my tongue, but the pain that tears through his eyes, ripples across his face has them stoppering up in the back of my throat.

What the fuck?

What theactualfuck?

“Is it the video?”

He blinks and the emotions are gone, carefully tucked away. “Coach was an asshole, that’s for sure, but that’s professional sports, and it’s not like it’s the first time he’s put the team on blast.”

“You,” I murmur. “He putyouon blast.”

Cam rubs his forehead and sighs. “Yeah, that fucking stings.” He bites off half of the candy bar, chews and swallows. “But I’ll get over it. Bonus is I have a few months to stew on it before I go back to work.”

“So, what’s really bothering you then?”

He frowns. “Nothing.”

A blatant fucking lie.

“Bullshit.”

“Ats,” he says on a sigh. “I drank a couple of beers and some whisky, did some raids with my friends. You played that game. You know how addictive and distracting it can be.”

His gameisaddictive and distracting, and I’ve personally experienced how easy it is to lose a few hours to it.

But also…

This has been going on long before the end of the season.

“Bullshit,” I say again, more firmly this time.

He opens his mouth, but I slice my hand through the air.

“Cut the crap, Cam.” I drop my hands onto the table and lean forward, my gaze locked onto his. “I know it’s more than what’s going on with the Eagles. You were off before the season was over.”

“I’m fine,” he lies. “I’vebeenfine.”

“Nope. Not fucking buying it. Try that shit with someone else.”

“Athena—”

“Ats,” I correct. “But neitherAthenanor I believe the bullshit you’re trying to spin.”

He sighs, opens his mouth.

I wave my hand at him. “If excuses are about to come out of there then I don’t want to hear them.”

A growl rumbles from his chest and it’s fucking hot, same as the anger clinging to the edges of his eyes.

Would he fuck angry?

Would it be as glorious as I think it would be?

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