Page 28 of His Team

“Okay,” I murmur into his chest.

He releases me and has a huge smile on his face. I’m in so much trouble when it comes to Cam. That smile alone is a problem.

“I have to get to class. I’ll text you later,” I say as I look at the time.

“Cool. Have a good morning, friend.” He winks and turns to jog away.

I feel guilty as I watch him go. I need to tell him my first name and soon. There is something that keeps pulling us together and I don’t want something like a lie to get in the way of whatever is happening.

Maybe I’ll figure out a way out of my situation and Cam can be an option. That’s a big maybe, but I’m holding onto it for now. Cameron Perry is going to cause me to risk it all.

Cameron

It’s so easy for me to forget when it comes to Amina. I wasn’t thinking when I asked her to skip class to come with me, Kota, and Cal for breakfast. Seeing that smile only made me want to be near her.

Today wouldn’t be the best day to introduce her to Caleb. He’s still adjusting, and the last two weeks have been hard. We were out running so he could settle some of the extra he had going on today.

Her reminder that we’re secret friends brought me back down to earth. I have my own secrets I can’t share. I’m accepting this distance between us because of those secrets.

“Who was that?” Caleb asks as we make our way to go grab a bite.

“A friend.”

“Does Kay know about your friend?”

“Kay and I are taking a break. She doesn’t need to know anything about her. Besides, she’s a friend.”

“So that was a girl,” Caleb says, sounding more curious than anything else.

“Gah, do frogs hop?” I grumble, frustrated with myself for chasing her down in front of him.

Caleb is silent for a moment. I foolishly believe that’s the end of it from his silence. I should know better.

“Actually, no, not all do. Some walk instead of hopping. There are four species with modified hind legs that allow them to reach places by walking. If I’m annoying you, just say so.”

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. That’s such a Caleb response. I’m still working on sarcasm with him.

Sometimes, he can filter through my sarcasm. Sometimes, he can’t. Especially when he’s not looking me right in the face. He’s not annoying me, but I don’t want to talk about this.

“So we’re in the business of runningfriendsdown? Sure looked like more than a friend to me,” Dakota sings, saving me from having to explain to Caleb that I’m not annoyed with him.

“I said she’s a friend and it’s my business.”

“What happened with Kayleen?” Caleb asks, changing the subject. “She hasn’t been around since the party. Did I do something to make her go away?”

I clench my fists. I don’t want him thinking he’s the reason we broke up. All of that is on Kay.

She started calling me a few days ago, but I’m not ready to talk to her. It’s dawned on me that I’ve been with the same girl since I was fourteen. I mean, that shit has set in heavy.

Talking to Amina has allowed me to see there’s more out there. I haven’t had a single fight with her. In two weeks, Kay and I would have had at least a dozen by now.

That shit is toxic. It’s exhausting. I’ve been able to think clearly since we’ve broken up.

Being single isn’t so bad. I miss having sex, but that’s even something that’s made a difference in my life. I don’t think I would have made it through hell week if I had been fucking all the time like I do when Kay and I are together.

“No, it had nothing to do with you. Things are changing and we needed to give each other some room to breathe,” I say.

My brother will never be made to feel guilty about my relationships. My mind goes back to Amina. I don’t know if I can trust her with our secret.

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