Page 30 of His Team

It felt like my life was over. All my choices were taken away from me. It was like I was nothing more than a pawn or some form of currency.

I was trapped in a nightmare with no way out. Then my acceptance letters started to come in. I had been so bummed out as I went through letter after letter. Hopelessness settled in with each one until I got to this one with the offer to come here with a full scholarship attached.

It was a godsend. I didn’t tell anyone but my mom what I had planned to do until I arrived here in Texas. My mom was the one to remind me my cousin lived right here in the city.

I knew it was God when I learned how close she lived to campus and that was before I met my roommate. I take a deep breath as I look down at my phone in my shaking hand.

“God, if this is all you, I’m going to trust you to fix this,” I murmur as I delete the text I was about to send Cam.

I blow out a breath and turn to head out. I can use a good laugh with a friend. Cam is just what the doctor ordered.

I’ll see this movie with Taylor and then I will meet up with my friend. This will be a good night. Dez isn’t here now. He can’t dictate my every move.

“Assholes.”

My father is going to hear from me. I also owe my mother a huge apology. I hope she can forgive me.

“Stupid girl,” I breathe as I walk out of my room.

Man, I feel so dumb.

Cameron

I lift my big toe and turn my foot on its side like that’s going to help me decide on which pair of shoes to wear. I can’t make up my mind. I pucker my lips and start to pop them as if that will miraculously give me some answers other than what I would look like as a fish.

Glancing at the mirror, I wonder if I’m going too casual. We’re just hanging out and getting something to eat. The light-blue distressed jeans with the tears in the knee and thighs seemed safe when I first put them on. So did the plain white T-shirt.

Now I’m second-guessing everything. I haven’t even put my socks on yet. I think to start all over but roll my eyes as my phone rings, breaking through my musings.

Ignoring it, I grab my cowboy boots and hold them up. A frown comes to my face. These are cool, but not for a date with Amina.

“This is not a date,” I chide myself.

It’s not, but I don’t want to come off as some big country-ass dude when she probably has guys back home who have tons of swag. I drop the cowboy boots. It’s now between my sneakers and my flat lace-up boots. The boots do give the rest of the outfit a vibe.

“Go with the boots,” I mutter.

They will dress up the outfit a little and make it a little less casual looking. I snap my fingers as I think about the fact that we’re going bowling. Remembering that I have a similar pair of black boots with faux laces and a side zipper, I head to the closet to dig them out.

Once I get my socks and boots on, I have time to check my messages. My mama has called, demanding I call her back. I snort and chuck the phone.

She only wants one of two things, to get me to talk to Kay or to annoy me about something else. I’m not in the mood for either. Kay wanted to take a break, so we’re taking a break.

Right now, I just want to be left alone. I don’t have anyone nagging me and I haven’t been stressed out. I smile and laugh more than I have in a long time.

“Cam, you want something to eat?” Caleb calls through the apartment.

I walk out of my room to find him in the kitchen at the stove. This guy can cook his ass off. If he ever decided ball wasn’t for him, he could cook for a living.

“Nah, but you can make me some for later,” I say as I sit at the island.

He turns to look at me. “You’re going out?”

“Yeah, not for long, just a few hours. You cool with that?”

“Yeah, not like I need a babysitter.”

I lift a brow and chuckle when he gives me a smile. I nod and toss a napkin from the countertop at him. He’s getting better at joking around more.

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