Page 45 of His Team

“Maribel is just as pretty,” Cam says with a smile as he pays for our ice cream.

“Thank you.”

We walk out of the store once our purchase is made. I’m surprised when he turns to head in the direction of my cousin’s building. I didn’t know we lived so close to each other.

When we get to his place, I note that we’re only about two blocks away from each other. We’re quiet most of the way. It’s once we step into his apartment that he begins to speak.

“It’s not much, but it’s home,” he says as he takes my coat from me.

I kick off my boots as he takes off his, then I follow him to the kitchen, where we put down our food, and he puts away the ice cream.

“Are you kidding? This place is nice. You’re really neat for a guy.”

“That would be my brother’s doing. He’s the neat freak,” he replies.

“Is he here?”

A frown comes to his face. “No,” he bites out. “He’s with my parents on a ski trip.”

“Why do you sound so angry about that?”

I take my egg roll out and start on it as he grabs glasses and forks. He pours me a glass of punch and grabs himself a sports drink. I smile my thanks as he settles on the stool beside me.

“My brother is prone to having seizures when stressed. I got a call from my dad about an hour or two ago.” He shakes his head. “I lost track of time in my anger. He’s had one while there. I was supposed to be there, but I’m not,” he seethes.

“Cam, you can’t blame yourself for something like that. Is he okay?”

He snorts as he stabs at his rice. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was stabbing at someone’s face in that container. I get that he’s protective of his brother, but I don’t see how he believes this is his fault.

“He’s in the hospital, but my father says he’ll be fine. And you’re wrong. If I were there, I could have kept it from happening.”

“Why aren’t you there? It sounds like something happened.”

“Something did. I was supposed to leave out with the rest of my family early yesterday morning so we’d all beat the snow. I got left behind and the roads were snowed out before I could leave.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. That sucks.”

“Yeah, it does, but why did you lie about your name?”

I tilt my head as I take him in. Clearly, he wants to get the conversation off him and his brother. From the redness in his eyes and the hurt on his face, I take the hint.

“I can’t believe I’m about to say this out loud. I haven’t told anyone, not even my mom. Would you believe me if I told you I’m engaged?

“Well, I’m supposed to be. I keep dodging the official announcement and the guy I’m supposed to be engaged to. I came here for college to get away from him and my dad, who’s trying to arrange this marriage in the first place,” I say.

Cam stabs his fork into his food and places the carton on the countertop. He looks back at me in shock. I look down at my fingers and fidget with them.

“Wait, what?”

“I didn’t give you my real name because I hadn’t planned on getting to know you. With all the drama I have going on, I didn’t want to drag anyone into any of it. I gave you a fake name, thinking I’d never see you again.

“Then we kept running into each other and … Cam, you were a choice I got to make. A friendship I chose and wanted. I knew I couldn’t have more, but I didn’t want to give up what we had either.

“I was afraid to tell you my real name because it was going to take away … I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense to me anymore. I hurt you and that wasn’t my intention.

“I’m sorry. God, you have no idea how good it feels to finally say it all out loud,” I say and bite my lip.

“That’s crazy. Just back this up a bit for me, darlin’. Let me make sure I understand this.

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