Page 52 of His Team

“Can we go to your place like last time?”

“Did you drive?”

“No, I came with Marsha.”

“Let’s go.”

I bite my lip and think it over for a bit. Cam has the next four years to do whatever he wants. This can be my secret.

“Okay.”

Cameron

“I like her, Cam. I really like her,” Daddy says once I get back into the car from dropping Maribel home after dinner.

Daddy pulled some strings and got us a table at one of his friend’s exclusive restaurants. I wasn’t expecting that, with it being Christmas and all. Sometimes I forget that people find it hard to say no to Kyle Perry.

“I like her too, but we’ll never be more than friends. We both have complicated situations.”

“Nothing is too complicated for love. I want to see you happy, Cameron. You give so much of yourself for others. I need you to remember to take your turn for you.”

“I have time to figure all that out.”

“Do you? Time is something we take for granted. Life has a way of snatching the time we think we have from us.”

“I hear you.”

“I hope so, son. I hope so.” He gets silent and I think that’s the end of it, but he turns in his seat and looks at me. “If you like that girl, don’t let your mama find out about her.

“Kayleen is a beautiful girl. I love her like one of my own. I might not like some of her latest decisions or how she thinks we’ll buy her out of her poor decisions, but she’s a good girl.”

He pauses to point out of the window. “However, that young lady right there will give you love and peace. She’ll keep that smile on your face. You mark my words on that one.

“Keep your mama away from that one until she’s good and yours. Jemma has this vision for your life that lives in her head. I only want that for you if that’s what you want for yourself, but your mama … You know your mama,” he grunts.

“I hear you, Daddy.”

CHAPTER 19

Seniors

Cameron

Three and a half years later …

“I can’t believe it. We’ve made it through four years of this shit,” I say as I sip at my beer.

This place is a hidden gem.About a year after Maribel and I became friends, we found this secret rooftop spot on campus. We meet up here at least once a week.

“We’ve made it through three and a half. We still have five more months. Don’t jinx it,” Maribel says.

“You have a point. God, these last few months are going to take a bite out of my ass. I can feel it.”

“At least you don’t have some sleazeball waiting to marry you the moment you graduate.”

I grind my teeth and work my jaw. I hate it when she mentions that guy. He doesn’t deserve her. If it were up to me, he would never have her.

I take the joint from her fingers and take a puff. After the day I’ve had with my mama, I need this smoke session. It’s my last semester, and more and more, I’m not sure I want to go to the majors, so I don’t give a fuck if I lose eligibility at this point.

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