Page 14 of The Players Next Door

"Sure," I hear myself reply. "Wouldn't miss it."

I'm threading through the crowd, the noise of the bar pounding against my skull like a second heartbeat. I catch glimpses of her—Holly—laughing with the guys, hair catching the light like it did that first night. My fingers itch to touch those silky strands again.

I want to talk to her. Touch her. See if this chemistry is one-sided or if she feels this the way we do. But Colton-fucking-Shepherd hasn’t left her side all damn night. My jaw clenches as I watch him put a hand on her lower back. Again.

My grip tightens around the bottle in my hand, the amber liquid inside sloshing as my emotions churn. I know Holly and Colton are just friends, but the sight of his familiar touch on her sends a surge of jealousy through me.

Mine. She’smine.

I take a deep breath, trying to quell the surge of possessiveness that grips my chest. Holly is not mine. We agreed on no strings. It was one night. But watching Colton’s hand on her back, I feel a sharp pang of something that I can’t quite place. I rub at the sensation in my chest.

"Cam, you're zoning out, man." Deacon's voice pulls me back, his hand clapping on my shoulder. "You with us?"

"Yeah," I say, nodding. But am I really here? Or am I still back in our apartment on the night it all started?

The bartender slides a beer across the counter toward me. I take a long sip, letting the cold bitterness settle my thoughts. Jaxon is holding court, a group of admirers hanging on his every word. He's in his element, but he shoots glances at Holly, too. I can tell he remembers just like I do.

I know I should join the conversation, participate in the banter and jokes that fly back and forth. But my eyes keep drifting back to Holly. So do my thoughts. My eyes nearly roll back in my head as I remember the way it felt to sink into her slick, wet heat. The sounds she made that night are my favorite melody.

My heart beats a staccato rhythm in my chest as she glances my way for just a moment. I’m so gone for this girl.

"Hey, goalie boy!" Jaxon calls over, pointing at me with a sly grin. "You gonna come over here, or are you planning to play defense with your drink all night?"

"Maybe I am," I shoot back, but I move closer anyway. Holly turns, and our eyes lock. There's a spark there, a silent conversation that makes my chest tight.

My feet are moving before my brain even has time to make the decision. I lean on the bar, close enough to feel the warmth of her skin. "Having fun?" I ask, even though the answer is written all over her glowing face.

"Always," she replies, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Especially after a big win."

"Big wins are good," I agree, my voice dropping lower. "But some nights are better than others."

"True," she says, a flush creeping up her cheeks. "Some nights are...unforgettable."

"Unforgettable," I echo, my thoughts drifting back to the heat of her touch, the taste of her lips. Could we recreate that magic? Is it insane to think that one more night could turn into something...more?

"Cam," Holly leans in, her breath tickling my ear. "Are you okay? You seem miles away."

"Just thinking about how tonight could go," I admit, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

"Any ideas?" Her gaze is steady, inviting.

"Maybe," I half-confess. "Might need your help to figure it out, though."

"Ask me," she whispers, a challenge in her eyes.

"Maybe later," I reply, my heart beating faster. "When we're not surrounded by the entire team."

"Maybe," she repeats, the word hanging between us like a promise.

I haven't been able to shake the memory of that first night—the way she moved, the sound of her laughter, the softness of her skin. Holly was everything I never knew I wanted until I had her. And now, I can't let her go. Not without trying for something real.

"Let's make tonight another one for the books," Jaxon suddenly announces, raising his glass.

"To the Grizzlies," Deacon joins, lifting his own.

Our glasses clink together—a symphony of hope and possibility. I steal another glance at Holly. She smiles, and for a moment, it feels like it's just the two of us in the noisy room.

"Let's make it unforgettable," I say, my voice full of an intention that only Holly can hear.

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