Page 79 of Fool Me Once

“Stop,” I utter nervously before I see that she is, in fact, walking our way. “Oh my gosh. What do I even say? What should—” My mouth snaps shut when Cameran stops in front of us and holds her hand out.

“Maci and Gemma, right?” she says, and we both nod and smile nervously. “Thought so. I recognized you ladies right away.” She shakes each of our hands before widening her eyes. “It’s not always easy, being the wife or girlfriend of some big superstar athlete, is it? Normally, I can go into stores, and no one has a clue who I am. But then there’re the days when they do, and they want to know where my husband is.”

We both laugh, but underneath my chuckle, I’m nervous as hell. It’s one thing to be the significant other of a famous person, and it’s another to actually use that platform to do something good in the world, like she has.

“Yeah, it’s … taking me a little bit to get used to.” Maci smiles. “Your speech was really moving. You should be so proud of yourself.”

“As should you, Miss Famous Author. I’m a huge fanof your books.”

When the words leave Cameran’s lips, I swear Maci looks like she might pass out. I have no idea why though because she really is an uber-famous author. I mean, the book she just released was listed in the top ten bestsellers in the entire Kindle store, which is huge. But Maci is very humble and has a hard time seeing herself the way all of us around her do.

“Oh … wow,” Maci’s voice squeaks, and she tucks her hair behind her ear. “Thank you. Coming from you, that means a lot.”

“Of course,” Cameran says sweetly before her eyes move to mine.

This woman has no way of knowing what brought me and Maci here today. For all she knows, it could be Maci who is the survivor, not me. Yet the way she’s looking at me, it’s as if she knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that she and I are the same. That we share the same past and lived the same hell.

“I’m really glad you could make it today, Gemma.” She reaches into her crossbody bag and pulls out a card. “This has my cell phone on it. If you ever want to collab on anything or join forces to make a bigger boom … reach out.”

Taking the card from her hand, I look down at it. I try to carry myself strongly, but maybe I’m not doing a good enough job. After all, she just saw right through me. I’m okay with that though because if my past can help me change someone else’s present and future, that’s what matters most.

“Thank you, Cameran.” I give her a gracious smile. “You truly are an inspiration.”

“I don’t know about all that.” She sighs, looking around before moving a little closer. “To be honest, I’m not sure we ever truly get over our past. But selfishly, being in this community and seeing the changes we’re making”—she stops, her lips turning up—“it’s been healing for me.”

Before someone else pulls her away to chat, she gives us another handshake, and once she walks away, I let her words sink in.

I’ve spent a long time thinking that in order to get over my past, I needed to stay away from it. But the truth is, she might be right. Being surrounded by women who have lived through the same thing as me? Maybe that’s what I need.

“Come on,” I whisper to Maci, linking my arm with hers. “Let’s go get ready to cheer our guys on.”

I’m not sure if there’s anything like having the entire Sharks family together after a win and having my girl by my side. Her cheeks are red from the heat of the club, and her hair is pulled up in a sleek ponytail. Fuck … she’s sexy.

Leaning toward her, I put my hand on her bare thigh. I love it when she dresses this way; it shows the confidence she’s slowly getting back, and that makes me so proud of her.

Her leg is smooth and warm, and my cock twitches as I move closer, inhaling her sugary scent, knowing that if my face was buried between her thighs, she’d taste just as sweet as she smells.

“So, today was good, baby?” I murmur in her ear over the noise of the club the Sharks are celebrating in.

She went to a retreat for domestic abuse survivors this weekend and brought Maci along with her. I love that Maci offered to tag along, even though that’s not her story. As much of a family as the players are, the girlfriends and wives are too. I love that Gemma has found friendships among these women, even though I know Saylor will always be her true best friend, especially now that she’s back in Portland.

“Mmhmm.” She nods, taking a sip of her drink. “I met Trent Kade’s wife. I was totally fangirling because she’s so inspirational.”

“I’ve met Trent a few times,” I tell her. “He’s a cool guy. Kind of reminds me of Tripp or Kolt. He’s intense.”

“By intense, do you mean he doesn’t prank his teammates weekly?” she deadpans, lifting a brow. “Maci told me that you low-key talked Amelia into wanting a clown at her birthday party.” She pokes my chest with her finger. “Well played, Sawyer. You do realize Logan probably will cry or not even come out and join the party, right?”

“Hey, the kid wants a clown. I didn’t tell her to ask for a clown.” I feign ignorance. “But just gonna point out, a kid turning four isn’t scared of clowns, and yet her dad—who is almost, like, thirty years old—is.”

I shake my head at Sterns, but Gemma’s expression grows entertained.

“Says the man who is deathly afraid of snakes.” She snorts. “I mean, I saw you almost cry in the summer when you were mowing your parents’ lawn and a tiny one slithered over your shoe.”

Her words send a shiver down my spine, and I can still see that fucking snake in my memories. It was gross, just like all snakes are.

“Whatever. It was, like … really big,” I grumble. “Like my dick, it was abnormally huge.”

“We grew up in Maine,” she says matter-of-factly. “We don’t have large snakes in Maine.” She gives me an amused look. “Also, a little cocky, aren’t you? Talking about things being … abnormally huge.”

---