Page 52 of College Hockey Bully

Cameron narrows his eyes at my obvious attempt to change the subject, but he still replies, “No, but that doesn’t mean anything. It was pretty dark. Someone could’ve been lurking anywhere.”

“Not could’ve. Theywerelurking somewhere,” I reply.

He considers my response for a moment, then snaps his fingers. “Security cameras. They’re literally everywhere.”

“Yeah, but how are we going to get access to them? The security team wasn’t exactly forthcoming with that information.”

“Because we’re not going through campus security, dude. I know a guy who works in the IT department. A couple thousand and we could get that information by the end of the week.”

“Do it,” I reply at once. “Hit him up and let me have the cost.”

Cameron nods and as he lifts the phone from off the couch, it rings loudly. He frowns and stares at the screen.

“Aren’t you going to get that?” I ask, curious.

He shakes his head. “I don’t know why the fuck she’s calling me.”

“Who?”

“No one.” He rolls his eyes as it starts ringing again.

“‘No one’ is making you quite upset. Your entire face is red,” I observe with slight amusement. Cameron doesn’t crack a smile. He turns the ringer off and throws the phone on the couch.

I tap my fingers patiently on the arm of the couch, waiting for him. He finally sighs harshly. “It’s her.”

The emotional edge in his tone makes me understand at once. “The same girl you won’t tell me about.”

“There’s nothing worth telling. She’s a skank.”

My brows raise at him. “You seem pretty upset over a skank. Are you ever going to stop being so secretive? Who is she? What did she do to you?”

He brushes off my questions with a wave of his hand. “I don’t want to talk about her. Scarlett; now, she’s someone worth mentioning.”

“I don’t want to talk abouther.” I gesture to his phone. “My only aim is to get Noah off her back for good. Call your IT friend.”

Cameron grabs the device but doesn’t dial. He plants a firm stare on me. “I get it. You want that back-up in case your career doesn’t take off right away, but I have faith in you, my friend. You won’t need that money.”

“Either way, it’s mine. Walking away is not that easy when I know it exists,” I reply defiantly.

“Which means losing out on an incredible girl. Choosing Casey means losing Scarlett, you understand that, right?”

“I can’t lose what I don’t have,” I throw back. “Besides, Scarlett and I are from different worlds. We’d never work.”

“The pending valedictorian of Hempton College, future orthopedic surgeon? Your worlds might be different now, but not for much longer,” Cameron points out.

A deep frown settles on my face. “I don’t understand why you’re pushing me toward Scarlett.”

“Besides the fact that I can’t stand Casey?” He laughs. “Dude, one of us deserves some kind of happiness in the lovedepartment and from the way your face lights up whenever Scarlett gets mentioned, it seems to be you.”

I shake my head, staring down at my hands. “A relationship is not my focus right now; you know that—”

“Take things one day at a time, at least,” he prompts me, standing up. “There’s a lot of shit going on in your life. You need something to create a balance, someone who’d make you happy.”

My head lifts. “And you think Scarlett can make me happy.”

He shrugs. “Probably. She’s the perfect distraction, that much I know. Especially that body…” He sighs harshly, shaking his head. I frown at him.

“What? Dude, I’m simply spitting facts. Your girlfriend-to-be has a banging body. Do you know how many people are still talking about her in that black dress?”

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