I stare at him patiently.

He sighs loudly, throwing his legs over the arm of the couch. “Why didn’t you tell me about Scarlett?”

“What about her?”

“There’s something going on between you two—and before you deny it, we’ve been friends for sixteen years, remember that.”

“There’s nothing going on with me and Scarlett.”

He slides me a skeptical stare.

I throw my hands up. “Fine. We did kiss, but it was a spur of the moment thing that can’t happen again.” My eyes dart to the pool that immediately stirs the memory of her legs wrapped around my waist.

“Why?”

Shaking that blood-heating thought away, it takes a moment of contemplating before I reply, “What I’m about to say can’t leave this room, understood?”

Cameron sits up with a slight frown. “What’s going on, dude?”

“Promise me.”

“Hand to God,” he vows, raising his right hand.

Resting my butt on the edge of the center table, I tell him about my dad’s infidelity to my parents’ plans to use Casey’s dad for business. He scrubs his face when I finish. “Wow.”

“Wow indeed,” I sigh, rising up and heading toward the kitchen. Cameron stands facing the pool when I return with two bottles of water.

“So, have you thought about it? Going back to Casey, I mean,” he says, taking a bottle from me.

I shrug. “Either that or lose three million dollars.” The less people know about my true intention concerning Casey, the better. Besides, I don’t want Cameron judging me for using her.

“Well, you could dump her after getting the money. It’s what she would deserve, anyway.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right about that.” Taking a swig of the bottle, I stare out at the pool again. All I’m thinking about now are Scarlett’s soft moans, her lips crushing mine, how herbody shuddered as she came. All I want is to experience the rush that moment gave me.

“But you don’t want to.”

Silence.

“Because you want Scarlett,” he presses.

I tear my eyes away from that spot. “It doesn’t matter what I want. What I need is more important. Three million dollars can tide me over until I get settled in the league.”

“There’s nothing wrong with what I suggested. Date Casey, get the money, then dump her ass. Simple.” He frowns knowingly when I don’t answer. “Of course, six months is a heck of a long time to date someone just for money. It’s also a long enough time to lose someone for good.”

“Don’t pretend like you know what’s in my head,” I snap, irritated at him for knowingexactly what’s in my head.

Cameron snorts. “I’ve never seen you look at Casey the way you did with Scarlett and you claimed to have loved Casey. You’re worried that dating your ex could fuck up your chances with Scarlett, aren’t you?”

“You watch too many romance movies.” I push past him.

“And you are in denial for no reason, my friend.” He follows me back to the couch. “Especially with me. I like Scarlett for you. She’s not like the airheads you mess around with. Casey included.”

I scoff with amusement.

He pats my knee. “It’s up to you to decide if she’s worth more than three million dollars. Good luck—”

“That night the Wolves slashed those tires,” I interrupt. “Besides Scarlett, did you notice anyone else?”