Page 26 of Infatuation

My entire body feels electrified. “OMG. You’re nuts. No.”

Cameron clears his throat and I look up from my phone. Oh crap. Cameron’s staring at me intently. My cheeks blaze with sudden heat.

“I’m sorry, Cameron,” I say. “I’m being rude—absolutely horrible.” I put my phone down. But then I pick it right back up. “I’m... Lemme just... I just need to say goodbye.”

“No worries. She needs you. I understand. You’re worth the wait.” His eyes darken.

“Thank you,” I say, blushing. “Just a minute more, I promise. And then I’m all yours.”

He picks up his water, salutes me, and winks. “I’m gonna hold you to that.”

“Please do,” I say, but my voice lacks its usual flirtatiousness. I bury my nose in my phone again. “Careful, Josh. You’re gonna make me sleep with Cameron just to spite you.”

“NOT FUNNY, KAT.”

“I’m not being funny. I’ve never slept with a pro athlete before. It’s on my list.”

I’ve no sooner pressed send on that last text when my phone buzzes with an incoming call from Josh.

I decline the call and put my phone back on the table, smiling at Cameron.

“Sorry about that,” I breathe. The phone buzzes with another incoming call and I decline it again. “She’s just really needy right now,” I say, despicably spiraling into full-blown, pathological deception. “Post traumatic stress or something, poor thing.” Oh my God, I’m morally bankrupt. Heinous. Reprehensible.

Turned-on.

“Why don’t you just go give her a quick call?” Cameron suggests. “Make sure everything’s okay. And then we’ll start fresh, you and me.”

I nod. “Yeah, good idea. Thanks. As long as you don’t mind.” My phone buzzes with another incoming call and I decline it. “I’mjust gonna step out front, real quick, call her, see if everything’s okay, and then I’ll put my phone away for the rest of the night. I promise.”

The waiter comes to the table with my martini and sets it in front of me. “Are we ready to order?”

My phone buzzes with another call and I decline it.

“I don’t think we’re ready to order yet—” Cameron begins.

“No, no, I’m ready,” I say. “I’ll only be gone a minute, I promise.”

He smiles at me.

I quickly place my order with the waiter, take a huge swig of my martini, and then another, and sprint outside, gripping my phone with white knuckles as I go. I’m scum right now. A lying, deceitful, insincere piece of shit. But I can’t help it. I feel like a junkie hankering for her next fix—and Josh Faraday is most definitely my next fix.

The chilly night air feels like a slap to my face—which is good. Maybe it’ll slap some sense into me. I’m being an absolute nightmare right now. A female-asshole, which is a massive step above bitch. Oh my God, I need to stop this. I’m on a date with Cameron. He’s hot. He’s a professional athlete. He’s sweet—like a Boy Scout. Jeez, the man’s pursued me throughtwocancellations of our dinner date. I’ve got to go back in there and give him my undivided attention. He deserves that much. And I will. Just as soon as I talk to Josh for a teensy-weensy second.

I press the button to call Josh.

“Oh my fucking God!” Josh shouts in my ear the minute the call connects. “Just thethoughtof you sleeping with Cameron Fucking Schultz is turning me into my goddamned brother. I’m coming to get you. Tell me where you are. You’re not allowed to be on a date!”

I laugh. “Oh, please. I’ve seen your Instagram account, Josh. You’re not exactly a monk.”

“Don’t believe everything you see. I just got propositioned by a bisexual supermodel the other dayandI turned her down.”

I laugh. “Well, give the man a medal.”

“Tell me where you are.”

“No.”

He’s silent for a long beat. I can practically hear his gears turning. “Are you gonna turn this guy down or what?” he finally asks, his voice intense.

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