Page 12 of Playing for Keeps
“Hell, that interception by Walters, I would have loved to see that live.” Hearing Cameron’s name, I rolled my eyes and sighed. I should have known the bar would be filled with chatter about the game, the big win, and normally, I would have just shrugged it off, but I found it more complicated than ever before.
“I’ve got this.” I turned toward Marty and smiled before handing her the towel and moving from the bar.
With a quick sprint, I made my way to the restroom, closing the door and leaning up against it with my eyes closed. I hated the way he occupied my thoughts, no matter how hard I tried to push him out. He hadn’t called. It was after a win. I knew he had chosen to go to a party instead. It was normal, right? At least that’s what Lola had told me. I felt a wave of jealousy wash over me at the thought that he had picked up another woman, someone not related to his coach. Someone that he could have all the fun he wanted with no risk. Perhaps he was even with the bombshell he was often pictured with.
I wanted to hate him, I told myself. He was just like every other player I’d encountered, and the fact that he couldn’t even call confirmed it. Tightening my jaw, I forced myself from the door to the small sink and gripped the edge, my eyes moved to my reflection in the mirror. He was a jerk, just like them all. You deserve better; I told myself. With a nod, I turned to leave the room, opening the door and moving into the narrow hallway, the front of the bar exploding in cheers. My brows furrowed in confusion as I navigated the commotion. I made my way to the bar, moving beside Marty as she stood with a broad smile plastered on her face.
“What…” My words stopped instantly. It was him; he was there.
My heart skipped a beat seeing him walk into the bar with his brother, Maximus, and Austin behind him. People swarmed the men, congratulating them on the win, praising them, women flocking to them, trying to get selfies or even just a touch or glance in their direction. I watched every step he made through the crowd, the way he smiled, and shook hands with people as he passed. His gaze shifted toward me, our eyes connected, and instantly, I grabbed hold of Marty’s hand as a feeling of faintness rushed over me.
“No, no, I can’t…” I spoke softly to myself as he continued his stride toward the bar. “I need…” I couldn’t take my eyes off him, my breathing growing quick, my chest heavy.
I released my hold from my best friend, and with a rapid dash, I returned to the restroom. I closed my eyes as I gripped the sink, my head lowered between my arms. I needed to breathe and gather my composure, a task that seemed impossible around him. What had he done to me? I felt a part of me weakened by the very thought of him, and the other part pulled to him with the desire just to let go of any morals I had. My knees were weak, my head spun. How could I go back out there? It was the only question I kept repeating when I heard a knock at the door; he had followed me.
“Han, let me in.” Quickly moving to the door, I unlocked it, letting Marty in. “What are you doing?” She asked as if I had lost my mind.
“I can’t go out there,” I answered, sliding down the wall, shaking my head. “I can’t see him.”
“Why not?” She asked with this tone of confusion.
“Are you kidding? Look at him, look at how popular he is. Look at the women who surround him, the woman he’s clearly with.” I shook my head again. “I’m what, the coach’s daughter who is not only forbidden but compared to that woman, she’s just so beautiful.” My voice softened.
“Oh, for fucks sake,” Marty spoke as she rushed to me, gripping my wrist, she pulled me to my feet, forcing my attention to her.
“You need to stop thinking of yourself as some common nobody. Stop hiding in the damn restroom like some weak woman.” She stepped back, but only slightly. “You forget you spent the night with him? He picked you out of all the women he could have that night, including whoever that chick is in those pictures. Who, for all we know, is a sister or something.”
“You know that’s not his sister.” I inserted.
“What I know is she’s not who he spent the night with. She’s not the person he made a date with. She’s not who he texted all day the day after. He’s here, possibly for you, but you’re never going to find that out if you hide in the restroom all night.” She spoke with a stern tone, one I hadn’t heard from her since we were younger.
“Doesn’t matter, you know. None of it, Cameron is still a member of my father’s team, and that means…”
“I know what that means, and if that’s how you want this to go, then fine, tell him. Tell him he’s a jerk. Tell him you want to be friends. Tell him that if that is his girlfriend, he’s a creep for making you the other woman. Tell him anything, but don’t hide from him.” I knew she was right, and with a nod, I exhaled a deep breath. I could do this.
“Let’s go,” I spoke with confidence, though I feared that when I saw him, it would all crumble.
We returned to the bar together; my gaze drifted to him as he sat at a high top with the players surrounded by people. His attention was on the woman standing next to him, her hand on his shoulder with a slight lean. I wanted to claw her eyes out, and that very thought caused me to chuckle at myself. I was not this woman, this woman who allowed a man to take over all rational thought and action completely. Cameron Walters was a footballplayer, yes. He was a handsome man, yes. He was a fantastic lover, yes. But he was also just a man. I moved behind the bar, and as his gaze shifted to mine, we shared a different connection, one filled with tension and an energy that could have powered the city.
I gave him a smirk before pulling my attention to the customer in front of me.
Hours passed after Cameron and his teammates arrived. Though we shared glances, he never came to speak with me, and there was no chance I would go to him. Typically, the bar would have slowed by that time of the night, but with the players there, it had gone the opposite way. At times, I felt sorry for them; they couldn’t even have a drink in public without being hassled. Though I knew not all the attention bothered them. Marty had visited Easton a few times, and I knew they would connect again that night. I was happy for her; she got to live the life she wanted without the added pressure of what her actions would do to others.
As I smiled at the customer in front of me, sliding their drinks to them, my gaze shifted back to Cameron, who sat in conversation with that same woman who couldn’t seem to keep her hands to herself. She laughed at whatever he said, that over-the-top laugh with a lean designed to give a perfect view down her shirt. I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and moved to the backroom. I worked hard to remain strong in his presence, not letting him see the reactions he caused. However, the flirting made me angry at him and her. Perhaps that had been his mission, typical.
I gave myself a moment alone before I stepped from the cluttered room and collided with someone at my first step. I looked up, my breath hitched in my chest at Cameron before me.
CHAPTER 13
CAMERON
Iwatched her all night, taking note of her movements and the way she interacted with customers. With short interactions with the fans who surrounded us, Hannah was the one whose attention I couldn’t drift from. I kept playing back the advice my brother had given, and I found myself ready to take it. I knew what was at stake, even toying with being near her, yet it didn’t matter as much as I thought it would. After I discovered just who she was, I went through all the pros and cons, in which the cons won hand over fist, but still, I couldn’t sway my desires to look at her. Be in the same space as her, even if we never spoke.
Yet, as we shared glances and not a single word was spoken, I found my desires shifting to a need. I needed to talk with her, be close to her. No woman in my life had ever captivated me the way she had; I would have been a fool to deny it. That night was supposed to be our date, one I had planned perfectly. I would have picked her up at her home and taken her out for a private dinner. The reservations had been made, and the entire restaurant was ours to enjoy without prying eyes or interruptions. After, we would go for a walk, enjoy the city lights, and have some conversation. I wanted to know everything abouther, and I wanted her to know me. Not just the football player, but something simpler.
Discovering who she was took me by surprise, and I had prepared to walk away, but seeing her again, I knew that was no longer an option. As the hours flew by and closing time was nearing, it was now or never. I glanced at the woman, who had clung to me all night, and smiled at her before my gaze shifted to Easton as she leaned forward. Like a good wing man, my brother pulled her attention from me, and I was able to move from the table. With a single step forward, I searched for Hannah, no longer behind the bar. It was then that I saw her friend, Martha, pointing toward the back of the bar. I nodded with a grin in appreciation before I made my way in the direction she motioned.
I glanced into a few of the cracked doors before one flung open in front of me, and out came Hannah with a rapid motion. She crashed into me; my hands quickly lifted to her arms as her eyes lifted to meet mine. I smiled and hoped she would do the same, but she moved back away instead. With a quick slide of my tongue along my lower lip, I stepped back but kept my eyes fixed on her. I could smell her perfume, the scent of lavender that lingered with a deep breath.
