Page 31 of Playing for Keeps
I turned to face her, my hands cupping over hers with a smile. “Mom, I’ve been having a secret love affair with Cameron Walters.” My words brought the attention of everyone around us, including fans. My mother’s mouth parted in a gasp of shock.
“You what?”
I smiled. “He loves me, and I love him.” I paused. “I love him,” I repeated as the Jaguars charged onto the field and the second half of the game began. I allowed my mom to absorb the information I had dropped on her. Jumping to my feet, I looked onto the field, seeing him running out, and started to scream. A few fans who stood in front of our box gave me a high five. I didn’t know what I could do about the pictures, about his ex, but I would be damned if I allowed her to take away the man I loved. I would fight for him, for us, if need be. Marty stood beside me, wrapping her arms around me in approval, both of us ready to cheer our men to victory.
In the third quarter, Cameron played like he always had. There were no more flags thrown. His aggression was gone. I was upset that he felt he couldn’t tell me, that he thought I would prioritize my privacy over him, and for that, he would get an earful after the game, but I was done hiding. I didn’t care who knew, and I didn’t care what challenges came with being with him in public. I watched Marty and Easton’s relationship thrive, even in the spotlight, and I knew Cameron and I could survive anything that came at us. This situation only proved that more.
As the final quarter hit the half mark, Cameron hit the field. I screamed for him, wishing he could hear me, hoping he felt how proud of him I was. Wishing I had worn his jersey. The stadium was a roar, every person on their feet, when the Jaguars blitzed. I watched Cameron move, with such precision, jumping up and down as he sacked their Quarterback, Keaton Wayne. It was the first one of the game and brought the fans to an eruption of celebration. Marty and I jumped into a hug, and we started giving high fives to the fans.
When everything changed.
The stadium started to calm down. The announcer on the television in the suite revealed there was an injured Jaguar on the field. Slowly, everyone stood. I watched my father sprintingto the field with the medic. My eyes scanned the players who stood around the injured player, my heart sinking when I saw Easton run onto the field with Austin.
“Oh my God,” I said softly, Marty taking my hand as we all watched in horror.
“We are unsure what has happened, but you can see number Fifty, Cameron Walters, lying still, the team's medic looking him over.” The announcer said.
“I need to get down there,” I said, my mother surprisingly taking my other hand.
“You must stay here. I’m sure he’s okay.” She attempted to comfort me, which I appreciated, but I was only concerned about what happened with Cameron.
Just then, applause started to move through the stadium as he sat up, though he didn’t stand. My eyes fixated as his brother helped him to a medical board, placing him on the cart that had driven onto the field. “We are getting reports Cameron Walters will be out the rest of the game, suffering a knee injury as a result of that amazing blitz play.” The announcer revealed.
I watched as they drove him from the field, quickly moving into the suite, my eyes falling to the television as they played a close-up replay. “Right there, oh man.” The announcer said with a zoomed-in angle. “Looks like, yeah, he, his knee. This doesn’t look good.” He continued.
“I need to get to him,” I said, Marty with her hand on my arms, holding me as I watched the reply in horror. She nodded her head, both of us rushing from the suite.
The game ended only minutes after Cameron was injured, and my steps turned into a sprint the closer we got to the locker room. It didn’t matter how the game ended, who won or lost. It no longer mattered if my father found out or what he thought; I needed to get to Cameron. Tell him I loved him, I was proud ofhim, and I would ensure he was okay and would be there to take care of him.
We pushed our way past security, running full blast down the long hallway to the locker room. Charging through the double doors, I glanced around the empty room until I saw Easton walk out of the back room. He nodded without a word and motioned to the door he stood in front of. Marty let go of my hand, and I sprinted at his brother. We looked at one another for a mere moment before I walked in, seeing Cameron lying on a table with the team medic next to him. He rolled his head to the side, and upon seeing me, he lifted slightly.
Quickly, I sprinted to him, before he could say a single word. Leaning down, I pressed my lips against his in a soft kiss. Cameron lifted his palm to the back of my head, deepening the kiss, until we heard a cough in the doorway. Jumping, I turned, looking at my father standing with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
“Dad, I…”
He shook his head and lifted his hand to stop me talking. “Is he going to make it?” He asked the medic.
“I’ve given him something for pain. He needs to get to the hospital, though.” Cameron lay his head down on the table, my attention focused on my father as I held onto Cameron’s hand.
“Go on, let’s get him there.” My father ordered. Waiting until the medic left the room, my father’s attention shifted to me. He took a slow, steady step towards me, his hands cupping my face. “Just be happy.” Shocked at his words, I smiled, tears in my eyes.
“I am daddy.” He nodded his head to my reply, glancing over my shoulder at Cameron before he leaned in and kissed my forehead and left the room.
Returning to Cameron, I ran my hand through his hair, “Hannah, I…”
I placed my fingers over his mouth and shook my head. “I already know, and I don’t care. All that matters is us. I love you.”
“I love you.” Leaning forward, we kissed softly.
CHAPTER 28
CAMERON
Over the next twelve weeks, my life consisted of doctors, therapy, and home. A torn ACL, that’s the reward I got for my sack at the end of the game, in which we ended up losing by three. I wanted to be annoyed, angry, but I ended up finding it ironic. Throughout the game, I played like a man possessed, ignored the plays sent in, and even had a typical outburst on the sidelines. The moment I started to calm down, the game flipped, and I got injured. The season was over for me, and although it would typically have been a time when I took a much-needed rest, I still had at least another month before I was semi-normal again.
Although I was thankful that my recovery time was ahead of the curve, I would be lying if I said I didn't appreciate the in-home personal attention I received from Hannah. She had unofficially moved into the penthouse to ensure I took it easy, didn’t overdo my workouts, and helped with Sofia. After the game, our relationship changed. Reports of a new woman in my life hit the news, showing her driving my car and accompanying me to the hospital, yet we managed to keep her identity secret. It took effort; luckily, her father and the team owners helped with that. We knew I’d have to make a statement sooner or later.
Lacey had taunted me about the pictures for weeks after I returned home, yet never fulfilled her threats. In a way, I knew she had been bluffing, knowing what it would do not just to Hannah but me and Sofia as well. She and I would never become friends. There was just too much history between the two of us. However, we managed to agree for the sake of our daughter that our relationship would be as limited as possible but civil. I had even started to drop her off myself or allow her to pick Sofia up at the penthouse.
