Page 49 of Under My Skin

I sigh and realize that not only have they gotten attached to Lizzie, but they also realize that she’s different. Especially from their mother. “Yes, but you need to tell me where you are. No exceptions. Okay?”

They nod and each take one of my outstretched hands. “Alright, let’s get inside and get cleaned up so I can drop you off at Aunt Nikki’s house for a sleepover.”

“Yay,” they squeal and run off toward the house, all memories of being chastised firmly forgotten.

If only it were that easy for me. I’ve got a lot of groveling to do to convince Lizzie that I still want her as badly as I did last night.

By the time seven o’clock rolls around, I’ve already dropped the girls off with the sitter at my sister’s, and I’m pulling up to a very packed parking lot at Rangers. I’m excited to see everyone, but I’d be lying if I said I won’t be searching for one specific person tonight.

I jump down from my truck and head inside, and as soon as I swing open the doors, I’m met with a barrage of voices yelling,Welcome home, Cam!I can’t help but laugh because I’ve been home for almost a month already, and I’ve seen all of these people at least once since then.

This party was definitely unnecessary, but who am I to stop a town from coming together and having a good time? I guess I can handle being the excuse for it this time.

I get hugs and claps on the back for a couple of minutes as everyone says hello until I’m finally able to take a breath and look around. I spot Lizzie almost immediately. She’s at the back of the crowd, so I make my way over before she can run.

The closer I get, the wider my eyes get.Damn.She’s in skintight jeans that hug her ass perfectly and a crop top that falls off her shoulder, showing her magnificent rack and a sliver of her stomach. Her hair is in a high ponytail, showing me the sexy neck that I definitely got to know last night, and her makeup is at a minimum. Her freckles are on full display, and I take a second to wonder if she did that for me.

I hope she did.

“Hi, Cam,” she says with a cutting smile, shortening my name since she knows it gets on my nerves when she does. She’s not going to make this easy for me.

My eyes narrow just the slightest, giving away the fact that I know she just called meCamon purpose.

“Hi, Lizzie,” I say in front of the group before leaning in to whisper in her ear. “Where did my good girl from last night go?”

She quietly gasps, and I can tell she’s fighting the urge to either lean into me or rip my head off. I chuckle under my breath, inhaling the lavender and vanilla scent that is so uniquely her, before finally pulling away.

Her crimson cheeks don’t disappoint, and if looks could kill, I would definitely be dead. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I seem to be making everything much worse. In some weird, fucked-up way, this feels like foreplay at its finest, and I can’t help but be turned on by the look of defiance on Lizzie’s face.

Goddamn, I have it bad.

“Sometimes being bad is better,” she replies, surprising the hell out of me.

Before I can pick my jaw off the floor and muster up a response, she walks away with Lia in tow, who offers me an awkward wave and mischievous smile. What are those two up to? I don’t have time to figure it out or follow before someone else steps up to talk to me, distracting me from the woman I very much want to be bad with.

After an hour, I’m already exhausted from having to answer the same questions over and over again. I know everyone is just being nice, but I can’t take any more condolences for my dad’s death or looks of pity regarding my failed football career and marriage.

I look around the room to check on Lizzie and see her talking to my sister Morgan and Lia in the corner. She has successfully avoided me all night, and if she keeps doing that, I’m not opposed to throwing her over my shoulder and hauling her out of here so we can hash things out.

Before I can follow through with my very caveman plan, I spot my three best friends making a beeline for me with grins on their faces.

Great.

“I couldn’t help but notice the tension between you and Lizzie tonight, Cam,” Reid states with a knowing smile on his face.

“What do you know?” I ask.

“Nothing. That’s what we’re trying to find out. We all figured you’d have pulled your head out of your ass by now and staked your claim, but judging by the icy reception you’re getting from Lizzie, I’m doubting that happened,” Theo chimes in.

“Staked my claim? Really?” I take a deep breath, and then I decide to let them have it. Gossiping is exhausting, and my friends have suddenly turned into the chattiest motherfuckers when it comes to my life, so the least I can give them is the truth so they’ll stop guessing.

When I’m done—omitting the details of the previous night because those are meant to stay between Lizzie and me—they all just stare at me like I’ve grown two heads.

“So, yeah, she’s pissed that I didn’t invite her, and doing it last minute made it seem like an afterthought—or like I didn’t want her here.”

“I happen to agree with her. Stop acting like an asshole. You clearly want her. Make up your mind already,” Liam declares.

“Fuck,” I grumble, running my fingers through my hair.

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