Page 113 of Trust Me Always

Whatwejust did.

My eyelids flutter closed, the man behind me snuggles even closer, and in what feels like seconds, sleep wins out.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Cameron

“How,exactly did we get roped into this again?” Ari sighs, falling onto her back on the grass.

I laugh, pushing off the paper and sitting on my heels, paintbrush in my hand. “It’s extra credit, and with the way my professor grades my written responses, I’m as good as fucked on my research paper. I need all the extra credit I can get.”

“Okay, correction. How didIget roped into this?”

I stick my fingers in the clean bowl of water and flick it at her.

She squeals, rolling over and looking down at her top.

“You’re lucky I just changed out the water!” I tease, dipping my paintbrush in it and shaking it around until it’s a thick, cloudy blue.

I stare at the poster. Okay, so the words are a little crooked, but at least its drying fast. “Come on, let’s finish the rest of the table and then fingers crossed this can be hung up.”

“I’m ready for a burger.”

“The burgers are for the high school kids.”

“We didn’t get burgers when we visited the school.”

I pause, thinking back to our senior-year campus tour trip. “Oh yeah. But we got to eat in the cafeteria. That’s way better.”

“Yeah, but we were starved by then. Bet they get a burgerandcafeteria trip at the end.”

“You’ve got a real fascination with food lately, my dear. Don’t skip your cardio.”

“Fuck off,” she laughs, tossing a crumpled receipt at me. “Okay, so candy in the bowls, flyers on the little stands, and what about the raffle basket?”

“If you can just go see if the boys have some tape we can use for the poster. That way, we know if we have to run somewhere else really fast or not. I’ll get the rest going.”

“Got it.”

I dig into the wagon, pulling out the basket for the raffle, and add the final touches. Unfortunately, all Granny Grace and Junie had to offer for the campus visits starting today were diapers and other baby-related items. But we don’t want to look like we’re encouraging the youth to go out and have unprotected sex while they’re here, so I vetoed that.

I may not have showed them the basket I did make though, that may or may not have a box of condoms in it.

I think it’s hilarious, seeing as the brochures I’ll be passing out today are for careers in child development. To be fair, Mason gave me a few swag pieces out of his prize box for the football team’s toss-game giveaway, so there are some AU-related items. I kept the beanie for myself, but no one needs to know that.

I set the basket on the left corner of the table, the ticket box beside it, and grab the bowls for the candy. I tear one bag open, pouring it into the dish, then bite the other, trying to use my teeth to get the damn thing to open. I tug and tug, and the damn plastic finally gives. But it splits down the center, and the contents pour out before I can stop it, half of it rolling off into the grass.

I groan, dropping to pick them up one by one so no loose grass gets into the bowl.

Ari comes back, laughing at the sight, and drops down by me. “I’m gone for five minutes and bam, disaster.”

“See? Proof I’m a mess without you. Don’t leave me again.”

“Cam…”

The soft tone of her voice has my head snapping up, and I laugh. “Oh my god, I’m kidding. I’m so happy for you and Noah.Promise. I love that he’s this mega rich boy now who can fly you out on the weekends to whatever bougie stadium he’s at next. Goals, girl. Goals.”

She smirks, narrowing her eyes playfully. “Liar. You hate traveling.”

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