Page 154 of Trust Me Always

“Didn’t you two ‘break up’?” Chase smirks.

“Fuck off, we weren’t really together, but yeah, we’re not pretending anymore. Why? What’s that have to do with anything?”

Mason laughs, and I swing a glare his way.

“Is someone going to talk or not, assholes?”

“Well, Cam didn’t seem to think you two would be sharing a room together.”

My head tugs back. “Yeah, that’s because she doesn’t need to think about it. It’s just what we do.”

“It’s what you did.”

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “What am I missing here?”

“Oh, Brady.” It’s Paige who talks, and I look up to find her packing her things in her book bag before hanging it over her shoulder. She walks over, putting her hand on my arm with a little pat. “You’re in for a ride.”

I frown, trailing her as she walks over to Payton, kissing Deaton on the head before walking out. “Wait. How did you know we ended our fake-dating shit?”

Chase turns to Mason, who glances at his girl.

Payton opens her mouth, but nothing comes out, a small shrug following. “She may have told Ari, and Ari might have let it slip when I picked up Deaton on Tuesday.”

“Why would she tell Ari?” I ask. “You guys knew what we were doing since day one.”

“Because, my man.” Mason drops down on the couch next to Payton, hauling his son into his lap. “Girls tell their friends when things are sad, bad, and ugly.”

“Yeah, well, that doesn’t match anything about us.”

“Oh, you’re an us again?”

I throw a pillow at Chase’s head, flipping him off when he laughs.

“Come on, man, just say it.” He digs into a bag of chips.

“Say what?”

“That you like her.”

“I love her.”

Their eyes grow wide.

“No, I mean I love her like I love all the girls,” I rush to say. “Like you love her. Stop smiling!”

They’re all laughing now, and I sit back in the chair.

“You guys are idiots.” I sigh, glancing over at Payton. “Think she told anyone else our little deal was off?”

“I don’t know.” She offers a small smile. “But I think if you’re asking that question, then you’re hoping she hasn’t.”

I face my boys, both of them staring with easy, open expressions. Understanding. Acceptance. Unity.

I push out of the chair and walk out, but I don’t go back to the house. I roam around until I find myself walking through the gate of the practice field.

I climb up into the bleachers, choosing the section the girls sitin when they come to study while we practice just because they want to be there for us.

Cameron is always there for me.

---