Page 62 of Trust Me Always

A small frown builds, her quickness to defend him rubbing me the wrong way, but I have to remind myself that they’re likefamily. Of course she’ll stand up for him, probably until she’s blue in the face. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

I lift my hands in surrender. “All right, my bad. I guess I assumed having played on the team with him for a season and a half, I might have some idea?—”

“What exactly are you getting at, Alister?” She pops the top of her soda, taking a small sip.

“Oh, nothing, I was just going to offer to keep an eye on him for you at next week’s game.”

“Why not this week, oh savior of mine?” She flutters her lashes mockingly.

“Well, this week, we’re playing at home again. Next week, we’re on the road. No one to report back to you ifyour mandecides to go back to his player ways and shacks up with someone.”

“He won’t.”

I cock my head. “You sure?”

Cameron licks her lips. “You know, if this is your idea of being friendly, you suck at it.”

I laugh, unwrapping my roast beef sandwich, and take a couple bites.

We eat in silence for a few minutes, and it’s nice. I miss just being near her.

Cameron finishes too soon and starts to stand, but I swiftly reach out, gripping her wrist before she can, and her blue eyes pop up to mine.

“Come on, Cam. Hang out with me for a few minutes.”

“I should really?—”

“Just until I finish eating,” I interrupt. “Please.”

She stares at me a moment before a fake sigh leaves her, and she lowers back onto the seat. “Fine. I still have a brownie to eat, I guess.”

I let her go, grinning widely, and she hides hers by looking down at her tray.

“So what classes did you have today?” I ask.

“You mean your initial stalking skills from the first few weeks didn’t tell you all my secrets?”

“Only where to find you, but I did refrain from approaching all your professors.”

“Oh, yeah, so only the one in the class I was most looking forward to then, huh?”

“Hey, Thursday afternoon was my only free spot, and it’s hard to find a class that’s only in person once a week. You should feel flattered I want to spend what could be my afternoon off with you instead.”

She laughs, tearing off a corner of her brownie and tossing it in her mouth.

“You eat like a bird.”

Her smile brightens. “That’s what Brady says.”

My brows twitch, but I force my lips to stay tipped up. “Well, I guess we have more than just one thing in common.”

“Football?”

“Wanting to be your boyfriend.”

Her eyes snap up, narrowing. “Alister.”

“Sorry,” I chuckle, finishing off my sandwich and opening my fruit bowl. “You know you could just admit you’re not really dating, and I wouldn’t have to lay it on so thick.”

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