Page 66 of Trust Me Always

I fight a laugh, and he squeezes my side, his lips pinched tight to hold in his own.

“I know we’ve all heard the rumors there was a love story kicking off, but can we take this as a sign that our favorite party guy has settled down?”

Brady smirks, takes my hand, and looks into the camera rather than at the reporter. “Wish I could say sorry, ladies, but I’m not.”

Before the woman can say anything else, he’s tearing down the field again, my hand locked tight in his own and forcing me to jog with him.

We’re both laughing as we get back to the others, and Mason bends down, offering me his knee. I climb up, and Brady pushes my ass until I can officially leap over.

Chase jogs up behind them, clapping Brady on the shoulder with a grin. “That was smooth, man. Hopefully they got the message and no one tries to pay off the staff to get a copy of the key to your room like at our last away game.”

“No!” I gape. “They do that?”

Brady scoffs. “You have no idea.”

“Bitches.”

“Jealous?” he teases, and I give him a hard eye roll.

Chase grins, glancing over the group, and I see the moment he notices my little Paige’s surprise. His eyes snap back to the other blond, holding for several solid seconds. His lips twitch slightly, and I give myself a mental high five, but then he quickly turns away, so we never get to see it fully take shape.

I share a look with Brady, and he wiggles his brows knowingly.

“Come on. Coach is about to flip out if we don’t get settled.” Mason tugs Brady away by the sleeve, and I look back to Paige, Chase’s number printed across her T-shirt.

Her cheeks are pink, and she suddenly starts messing with her shoelaces, but there’s a small smile on her lips. Ari and I face the field, clapping and cheering as everyone gets ready for kickoff, but just before the team takes the field, the players shift around, and I see him.

Standing there in the middle, holding on to the collar of his pads as he stares right at me, an expression I can’t quite read blanketing his face, is Alister.

I offer a smile and a wave, but his eyes fall to the turf, and then he turns around.

My smile falls instantly.

His dismissal shouldn’t sting. I have no right to feel hurt after all that I’m doing to try and let him go, especially after the little show Brady and I just put on. Though to be fair, I didn’t even think about Alister being here to witness it as it was happening.

So why is there a little ache in the center of my chest?

I’m the one who asked for this.

I wanted to let him go and asked for Brady’s help to make it happen. Well, after he successfully sparked the idea, but still. I’m the reason we’re doing this fake-dating thing. By the looks of it, it’s working.

Alister is starting to believe our time has passed.

That thought shouldn’t send unease skittering through my veins.

So why does it?

Chase and Hector, another AU football player, are getting down on some video game. Ari and Paige both sit in the recliner on the other side of the room, searching the internet for costume ideas for the Halloween party coming up. Mason and Brady are in the little kitchen area with a few of their other friends, laughing and talking about tonight’s game while finishing off the last of the frozen pizzas we made about two hours ago.

Thankfully, the team took the after-party down the block to one of the fraternity houses. It worked out since we were already planning for a quieter night in. The boys all have to fit in a study group tomorrow because their schedules will be different next week due to an away game. It’s not an overnighter, but they won’t get in until around three in the morning.

I don’t realize I’ve zoned out until Brady drops beside me on the carpet, spinning a football around in his hands.

We look at each other, and he tips his head slightly. “You okay?”

I nod, and Brady frowns instantly.

“Cam. Don’t lie to me.” He tucks the ball under an arm. “Was tonight too much?”

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