Page 82 of Left on Base

Camdyn laughed. “Maybe this is why my dad didn’t want me to have one with a backseat.”

“Possibly. Good thing he likes me.”

“He might like you less if he finds out what we’re doing,” she whispered, kissing my neck.

I kissed her temple, pushed forward again. “Mmm, don’t tell him. He might throw me into a burning building.” She was so tight, my body shook and I couldn’t stop if I tried.

She laughed at my remark and I lost it.

“Baby,” I panted, clutching her tighter. “I’ma come.”

She moved her hips, holding tighter. “Jaxon…”

The feeling was indescribable. I couldn’t tell you what it felt like, other than nothing had ever made me feel quite like this, physically or emotionally.

“I can’t believe we just did that,” Cam said, covering her face with her palm and laughing.

I smiled, pulling her hands away from her pink cheeks. “I can’t believe how beautiful you are.”

Even now, she’s still as beautiful as that day. Maybe more so, with her hair falling in waves past her shoulders and that little black crop top showing enough skin to drive me fucking crazy. I don’t understand it and I can’t stop the feeling inside me, because even though I said I needed something different, I still feel the same way about Camdyn as I did that day in her truck. When I’m not with her, I crave her, and when I’m near her, I’m intoxicated by everything I feel for her and captivated by hersinful beauty. There are millions of people in the world—billions, actually. Hundreds I usually see every day.

So why her? Why can’t I let this go?

While I’m plotting how I’m going to get Camdyn away from that guy, I can feel Jameson’s eyes on me. I’m honestly surprised he pried himself away from Mookie long enough to hit a party. He’s leaning against the wall next to the beer pong table, watching the whole scene play out like it’s his personal reality show.

“Hey.” Jameson motions me over as he downs his drink—probably water—before wiping his hand over his mouth. Jameson doesn’t drink. Ever. I’ve never seen him touch a drop of alcohol. “Come here.”

I turn to Inez, who’s scrolling through her phone, probably trying to act like she doesn’t care, or taking notes for whatever she’s gonna write about next. Probably my relationship with Camdyn. “I’ll be back.”

Will I, though?

“Oh,” is all she says, her eyes flicking to Camdyn, then back to her screen. The blue light makes her face look pale, almost ghostly in the dim room.

I take five steps toward Jameson, dodging a couple making out against the wall. “What?”

“Nothing.” He smiles, that knowing smirk that makes me want to punch him sometimes. “I just didn’t want you leaving with her.”

“Bruh.”

“Don’t bruh me, bitch.” He turns me by my shoulders to face Camdyn, who is now standing closer to the guy she was talking to. He’s clearly saying something private to her with how close they are, his cologne probably all over her by now. “Go say something to her.”

My heart pounds faster when the guy pulls out his phone, nearly dropping it because he’s had way too many of whatever’s in that red cup. “What am I gonna say?” Fuck. He’s either getting her number, or giving her his.

What the fuck? Is she actually going to give it to him?

We’re not together, I remind myself.

“I don’t know. Anything.” Jameson’s still watching me like I’m some kind of science experiment.

I shrug and lean into the wall behind me, trying to look chill even though my chest feels like it’s going to explode. She glances at me, her gaze burning through me, seeping into my soul where she’s lived since the day I met her.

“She can talk to other guys, man.” I'm lying, because the longer she’s talking to him, the more uneasy I feel. The music switches to something slower, and I watch him step even closer to her.

And now he’s typing in his phone. Fuck me. I fight the urge to go over there and knock his phone out of his hand. My knuckles are probably white if I looked and my jaw is clenched tight.

“No, she can’t.” Jameson shoves my shoulder. The move makes me spill some of my drink on my shoes. “I don’t even like that guy.” He nods at me, then at Camdyn. “Look at her face while she’s talking to him. She’ll never look at him the way she looks at you, my man.” He pats my shoulder. “You, for some fucking reason, own that look.”

I turn toward Jameson. Through the crowd, I catch Camdyn laughing at something Soccer Boy says. The sound hits me like a punch to the gut. I’m not sure if I should laugh—because Jameson’s right—or disagree. “Why are you so bent on me going over there? Is it because he plays with bigger balls than you?” I think he’s salty because that guy Callie’s been messing with is a soccer player, and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this dude walking around with him.

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