Page 83 of Left on Base

“Cute.” Jameson rolls his eyes and takes another sip of his water. “He’s a soccer player. Do something or I will.”

The party gets louder, more bodies pressing in as people move away from some guy who looks like he’s about to puke in the corner. Well, now I’m curious. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t even know. Kiss her?”

Is my skin on fire? It fucking feels like it. I also can’t breathe. My chest feels like it’s weighted down by a thousand pounds of my fuckups, rooting me in place against this wall. The memory of us in her truck the night she took my hat flashes through my mind.

Jameson shrugs when I don’t say anything and takes a step toward Camdyn. “Decision made. Ima kiss her.”

I grab him by the shirt, my fingers twisting in the fabric. “Okay, okay, wait a second.”

“You’re wasting time. Ima kiss her.” He’s got that look that says he might actually do it just to prove a point.

I think about someone kissing her. I hate it. It’s like someone stabs me in the balls with an ice pick. I’m instantly jealous, and I can’t tell if he’s serious or not. I can’t think over the rage at the idea of someone else’s lips on hers. “The fuck you will.”

He takes a step back toward me and stares, completely stone-faced. Some drunk girl stumbles between us, but neither of us moves. “Well if I do, it’s your fault.”

He has an answer for everything, doesn’t he? “How so?”

He doesn’t answer me because our focus is on Cam and the soccer player who, judging by the smile on his face, just got her number and tucks his phone in his back pocket. His hand lingers on her arm longer than necessary, and I swear to God if he doesn’t move it in the next two seconds?—

“Dangggg. Ya gonna let that slide?” Jameson’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

I shrug but don’t say anything. My heart is beating so fast and hard I hear it in my ears over the bass of the music. The cup in my hand is crushed, water dripping down my fingers.

“Grow some balls.”

I glare at Jameson. “Shut up.”

Inez bumps my shoulder, making me jump. I’d forgotten she was even still here. “Hey, I’m taking off. This isn’t my kinda thing.” Her voice is tight, controlled. She knows exactly what’s up.

Shit. I thought she’d left already. “Uh, all right.” I don’t move toward her and she waits for about five seconds, her eyes searching my face for something I can’t give, and then turns and pushes through the crowd. Her shoulders are stiff.

“That’s awkward.” Jameson grins. “How’s the love life, lover boy?”

I shrug at Jameson’s question, watching as Soccer Boy finally steps away from Camdyn to talk to his teammates. “Don’t ask.”

In the distance, I look to Camdyn. Our eyes catch across the room like they always do, like there’s some kind of magnetic pull between us. We stare. I don’t think either one of us is breathing. Still, relief floods me that she’s looking at me—the intoxicating escape she gives me is undeniable. The party fades until it’s just us, like it always does.

I keep looking at Camdyn and think about that night in her truck again. Back when everything was still innocent and uncomplicated. We were just kids who loved each other and nothing else mattered. Before I fucked everything up, before I pushed her away, before I had to watch her talk to other guys while pretending it doesn’t kill me inside.

My heart beats an unsteady, compulsive rhythm. I want so bad to give in to this with her. Right now. But what if I hurt her again? I’d lose her forever. I know it.

I know one thing, though: watching as Soccer Boy starts making his way back toward her, she’s not leaving here with a fucking soccer player.

Not tonight. Not ever.

CHAPTER 15

BRUSH BACK PITCH

CAMDYN

A pitch thrown inside to a hitter because the hitter is crowding the plate.

With one shoulder pressed against the wall, Jaxon watches me like I’m a puzzle he can’t solve. My whole body is tense and rigid from the way he’s looking at me.

I nearly choke on my own spit when he takes a step my way.

---