Page 32 of Cross Check Daddies
He steps toward me, his hands tucked into his pockets, his face unreadable.
“Hi. What are you doing here?”
“I had business on your side of town and thought I should pass by and say hey. How are you?”
I tuck away a strand of my hair, forcing my heart to calm down.Why does he look so damn good in his suit!“I am okay. You?”
“Good. How’s the game development going?” he asks, his voice casual, as if nothing happened.
I nod, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s going well. A lot of moving parts, but we’re making progress.”
“Good to hear,” he says. He’s still watching me with that intensity, like he knows something I don’t. Or maybe it’s just the way he always looks at me.
The silence hangs between us for a moment, but Cam doesn’t seem bothered by it. I’m the one shifting uncomfortably, unable to figure out what to say next.
“I’ve been around,” he continues. “Thought you might need some space, though.”
I feel a pang of guilt at his words. Did Ineedspace? Or was I just avoiding the inevitable? Avoiding the messy situation I created by being attracted to both him and Tanner?
He waits for me to respond, but I don’t have anything to say. I can’t make this sound simple when it’s anything but. I settle for a vague answer. “Yeah, I’ve been pretty busy. There’s a lot going on with the game.”
He nods, as if that explanation is enough. “I get it. Anyway, I should probably let you go. You’re on your way to the arena, right?”
I nod. “Yeah. I’m meeting with the team coordinator.”
“Alright,” he says. “I’ll catch you later.”
I start to walk away, but Cam’s voice stops me. “By the way, Brooke,” he says, his voice softer this time. “We’re good, right?”
I look back at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. For a second, I want to tell him everything. Tell him about Tanner, about the confusion I feel, about the mess I’ve gotten myself into. But instead, I just nod.
“Yeah, we’re good,” I say, my voice almost a whisper.
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Alright. Take care.”
I watch him walk away, feeling a mix of relief and regret. The conversation was simple. But there’s still so much left unsaid.
I exhale slowly, trying to shake the guilt off. I’ve got to keep my focus. I have a job to do. I can’t let this thing with the Kings distract me any longer. But the problem is, it already has.
My phone buzzes just as I’m crossing the street toward the arena. It’s a text from Tanner.
>> You free for dinner tonight?
I stop walking for a second, caught between the noise of the city and the weight curling in my chest. I stare at the screen.
Last timewasfun—too fun. Too easy to get swept into his orbit. His mouth, his hands, the way he looked at me like I wasn’t just Cam’s ex or some girl with too much baggage. And now here I am, trying to convince myself that one night of connection doesn’t mean anything more.
I step into the shadowed lobby of the arena and open my messages. My thumbs hover over the keyboard longer than they should.
>>Hey… last time was really fun. I mean that. But I think it’s better if we don’t see each other again. At least not like that.
I hit send before I can talk myself out of it. The knot in my stomach twists tighter. I pace in front of the elevator and type again.
>>Work is just… a lot right now. I need to stay focused.
I send that one too, even though we both know it’s not just work.
There’s no immediate reply. Just the soft hum of the elevator as the doors slide open. I step inside, alone with my reflection in the polished metal. My face looks calm. Almost blank. But my thoughts are a wreck.
