Page 38 of Cross Check Daddies
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Cam
I call her number.
The phone rings once, twice, and I’m expecting voicemail when her voice comes through, slightly breathless.
“Cam?”
“Brooke, hey.”
There’s a pause. “How did you get my number?”
“Called your company line. They patched me through.” I clear my throat and glance at the open laptop in front of me. “I know it’s late, and I’m sorry for calling after hours, but this is a work thing. The sponsors are dialing in from South Korea, so we’re on their time zone. I wanted to make sure you were looped in.”
“I don’t have my laptop with me right now…”
“Just use your phone. I doubt you’ll need it.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“Hey, how come you have my number?”
She’s silent for a second, then says, “I have caller ID, Cam. But okay. I was out walking. Give me ten, I’ll hop on.”
I thank her, hang up, and sit back in my chair. Her voice lingers in my head for longer than it should. Crisp but casual,like always. No edge. No affection. Just business. I should appreciate it. Instead, it grates.
The call itself is uneventful. GameHatch presents an updated build. The sponsors seem pleased. There are a few adjustments the analytics team recommends, and Brooke handles it with ease. She doesn’t even look at me once in the video feed, not even a flicker of recognition in those dark eyes. Just calm, confident articulation.
When the meeting wraps, I don’t bother logging off slowly. I close the lid and call Ace. He picks up fast.
“I’m with Leo,” he says. “You good?”
“There was a GameHatch call just now. The brass requested it. All senior leadership had to be there.”
“At this hour?” Ace mutters. “Is something wrong with the game?”
“No. The update looked fine. Brooke was leading the call.”
There’s silence, and then, “Why was Brooke on the call if it was an internal team strategy?”
“I don’t know. I’m just following orders.”
There’s the sound of a beer bottle clinking against the table on Ace’s end. “Come over. We are reviewing games to come up with a game plan. Bring your laptop. We ’dig in.”
“On my way.”
I throw on jeans and a T-shirt, grab my gear bag and car keys, then fire off a quick text to Tanner telling him that I might be home late and he can get started on making dinner.
He doesn’t reply.
The drive to Ace’s building is short and full of thoughts about Brooke— her calm voice, the way she didn’t flinch seeing me on the call. It shouldn’t get to me, but it does. I miss the version of her who used to laugh at my bad jokes in hotel lobbies. Who kissed me in the middle of a snowstorm after I got promoted to first line. I miss what we were before I let it all fall apart.
I’m double-checking the team analytics deck in my inbox before I get out of the car when a Camaro I know too well rumbles into the lot and brakes hard a few feet away.
The door swings open, and my brother jumps out.
Then, on the passenger side, Brooke.
