Page 39 of Cross Check Daddies
My spine locks. I sit there, unable to process it at first, watching her slide out of the car like she’s done it a thousand times before, her hair still in that same high ponytail she had on the call. They’re heading to the building, laughing at something he just said.
Like they’ve done this before.
Like they’ve done this alot.
The world goes still for a second. And then I'm out, walking toward them.
“Tanner,” I bark.
He stops walking. Turns. The smile drops. Brooke freezes next to him.
“Cam.”
“What the hell is this?” I snap. “You’re with her?”
Brooke steps back slightly, like she knows what’s coming and doesn’t want it to get worse in public.
Tanner doesn’t back off. “Yes.”
“You didn’t mentionthis,” I say, pointing between them. “You didn’t tell me you were hooking up with my ex.”
“Because it’s none of your damn business anymore,” Tanner says. “You ended it. You walked away. And now she’s?—”
“Now she’s what?” I demand. “Yours?”
“I’m not going to lose my chance with someone incredible just because you fumbled yours.” Tanner’s voice rises with each word. “You had your shot. Years ago.”
I stare at him. My own brother. “Years? I guess she did not tell you about us… Did she tell you that I fucked her?”
“Cam,” Brooke hisses. “Don’t.”
“You’re a liar,” Tanner shouts.
"I'm not the one lying here."
He shakes his head. “I never lied to you. I just didn’t tell you. And maybe I should’ve. But I didn’t want this?—”
“This is exactly what you wanted,” I say. “You knew. That night you asked me if I had things sorted with Brooke. You already knew.”
He doesn’t answer that.
Brooke cuts in. “I’m going upstairs.”
“Brooke…” Tanner starts.
She waves him off and moves quickly past us. Her steps are clipped, her face unreadable. My jaw clenches as she disappears into the building.
And now it’s just me and my brother.
Silence.
Tanner exhales, like he’s trying to rein it in, but I’m already past that line. He looks down at the pavement like he might find something there that’ll explain all this. But I’m done with him playing thereasonable one.
“You could’ve picked literallyanyone,” I bite out. “Anyone else. And you didn't even have the guts to tell me.”
He looks up. “And what—ask your permission first? She’s not your property, Cam.”
“Don’t twist this into some feminist bullshit. It’s not about ownership. It’s about respect. You know she is my ex.”
