Page 41 of Cross Check Daddies
“Cam,” Ace barks. “Fuckingcool it.”
Leo’s grabbed Tanner, dragging him backward.
We’re both panting.
“What the hell is wrong with you two?” Ace growls. “You wanna destroy each other before playoffs?”
Neither of us answers. I’m glaring at Tanner like he’s a stranger. Like I don’t even recognize the kid I grew up with.
“He knew,” I mutter. “He knew and he didn’t say anything.”
Ace looks between us. “Knew what?”
“Let’s go,” I say, shoving past him. There is no way I am going back to the same house as my brother. My knuckles are raw. My jaw aches. My heart’s worse.
“Cam,” Ace calls behind me. “What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
I punch the elevator button. Step inside. Watch the doors close between me and the wreckage of my brother.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Brooke
By the timeI get into my apartment, the high from earlier is gone. I’m not even sure if it was a high. Maybe just adrenaline. Confusion. Lust. A cocktail of things I shouldn’t be feeling, especially not withhim. Not with Tanner.
Sasha smiles, that gentle, knowing expression she always wears, but it falters when she gets a good look at my face.
“He’s already in bed,” she says softly. “Went down easy tonight.”
“Thanks,” I manage, pushing past the tightening in my throat.
She steps into the hallway to grab her bag. I walk over to the kitchen counter and pull some bills from the small envelope I keep in the drawer. More than she usually gets. I hand them over wordlessly.
“Brooke…” she starts.
“I’m good,” I lie. “You can go.”
She hesitates, like she wants to say more. Then she thinks better of it and just nods. “Text me if you need anything.”
The door shuts behind her with a click. I bolt it. Then slide the chain across.
I walk past the living room without turning on the lights. Past the hallway with Jackson’s nightlight glowing faint blue under the door. My bedroom is at the end. I don’t turn the lights on in here either. I just close the door behind me, press my back to it, and finally let it hit me.
What did I just do?
I kissed Tanner. More than kissed. I let his hands roam. I climbed into his lap. I didn't stop, like I didn't stop when I ran into Cam that night.
I swallow hard. I rip the tie out of my ponytail and let my hair fall loose. My legs give out, and I sit down hard on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Cam saw us.Camsaw me climbing out of Tanner’s car.
And now they hate each other. Of course they do.
I stand up and start pacing, rubbing my arms like it’ll scrub off the memory of the way Tanner looked at me. The way Camlooked through me.
