Page 99 of Full Tilt
I nod, but I don’t move just yet. Because holding him like this? Feeling his heartbeat slow against mine, his muscles finally relaxing—it’s something I’m not ready to let go of.
21
Camden
The locker roomsmells like liniment, fresh sweat, and nerves.
I’m already half-dressed in my warm-up kit, pacing slow circuits between the benches, pretending I’m calm when my gut’s one wrong look from tying itself into a sailor’s knot. Most of the lads are in their own pre-match routines—stretching, chatting low, some even joking—but my brain won’t switch off.
Because today isn’t just a friendly. Today, Brent’s family is here.
His parents arehere.
And I feel like I’m about to be evaluated by the Board of Eternal Boyfriend Viability.
I scrub a hand down my face, exhaling slowly through my nose, and try to focus. Jacksonville’s lads are already out on the pitch. We’re next. I should be thinking about scrum formations and lineouts. Instead, my brain’s shouting,Don’t trip in front of Jo and Lyn, like that’s somehow tactical advice.
I reach for my water bottle, distracted by a ping from my phone on the bench beside it.
Cosmo:
Hope you win today, future brother-in-law
I blink. “What the fuck?—”
Another message flashes up before I can process.
Cosmo:
Too soon? Too bad. Told the group chat.
Well. That explains the other notifications.
A chorus of pings pops up. My phone practically vibrates itself into a coma. I unlock it and see the explosion of chaos in the Love the Game group chat.
Jay:
Wait, WHAT? Cosmo. Did I miss an announcement? Is Camden Crawford DATING your brother??
Cosmo:
Bitch, please. Of course he is. They’re perfect. I knew it.
Jay:
When did this happen?
Cosmo:
Let’s just say I have great intuition and matchmaking skills that rival Oprah.
Ty:
Wait. Wait. You knew?? How?
Cosmo:
Psychic gay energy. Also, I might’ve introduced them without knowing they’d already met.
