Page 87 of Challenge
I stand up to look out the door. I see Tanner at the end of the hallway, but I can’t seeher.
“Prove it,” he jeers.
“Tanner,” I bark.
He jumps, momentarily surprised by my voice. Then he holds his hand out to stop me. “Cam, don’t sweat it. I’ve got this.”
“I appreciate the bro barrier, but I can handle it.”
He narrows his eyes and pauses for a beat. Finally taking a step back, he indicates with his hand for her to come through. I try to prepare myself for the sight of her, but it’s useless.
Actually laying eyes on her is like a bolt of lightning. In an instant, I remember how she feels. How she tastes. How she adjusts her glasses when she’s nervous. I remember the snappy look she gets in her eyes when I’m being a smartarse. I remember the heated colouring of her cheeks when she gets turned on. I remember all of that with a thunderous punch against my chest like I’m being resuscitated.
She’s dressed in her blue work scrubs. Her hair is a wild mess on top of her head. Her name badge is still connected to her breast pocket and standard black frames rest on her nose.
She looks gorgeous.
Her eyes drink me in, too, probably because I’m shirtless and only wearing a pair of athletic shorts and trainers. I feel mildly grateful when it seems hard for her to look at me.
“Can we go to your room and talk?” she asks, adjusting her glasses.
I can’t stomach the idea of being in my room with her again…so close to the bed where I first touched her. I tear my eyes away and reply, “No, but you can come in here.”
I turn and walk back into our small gym, grabbing the exercise ball and flopping down onto it. I immediately regret the decision to bring her in here when I see her reading the puns on the mirror. Her mouth opens like she wants to say something. Just as quickly, her jaw shuts when she stops at:
Show me someone in denial and I’ll show you a person in Egypt up to their ankles.
Jaw taut, she twirls on her heel to face me, crossing her arms over her chest. “Nice to know you’ve been talking about me to your family.”
My face remains flat. “I haven’t said any more to Tanner than what he knew before.”
Her brows lift. “So he’s that friendly to all the girls you bring home?”
I huff, “I’ve never brought any other girl here.” I bite my tongue as soon as the words spill out. She doesn’t need to know that. She doesn’t deserve to know that everything I did with her was unique.
She fades away for a second, clearly lost in her thoughts.
“Did you come here for a reason, or just to get in a row with my brother?”
“I had a nice chat with your sister yesterday.” My head juts forward like I couldn’t possibly have heard her right. “She came by the hospital and told me you’re not going to have the second surgery.”
My family’s constant need to meddle has reached new heights. “Sorry to mess up your plans,” I grind out through clenched teeth.
She scoffs, “My plans aren’t important here.”
“Oh please,” I hiss. “This surgery was going to be huge for your career. I’m not a dumb jock, Indie.”
“I’ve never said you were. I’ve never even thought you were. Not once.” She tightens the hold on her arms and glances down at my abs. “Do you have a bloody shirt you can put on?”
I roll my eyes, unsure if she’s trying to make a joke or if I’m distracting her thoughts too much. Either option doesn’t involve me putting a shirt on.
“Did you just come here to try and convince me to have the surgery? If so, you can save your breath. Everyone in my family has already tried. If they can’t do it, neither can you.”
She props her hands on her hips. “Why aren’t you having it?”
“I need some time off,” I answer like it’s the easiest question in the world.
“So take time offafterthe surgery.”
