Total pages in book: 12
Estimated words: 11299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 56(@200wpm)___ 45(@250wpm)___ 38(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 11299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 56(@200wpm)___ 45(@250wpm)___ 38(@300wpm)
A smile moves across my lips, and she gives me a small one, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Sure is. I thought she had headed home.”
“Guess not,” Philly says as I finish my Gatorade. I tuck the bottle into my glove and head through the bench doors and out the side, instead of going down the tunnel. Before I can reach Cameron, though, Elli is leaning over the rail.
“Looking good out there. Are we still good for lunch?”
I had forgotten, but I don’t let her know that. “Absolutely. Can I go talk to my friend first?”
She looks over where Cameron is standing, very uncomfortable. Is she upset? “Oh. Of course.” Elli then leans in. “She is very pretty. Isn’t that Callie’s friend?”
Callie is her son’s girlfriend and Cameron’s best friend. I nod, wiping the sweat off my forehead. “She is. Do I stink?”
“Oh, to the high heavens,” she teases, patting my chest. “I’ll go wait in the car. I’m sure you’ll shower?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be a few. I can meet you there?”
“No,” she says, waving me off. “Just be good, and I’ll see you at the car.”
I laugh, and she gives me that mom wink. The one that says “Don’t get in any trouble.” She heads down the bleacher stairs, and before I head to Cameron, I decide not to set my gear down there since I don’t want to get yelled at by the coach. I make my way to where Cameron is standing. She looks unsure of herself, which is weird. She’s usually so confident, and that quality is what draws me to her. That and her mouth. She has these thick-ass lips that consume me.
Shit, I think I’ve missed her.
“Hey,” I call as I come up to her. “I thought you were heading home?”
She wrings her fingers together. “Next week. I have one more exam tomorrow.”
“Oh, cool. I have one tomorrow too.”
“When do you leave?”
“Sunday.” She nods slowly, and I eye her. I may not know much about American girls, but I can read someone. Something is off. “You good?”
When she looks up at me, her eyes are full of tears. “I need to speak to you about a private matter.”
I bring in my brows. “Now?”
“If possible. I saw Mrs. Adler, though, so I don’t know if you have plans.”
I look up toward where she just walked out. “Yeah, we have lunch plans. But if it’s important, then I’ll cancel.”
A tear falls down her face. “I’d appreciate that.”
I reach out, wiping her tear, and then another one falls. I know I stink, but I can’t stop myself. I reach out, wrapping my arms around her, holding her close to me. Usually, girls move far from me when I get done on the ice, but she wraps her arms around me. When the sob leaves her body, my heart stops. I move my lips into her hair, kissing her ear. “Are you okay?”
“Not really. I’m freaking out,” she whispers. I don’t know what’s wrong or how it involves me, but my stomach feels like it’s turning inside out.
She pulls back, and I let her go. “You really smell.”
I nod, unable to laugh. “I do. Can I shower? Or do you want to talk now?”
She swallows. “I can wait a few.”
“Okay,” I say, and then I reach out, squeezing her hand. “Give me five.”
She only nods, wiping her face free of the tears as I head to the locker room. Mrs. Adler is upset that I’m canceling, but we plan dinner instead. The dinner will cut into my study time, but I’ll be fine. I’ve aced this class; I don’t even need to take the exam, but I don’t want my GPA to drop. I move faster than I normally do in the locker room. After practice, I like to let the hot water run down my body and relax, but I’m truly worried about Cameron. I get dressed in my Bullies tee and shorts and say bye to the guys before heading out.
I find Cameron sitting in the bleachers as the Zamboni cleans the ice. She looks up from her phone as I come to where she is. I drop down beside her, and I tuck my hands under my thighs since it’s chilly in here. I thought maybe we’d go somewhere else, but I don’t want to make her even more uncomfortable.
“Sorry it took me so long.”
She shook her head. “No, you’re fine. I was just talking to my mom.”
Cameron looks away, taking a deep breath, and her anxiety is coming off her and crashing into me. I’m unsure what the hell is going on, but I don’t have to wait long to find out.
“I’m pregnant.”
I feel like I’ve been kicked square in the junk without a cup. “Sorry. Did you say you’re pregnant?”
She doesn’t look at me as the tears come down faster, and she nods. “Yeah.”