Page 36 of Fighting Fate

She presses gently into my touch, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Her eyes flutter shut, then open, brimming with the same longing that undoubtedly mirrors my own.

I lean in slightly closer, and?—

"Now I get why you're skipping the Alpha Rho Tau party tonight."

Damn it. Cam.

Milli leans against her jeep, catching her breath, hands on the vehicle as if to maintain a semblance of distance between us. Her glance flickers from Cam to me, an unspoken question in her eyes.

I step back, trying to defuse the tension. "What do you mean?"

Cam smirks. "Oh, come on. It's obvious. But hey, your secret's safe." He taps his head knowingly.

"I don't follow," I reply, aiming for nonchalance.

Whatever's going on with me and Milli, that's our business.

Milli coughs lightly, then says, "He was just asking about dance practice."

Cam rolls his eyes. "Right, and I'm the Pope."

Noticing Milli's discomfort, I interject, "Just commenting on your off day catching the ball, Cam."

Which was true enough, despite his readiness for the party.

Cam retorts, "Seems like you're the one off your game, Chasen."

Milli's gaze, a mesmerizing swirl of blue and green, holds mine, filled with silent questions. Cam's doubtful eyes are on us, making openness a challenge. He signals a warning with a sharp gesture, his tone laced with caution. "Be careful. We both know someone's not going to be happy about this."

A tension grips me, my jaw tightens, and my hand forms a fist without my consent. Was that a thinly veiled threat? Did he really just try to intimidate me?

Shaking my head, I close the distance between me and Milli, fighting the impulse to draw her into an embrace. I halt, giving her a smile meant to comfort. She looks from Cam to me and back again, then places her hand over mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. It's a small gesture, but it washes away the tension in my jaw and hands, a relief I hadn't realized I needed until this moment.

"See you later?" she asks, hope tinting her words. She waves at Cam. "Nice running into you, Cameron."

Cam gives her a playful Boy Scout salute, his signature move. I used to find it amusing, but now it seems more like a mask for something else.

"Take care, Milli."

As she drives away, Cam nudges me. "You're in deep, man."

Don't I know it. Fuckkk.

Pussy Panthers

Miles

All in favor of me killing Cam?

Gunner

I'd be okay with it.

Devon

Count me in.

Luke