Page 114 of The Backup Plan
“Except to remind me how many national titles we have,” Cam said. “You guys were clutch. Cutting my mic for a second while you looked it up was brilliant.”
She giggled. “Well, we went back to the media room, and Shelby was still sitting there, burning holes in the table with her eyes, just waiting to fire us.”
“Did she?” Avery asked.
“Ooh, you could tell she wanted to.” Shay leaned in. “It would have been worth it. I could make a loud complaint about that, and I’ll sleep a little better at night knowing she knows that.”
“You’re too good to her, babe.” Kenyon bent down to kiss Shay’s head. “I’d have ripped her head off. I’m a little ashamed my boy Cam didn’t do it on my behalf. I stop people coming at him all the damn time.”
Cam snorted. “Right. Because she needed me to man-splain color theory. Shay was majestic. I sat in awe.” He and Shay high-fived.
“We need to get Pippa out sometime,” Shay said. “She’s so sweet when Shelby’s not terrorizing her. That girl could use a break and about a gallon of wine.”
“She’s a lot more fun when she’s not constantly on edge, that’s for sure.” Sneaking an arm around Avery, Cam had an idea. “I agree. Let’s get her out. We should introduce her to Isaac,” he said. “The least-terrifying guy ever.”
“But you’re—” Shay’s eyes darted to Cam’s hand on Avery’s waist, and she cleared her throat. “Avery, this girl is so smart and strategic, always cheerful, and Shelby just sucks the life out of her. The difference between Pips in class and on an assignment is depressing.”
“That sounds awful. Why does anybody want to work with Shelby? Why do you?”
“Even though I never get to travel with the team, it’s nice to at least be in the same ecosystem as Kenyon during the season,” Shay said, nodding to her boyfriend on the other side of the room. “For Pippa, beats me. She doesn’t know anything about football.”
“Isaac eats, breathes, and dreams football. I bet he’d be a good teacher.”
High on a decisive win that afternoon, the Saturday evening crowd at The Farm mingled in and out of the houses on the shared lot—windows and doors open to their screens in the cool fall evening, the bonfire crackling outside while the men played lazy five-on-five between rounds of cheap beer. Justin was nowhere to be found, and no one had asked Avery about him all night. Two weeks after his outburst at the bonfire, the scene might as well have never taken place. No recording, no photos, no evidence. Avery thought she and Isaac weren’t the only ones who wanted to pretend it didn’t happen.
Cam pulled her away from Shay and the rest of the group. “I’m dreaming about what you’re wearing under that dress.” He plucked at her skirt.
“There’s not that much to that dream.”
Cam intertwined his fingers with hers. “Then I’m dreaming of taking you into the kitchen and setting you on the counter so I can play to my heart’s content.”
“We’ll be here all night.”
“We certainly will not.” His breath warmed her neck as he pulled her back into his embrace. “And I am not letting you out of my reach until I have to go to weights in the morning. We have a hotel tonight.”
“Hey, big spender.” She kissed his cheek. “I could get used to this.”
“You’re going to have to, because we’re going to make a habit of it. If this program is giving me money, I’ll spend it on time with my girl. I am not feeling this situation with roommates and twin beds.”
She hooked a finger in his belt loop. “I know what I’d like to be feeling.”
“Keep that up, and I’m taking you to the kitchen whether you like it or not.”
“I dare you. I don’t think you’ll really go up my dress in the middle of a party.”
He grinned. “I don’t think you could keep a straight face if I did.”
“That’s the only thing stopping you?” Brushing a hand over his thigh, she felt his muscles clench. “Live a little. Give it a shot.”
“Avery. You’re killing me.” He crushed her against him.
“Oh, that feels very much alive.”
“Kitchen. Now.”
“Cameron.” She startled in his arms and stepped back.
“What?”