Chapter 27
HANNAH
It had been a challenging game to watch.
Cameron played with such aggression, violent at times.
Had I missed who he was? Was he this man?
The angry brute who enjoyed inflicting pain.
Since he ended our relationship, I had done everything I could to erase him from my mind, though I failed horribly.
I tried to delete all the pictures and ended up just moving them to a folder.
I packed the shirts he left at my house in a box, hid them in my closet, and then took them out that same night to sleep in one of them.
I missed his scent, his touch, the way he looked at me.
At times, I wondered if I could accept being a token, a notch on his bedpost, as I was prepared to be the other woman at the start.
How could I have been so wrong about the man?
I tried not to mention him, but it was hard.
Asking about him when Easton came over. I wanted to know how he was doing.
I wanted to know if he was in pain or missed me, even though I knew he didn’t.
Cameron Walters had power over me, and he wasn’t even in my life anymore.
How could I avoid him? The man played for my father’s team.
He lived in the same city as me. If I could avoid him at games or in town, it still wouldn’t stop him from showing up on social media or popping into the news.
It was like a torturous cycle I was stuck in.
Was I supposed to move now? Find another job?
Tell my parents I no longer want to go to the games.
That had been my plan for the upcoming game; the idea of watching him, being close yet far away, made my stomach clench in pain.
Marty had her entry now; she didn’t need me to get her in or even to the skyboxes.
She had her player; she had turned a well-known womanizer into a monogamous man.
I had turned myself into nothing more than a conquest; that’s what he called me.
A conquest, like some bet he made with his buddies. A game.
I couldn’t let my father down, regardless of how I felt about Cameron or the pain it would cause me.
I had always supported my dad, and this man wouldn’t stop me from doing just that.
I tried to focus on the game in general, watch and cheer on the entire team, and my father, yet my attention constantly shifted to him.
Even when he was on the sidelines, he still looked so handsome in his uniform, a strong warrior.
With each hit he made, I clinched Marty’s hand.
I watched as he yelled at the referees, at the coaches, and even at the opposing team, as if taunting them.
Chatter began in the box, discussing his behavior, the flags he was getting, the yards he was losing, and then turning around and protecting.
It was as if he wanted to make the game harder, but then he turned around and played it more aggressively.
The other defense players reacted to his movements, prompting the opposing team to respond when their defense came out.
It was like a battle; neither team was willing to give up an inch.
I wanted to talk with him, tell him to calm down and focus.
He was going to get hurt or hurt someone else.
“How are you doing?” Marty asked, sitting next to me.
“I don’t get why he’s acting like this. I mean, has he always played like this, and I didn’t notice?”
Marty shook her head. “Cameron has always been a strong player, but I’ve never seen him so unhinged.” She laughed lightly. “For him to get in the face of his defensive coach, that’s not him.” She added.
“Well, he needs to focus, or he’ll lose this game for the team.” I exhaled a deep breath. “Not sure what his problem is anyway.”
Marty, with a grunt, shifted in her seat. “Okay, I’m not supposed to tell you this, and Easton is going to kill me, but fuck it.” I furrowed my brows, turning toward her. “Cameron ended things with you because of his ex.”
“I don’t want to hear this.” I turned back in my seat.
“No, not because he’s back with her.” I looked back at my friend. “She was blackmailing him.” She added.
“Blackmailing him?” Marty glanced around at my mom, who sat down beside me. “Tell me,” I demanded.
“She had followed you, or had someone follow you, honestly, I don’t know for sure, but she had pictures of you both.” She paused, her face indicating the kinds of photos she was talking about without saying the words.
“Wait, what?” Shocked, angry, embarrassed. “Pictures of me and him….”
“Yeah,” Marty confirmed. “Lots, which I have to say I’m jealous, but yeah. She was threatening to send them not only to your father but also to the tabloids or any news station if he didn’t end things.” Everything made sense, and with her reveal, the weight on my chest lifted.
“He does love me,” I said to myself.
“Who loves you, dear?” My mother asked.
I turned to face her, my hands cupping over hers with a smile. “Mom, I’ve been having a secret love affair with Cameron Walters.” My words brought the attention of everyone around us, including fans. My mother’s mouth parted in a gasp of shock.
“You what?”
I smiled. “He loves me, and I love him.” I paused.
“I love him,” I repeated as the Jaguars charged onto the field and the second half of the game began.
I allowed my mom to absorb the information I had dropped on her.
Jumping to my feet, I looked onto the field, seeing him running out, and started to scream.
A few fans who stood in front of our box gave me a high five.
I didn’t know what I could do about the pictures, about his ex, but I would be damned if I allowed her to take away the man I loved.
I would fight for him, for us, if need be.
Marty stood beside me, wrapping her arms around me in approval, both of us ready to cheer our men to victory.
In the third quarter, Cameron played like he always had.
There were no more flags thrown. His aggression was gone.
I was upset that he felt he couldn’t tell me, that he thought I would prioritize my privacy over him, and for that, he would get an earful after the game, but I was done hiding.
I didn’t care who knew, and I didn’t care what challenges came with being with him in public.
I watched Marty and Easton’s relationship thrive, even in the spotlight, and I knew Cameron and I could survive anything that came at us. This situation only proved that more.
As the final quarter hit the half mark, Cameron hit the field.
I screamed for him, wishing he could hear me, hoping he felt how proud of him I was.
Wishing I had worn his jersey. The stadium was a roar, every person on their feet, when the Jaguars blitzed.
I watched Cameron move, with such precision, jumping up and down as he sacked their Quarterback, Keaton Wayne.
It was the first one of the game and brought the fans to an eruption of celebration.
Marty and I jumped into a hug, and we started giving high fives to the fans.
When everything changed.
The stadium started to calm down. The announcer on the television in the suite revealed there was an injured Jaguar on the field.
Slowly, everyone stood. I watched my father sprinting to the field with the medic.
My eyes scanned the players who stood around the injured player, my heart sinking when I saw Easton run onto the field with Austin.
“Oh my God,” I said softly, Marty taking my hand as we all watched in horror.
“We are unsure what has happened, but you can see number Fifty, Cameron Walters, lying still, the team's medic looking him over.” The announcer said.
“I need to get down there,” I said, my mother surprisingly taking my other hand.
“You must stay here. I’m sure he’s okay.” She attempted to comfort me, which I appreciated, but I was only concerned about what happened with Cameron.
Just then, applause started to move through the stadium as he sat up, though he didn’t stand.
My eyes fixated as his brother helped him to a medical board, placing him on the cart that had driven onto the field.
“We are getting reports Cameron Walters will be out the rest of the game, suffering a knee injury as a result of that amazing blitz play.” The announcer revealed.
I watched as they drove him from the field, quickly moving into the suite, my eyes falling to the television as they played a close-up replay. “Right there, oh man.” The announcer said with a zoomed-in angle. “Looks like, yeah, he, his knee. This doesn’t look good.” He continued.
“I need to get to him,” I said, Marty with her hand on my arms, holding me as I watched the reply in horror. She nodded her head, both of us rushing from the suite.
The game ended only minutes after Cameron was injured, and my steps turned into a sprint the closer we got to the locker room.
It didn’t matter how the game ended, who won or lost. It no longer mattered if my father found out or what he thought; I needed to get to Cameron.
Tell him I loved him, I was proud of him, and I would ensure he was okay and would be there to take care of him.
We pushed our way past security, running full blast down the long hallway to the locker room.
Charging through the double doors, I glanced around the empty room until I saw Easton walk out of the back room.
He nodded without a word and motioned to the door he stood in front of.
Marty let go of my hand, and I sprinted at his brother.
We looked at one another for a mere moment before I walked in, seeing Cameron lying on a table with the team medic next to him.
He rolled his head to the side, and upon seeing me, he lifted slightly.
Quickly, I sprinted to him, before he could say a single word.
Leaning down, I pressed my lips against his in a soft kiss.
Cameron lifted his palm to the back of my head, deepening the kiss, until we heard a cough in the doorway.
Jumping, I turned, looking at my father standing with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
“Dad, I…”
He shook his head and lifted his hand to stop me talking. “Is he going to make it?” He asked the medic.
“I’ve given him something for pain. He needs to get to the hospital, though.” Cameron lay his head down on the table, my attention focused on my father as I held onto Cameron’s hand.
“Go on, let’s get him there.” My father ordered. Waiting until the medic left the room, my father’s attention shifted to me. He took a slow, steady step towards me, his hands cupping my face. “Just be happy.” Shocked at his words, I smiled, tears in my eyes.
“I am daddy.” He nodded his head to my reply, glancing over my shoulder at Cameron before he leaned in and kissed my forehead and left the room.
Returning to Cameron, I ran my hand through his hair, “Hannah, I…”
I placed my fingers over his mouth and shook my head. “I already know, and I don’t care. All that matters is us. I love you.”
“I love you.” Leaning forward, we kissed softly.