Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
C all a Friend
Cameron
Practice just ended, but Coach wants to talk with me and Cal. There’s some calendar shit coming up that the team has to participate in. Caleb has come a long way, so Coach wants to give him options for this.
I come out of the shower and head for my locker. When I open it, my phone is ringing. Seeing it’s Maribel, I answer it right away. She never calls this time of day unless there’s an emergency.
“Hey, you okay?” I answer.
“I’m sorry, Cam. My car broke down again. I’m going to be late for class.”
I tuck the phone between my shoulder and my ear as I start to tug on my clothes. I hate that fucking car. She shouldn’t be riding around in that damn thing.
“Where are you? I’m on my way.”
“Are you sure? I shouldn’t have called you. I’m sorry. Never mind.”
“Amina,” I growl. “Text me your location. I’m on my way.”
I hang up and remember the meeting with Coach and Caleb. I close my eyes and throw my head back. I can’t leave her stranded.
“Fuck,” I breathe.
Thinking quickly, I come up with a plan. I’m not in Caleb’s next class. Coach can handle talking to him on his own. I just need to make sure Caleb gets to his next class without anyone trying to get too close.
“You okay?” Caleb asks from beside me.
“Yeah, listen, I’m supposed to meet up with Kay. I forgot all about it. Are you going to be all right to meet up with Coach?” I ask, dropping my voice.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll be fine.”
I feel bad for lying, but it would take longer to explain I’m rushing out to help a friend. Caleb still doesn’t know about my relationship with Maribel.
“Cool,” I murmur as I text Kota to make sure she meets Caleb at the field.
I would normally walk him to class and make sure he meets up with Dakota before I take off. I’m trusting all will go well and there will be no issues. When Kota texts me back to let me know she’ll meet him at the field, I grab my bag and rush out for my car.
I glance at the address Amina sent. Knowing exactly where she is I peel out of the parking lot to get to her. She’s my friend. I’m always going to make sure she’s taken care of.
Maribel
“Hey, are you a part of the photographers working on those calendars?” Cam asks as he works to find the problem with my car this time.
“I got an email about something like that this morning. There’s a chance to win a trip to Paris or something,” I reply.
“You should shoot mine. I’d go to Paris with you. It would be fun.”
I laugh. Theirs no way I’m going to Paris with him. Dez would kill me.
“You, sir, will be in the major leagues. You won’t have time for me and trips to Paris.”
He looks up from what he’s doing to look me in my eyes. I can see the wheels spinning. Something serious crosses his face.
“But what if we did win and we run? Think about it. You wouldn’t have to go back home.
“If we win, it would be like a sign, and we could go. I’d cover the costs for the first year as we figure things out. We could hide you away. I would keep you safe,” he says.
“That’s sweet, Cam, but you have a life and family here. I don’t want to take you from all of that. You can’t just run off with me and forget your own life.”
He frowns and looks away from me. I’m not stupid. Cam wants to run from his own life as much as I need to run from mine. However, he loves his family, especially his brother. He wouldn’t be happy running with me.
“You’re still shooting my calendar,” he grumbles. “My brother and I might do it together.”
“That would be cool. I’ve never really gotten to know him. Are you two much alike?”
He shrugs. “In a lot of ways, we are, and in others, we’re not. Twins aren’t always the same,” he mutters.
“I meant no offense. You’re not just twins; you’re siblings. The chances of being similar aren’t far-fetched.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m sure people make assumptions about you guys all the time.”
“You have no idea.”
He continues to fiddle around with the car, and I fall silent in thought. He might be onto something, I don’t need him to run away with me, but what if I ran again, farther away this time? I’d have no contact with my dad this time and ditch my cell phone.
“You know, I wish I’d never told you I know how to fix this piece of shit,” Cam says as he slams the hood of my car closed, jerking me out of my thoughts.
I’m trying so hard not to ogle him in his sweats and T-shirt. His hair looks like it’s still drying from his shower. God, he’s an insanely handsome man.
He has only become more attractive over the last three years. Those dimples get me every time. I love to see him smile—too bad he’s frowning right now.
“If you didn’t want to help me, that’s all you had to say,” I grumble.
He places his hands on his hips and frowns at me. I know that look. He’s annoyed.
I can’t blame him. I had to call him while he was at practice. I got lucky to catch him right after.
“I’m not saying I don’t want to help you. I’m saying I wish you’d let me buy you a new car. You’re lucky I’m never away when it decides to act up,” he says as he turns and props his butt against the car.
“Cam, for the millionth time. I’m not allowing you to give me a car. I have this one. I got it with my own money, and it’s been doing its job since freshman year.”
“I’ve been doing my job keeping it on the road. It’s done nothing but conk out on you every chance it gets. Come on, Mina. It will be my graduation gift to you.
“Let’s go to the dealership this weekend. We’ll make a trip of it.”
“Don’t you have a road game you’re heading to?”
He shakes his head. “No, that’s next weekend. I’m all yours. I’ll take you on Saturday.”
“No, you won’t. I’m not accepting a car from you.”
“Why not?”
“For starters, what would your girlfriend think of you buying me a car?”
He shrugs as a scowl comes to his face. “It’s none of her business. It’s my money. My friend needs a car. I want you safe, so I plan to buy you one.”
I lean my head on his shoulder. “Thanks, Cam. I know you mean well, but I’m not taking a car from you.”
“Why are you always so stubborn?”
“Am not.”
“You are.”
“But you love me. Why complain when I’m going to get my way?”
He sighs. “We’ll see about that. Come on, I can’t fix it this time. I’ll give you a ride to campus.”
I go to grab my backpack and camera bag out of the car and lock it. Cam is scowling at his phone as he waits for me. I walk over to him. Once I stop in front of him, he looks up with annoyance in his eyes.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” He nods. Then he frowns. “Actually, no, it’s not.”
He clamps his mouth shut and shakes his head. “You know what? Never mind. Come on, so you’re not late.”
I follow him as he opens the passenger door for me. Climbing in, I buckle up and wait for him to get in behind the wheel. He tosses his phone on the dash when he gets into the car.
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“Nah, not this time. Let me get you to class.”
I sit chewing my lip, not wanting to pry because I get the feeling it has something to do with Kay. That’s none of my business. I’m not going to get in the middle.