Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
N ew Girl
Maribel
I smile down at my phone as I rush to class. Cam has been sending me links to cars since he dropped me off, asking which make and model I want and like. I’m not letting him buy me a car.
As I walk to class, I note the line outside of it. When I take a closer look, I realize this is the baseball team. My mind goes back to Cam’s words.
I can’t believe he said he’d run away with me. What if I did win? Would that really be a sign that we’re meant to be together? Would Cam end up hating me for taking him from his life?
I shove those thoughts down as I walk into class. It’s silly to get my hopes up. There are some amazing photographers in this school. What are the odds that I would win anyway?
My eyes widen as I see how many players are lined up. I don’t know what I had been expecting. I read the email again on the way to campus.
Cameron told me to sign us up and let him know what I need from him. He had something else to do, so he didn’t come to interview anyone. Besides, he already knows I’m going to partner with him.
“What the heck? I knew everyone was going to go nuts about this assignment, but there’s a line of jocks outside the class,” I say as I walk up to the table Joelle and Taylor are sitting at.
“I stand corrected, once again. Nicole, this is Maribel. Now you have officially met everyone you need to know,” Taylor says to the pretty girl sitting next to her.
I’ve never seen her on campus before. I would have remembered her if I had. I give the girl a smile. I shrug my camera bag off and place it on the table as I go to take a seat.
Nicole gives off a shy vibe from the jump, but she isn’t giving bitch vibes, so I give her a chance.
“Nice to meet you,” she says.
“I would say nice to meet you, too, but I want to go to Paris and you’re now one more camera in my way,” I deadpan, with a smile on my lips to let her know I’m harmless.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m not sure I’ll even participate.”
Okay, this girl might be weird. Who doesn’t want a free trip to Paris? Even if I weren’t trying to run away, I would want this free trip.
“Are you kidding?” Taylor and Joelle say in unison, speaking my thoughts.
“No.” She shrugs with true indifference.
Curious, I go to ask her what’s up with that, but the professor calls class into session. My phone grabs my attention as Cam continues to text.
I lift a brow as he sends a link for a Mercedes and another for a BMW. If I were going to allow him to buy me a car, it wouldn’t be either of those brands. That’s way too much money for a friend to spend on a friend.
While I scroll through the links, thinking of purchasing myself a graduation gift, the professor explains the assignment and how it will all work. The baseball team needs to interview us to see who will give them the best chance to win the competition.
I half listen as Cam has already made his choice. Glancing up from my phone, I see Caleb and Dakota at the front of the room. I furrow my brows, wondering what she’s doing here with him.
I knit them further as it dawns on me that I’ve never seen Cam’s brother without him or their cousin. I shrug it off as Cam sends me another link.
Me: You’re not buying me a car. Stop sending these texts.
Cam: Stop being so stubborn. Pick a car and color.
Me: Keep it up and I’m going to go with another partner for this assignment.
Cam: Your loss. Would have allowed you a few nudes for your personal collection. Something to look at to get in the mood for your husband.
I frown at my phone. The thought of Dez wanting to touch me in that way makes me sick. He’s such a cold man. I can only think of his touch as cold.
Me: Not funny.
Cam: Yeah. Thought about that after I sent it. Sorry, darlin’.
Suddenly the air seems to shift at the table. I look up to find Caleb hovering over Nicole, looking like he wants to eat her. Up close he’s as handsome as his brother. I wonder if he has dimples beneath that beard like Cam does. Then I wonder what Cam would look like with a beard.
I would miss his dimples if he covered them up like I think his brother does. He would still be fine as fuck. That much I know for sure. My phone buzzes, grabbing my attention.
Cam: You still there?
Me: Yeah. You’re fine. I’ll hit you back later. I have to look like I’m paying attention.
Cameron
“I need to go to the bathroom before we go,” Cal says as I pay the bill for our lunch.
After I dropped Amina off, Kota texted me to let me know she and Caleb were heading here for a bite to eat. I was starving, so I came right over.
I wait until Cal is out of ear shot, then I turn to Dakota. The smile on her face tells me she already knows what I’m about to ask.
“Tell me more about this girl.”
“She’s gorgeous,” she coos. “And she’s Black. Nothing like your type. The total opposite. This is all him.”
I bite back my response. No one would know my type because I’ve never really dated anyone other than Kay. This Nicole might be more my type than Kota knows.
I frown at the thought. If things were different, I know I would want Maribel without question. However, neither of us have that option.
“Did you get the vibe from her that he could trust her? I don’t want him to get his hopes up only to have his feelings crushed.”
Kota bites her lip as she looks at me. This is an honest question. My brother’s happiness is important to me. I’m not going to let some girl hurt him because she can’t wrap her head around who he is.
“In all honesty, I have a good feeling about her. Give him a chance to figure this one out, Cam. I think it will be worth it.”
“I hope you’re right. One of us should get to be happy,” I mutter the last part to myself.
Caleb returns a few minutes later and we all go to leave. I text Kay to see what she’s up to before I head home to the apartment. I step out of the diner with Cal and Kota, my stomach full from devouring half of the menu.
I might knock out before I start on some reading later. Today is a light day. I only had practice, no classes. Caleb and Kota had the one class.
“Hey, you boys kill ’em out there this season,” a guy calls as we exit.
“We’ll do our best,” I say and give a salute.
“Wow, this is going to be our last season here. It feels bittersweet. I still remember freshman year. You guys must be so excited,” Kota gushes.
“I don’t know how I feel. There will be more change and I’m nervous enough about that, but I think I’m a little excited too,” Cal says.
I look to my brother and smile. I’m still curious about this girl he ran into and now has a crush on. Nicole. She must be something.
My mind goes to Amina. I’m still pissed at myself for that dumbass joke I made earlier. I was only teasing, but once I sent it and read it back, I realized it was a dick move.
I’m so fucking frustrated with myself. I would have been thinking clearer if I hadn’t been texting with Kay at the same time. She’s on one and I’m starting to look at things more closely.
Something has been off for a long time now. Kay won’t travel for one of my away games, but she’s always traveling somewhere. Which wouldn’t spark my attention if Kay actually had a damn job.
She doesn’t, so where the fuck is she always going? It’s never bugged me in the past because I’m always busy with school or baseball. However, something in her tone lately has caused me to home in on her behavior.
That and the fact that my mama keeps asking me when I’m going to buy her a ring and when I plan to propose. Like that’s a part of some list I need to check off for graduation.
“Where to now?” Dakota asks as Cal and I go to climb into my car.
“I want to get my paper done,” Cal answers as my phone pulls my attention.
It’s Kay replying to my text, asking if I can pick her up. I shoot her a quick text, letting her know I’m on the way. I look up from my phone to give my brother and cousin my attention.
“Kay wants me to pick her up first. You cool with that? If not, I’ll take you home then go get her,” I say.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll take the ride. I can arrange my notes on my laptop,” Cal replies.
I nod as he and Dakota climb into the back seat. Once we’re all settled into the car, I pull off and head to Kay’s house.
Kayleen
“I’ll see you later, mama,” I call out as I go to head out the door to wait for Cam to come pick me up.
“You going to see Cam?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll probably be over there for a while.”
“Good, you two need to spend more time together. I don’t know how you think you’re going to get a ring when you’re always off doing God knows what with God knows who,” she chides.
I roll my eyes and ignore her. I’m trying my best to figure things out. The pressure she’s been placing me under isn’t helping.
I haven’t spoken to JR since he left to head back to school. However, he’s still sending me money. He’s been sending me a weekly allowance for about three years now.
I haven’t had to get a job because he spoils me. Cam never tells me no either. My lifestyle hasn’t taken a hit since Daddy nearly lost everything.
We were all able to take a sigh of relief when his business partner Howell took the fall for everything. It was all his doing in the first place—at least, that’s what Daddy says.
I step outside right as Cam pulls up. I run to the car before my mama can step out of the house and drive us both crazy. Smiling, I wave at Cal and Kota in the backseat. I then slide into the front seat next to Cam.
“Hey,” I say and lean in to kiss his cheek.
“Hey,” he says and reaches to tuck my hair behind my ear before kissing my forehead.
I take a deep breath to inhale his cologne. His scent is so comforting and familiar to me. So many memories are connected to that scent.
Settling in my seat, I go to click my seat belt into place. As I pull the belt across me, something grabs my attention. I pick up the gold piece of jewelry off the seat and cup it in my hand.
Peeking at Cam out of the side of my eye, I make sure his eyes are focused on the road. Once I confirm he’s not paying attention to me, I open my hand and look down at the bracelet in my palm.
It’s a pretty gold bracelet that clearly belongs to a female. I close my hand and sit stewing. Jemma told me Cam would explore.
I shouldn’t be mad, but maybe this is a sign. He’s no different from me. If Cam is seeing someone else, can he be mad at me for JR?