7. Talia
seven
Talia
My skin is soft, my muscles feel like jello, and the soothing scent of lavender massage oil wafts around me as I click and read post after post on my laptop.
It’s been two days since I saw Cameron sitting in the hot tub, looking all wet and sexy. Two days of doing research and wondering what the hell I am going to do. I still haven’t heard back about my boards, but I should any day now.
Thank goodness for my brother. His packet of distractions is working. Ish? I don’t know.
When I woke up the morning after the kiss and my disagreement with Cameron in the hot tub, I found a manilla envelope with my name and a note inside on the kitchen counter. The note was from Nico, explaining that he was proud of me and sorry for the way he behaved at the restaurant. He said that even though he wouldn’t be around, he wanted me to have fun while I was visiting. Inside the envelope was a stack of papers with reservations for various activities, one for each day I’m here in Phoenix.
This is the side of Nico I was trying to get Cam to see. My brother would never do anything to hurt me. I truly believe Nico is blinded by whatever hate he’s held onto for so long.
So, for the last two days, I’ve distracted myself with various excursions.
First, I took a guided desert trip where I spent hours hiking, riding four-wheelers, and climbing rocks. Then, I did the city tour and ended the day watching the sky change colors as the sun set—one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed. Today, I spent the day at this incredibly expensive spa Nico had picked out. I was rubbed and scrubbed from head to toe.
I should be more relaxed, but I still can’t get a certain someone out of my head.
While, Nico has been successful in keeping me busy out of the house. He has not been able to keep Cam from infiltrating my every thought. My brother must think I’m an idiot. I know what he’s doing, but he has nothing to worry about. It would be stupid to get involved with one of his teammates, let alone one he vehemently hates.
I am Team Nico all the way. The reason he hates Cam doesn’t matter, right?
That’s the million-dollar question: what if it matters? Which is why, for the last hour, I have been doing my due diligence, scouring the internet for proof of the claims so confidently given to me the other night.
True to his word and my internet sleuthing, there is no evidence of Cameron ever saying anything negative about my brother aside from a few “oh, you know how playing on rival teams goes” or “it comes with the job; no hitter likes to be struck out” and even an occasional “he’s a great hitter; it was bound to happen”.
Nothing. Niente .
I cannot find one article or video of Cam bad-mouthing my brother while there are millions of Nico trash-talking littered across the internet. I don’t know how Cam keeps cool in the face of it all, but he does. In every interview I’ve watched, he sits there with a carefree smirk and a nonchalant attitude.
The things Nico is saying on record are horrible. Mamma is right—Nico needs to stop. He’s a talented baseball player, but his actions shine a negative light on him. He looks arrogant and unlikeable.
How have I never noticed this before?
My stomach clenches with anger and disappointment at the way Nico has handled things. What could Cam have possibly done to garner this kind of animosity from my brother?
My phone buzzes with a message, pulling me from things I should not be thinking about.
Sofia: How’s it going in AZ?
I smile at my cousin’s message. I miss her. She’s my best friend. Closest in age, we shared a room growing up. It was hard when we were both young girls, but as we turned into teenagers, we connected. Run-of-the-mill high school and boy drama will do that for you. Well, her drama. I have never had a social life. Still don’t.
Talia: It’s okay, I guess. How’s the restaurant?
Sofia: Same. What’s wrong? Is Nico being a dick again?
If she only knew. Chewing on my lip, I mull over calling her while she’s texting. I need someone aside from my overbearing brother to help me see reason and stay away from Cam. Without a second guess, I tap her name.
She answers on the first ring without bothering to say hello. “So, Nic is being a dick, then?”
“Yes and no. ”
“What does that mean?” I can hear the change in her voice; she’s very interested. Having grown up with Nico, she knows how temperamental he can be.
I hate to say it, but he’s kind of the stereotypical athlete: competitive, hot-headed, and cocky.
“Umm, I don’t know… Something kind of happened.” I gnaw on my lip again. I know I can trust Sofia not to say anything, but if she were to slip up … it could mess up all kinds of stuff. My relationship with Nico being the primary one.
“Okaaaay.” Dead air hangs between us as she lets me think things through before I speak. “Usually I’d give you more time, but Marco called in sick, so I have to head to the restaurant early for dinner service.”
“I think I’m in trouble.”
Sofia cackles into the phone like the Wicked Witch of the West. “You? In trouble?” She laughs again, enjoying my misery. “Girl, when have you ever been in trouble? Better yet, when have you ever done anything wrong?”
Her comment stings. I know she doesn’t mean it too, but still. Everyone thinks I’m a goody two-shoes who always has her head stuck in a book and never disobeys a rule, but that’s not true. I do stuff. Right?
No.
Okay, maybe she has a point.
“Let’s not go there. I need help, and I need you to help me.”
“Not sure how I can do that from here, but I’ll try.” She chomps on something crunchy.
I cringe. “Okay.” I pause and then say it as fast as I can like ripping off a band-aid. “So, I kind of … kissed Cameron Miller.” I wince at the admission.
“What?!” she screams, and I pull the phone away from my ear. “You kissed Cameron Miller? The hottest man in baseball? Ohmigod, tell me, how was it?”
Amazing. Mind-blowing. Best kiss I ever had.
I say none of that. It would be wrong to admit that out loud. “That’s not the point of this call.”
“It should be.” I can picture my cousin huffing in exasperation with me.
“Focus, please,” I whine.
“Sorry. What’s the problem?”
“Have you forgotten that Nico has sworn Cameron to be his eternal enemy for all time?”
She cackles again. “Fuck, this is great, cugina . So what? You kissed the enemy, big deal. Nico doesn’t have to know.”
“That’s why I’m in trouble. He … he sort of caught us.”
This time, she laughs so hard she drops the phone. I hope her screen cracked.
“Sof, pull yourself together and help me, you biotch.”
“Sorry. Okay.” She takes an audible breath, her laughter finally dying out. “What do you need me to help with?”
I regale her with all the sordid details from the other night: finally confessing about Kyle, which she vows to get revenge against, the kiss, Nico flipping out, and the internet research. All of it.
“Hate to break it to you, Lia, but you got yourself into a pickle. Get it? A pickle?”
I roll my eyes at her lame baseball pun. “Yes, I got it. Har-har. You don’t need to explain your jokes. You’re supposed to help me, not state the obvious.”
“Can I ask you something before I advise you, my sweet cousin?”
“Sure.”
“When was the last time you did something for yourself, without worrying about what your mom or brother would think?”
Never. She knows this. It was my self-appointed job to be the easy child in the family—follow the rules, go to school, graduate, and get a good solid nursing job. “Umm.”
She answers for me. “The answer is never, Lia. You always worry about everyone else, trying to be perfect so you don’t make waves or draw attention to yourself. And that’s cool. I’m proud of you. You’ve gotten straight A’s for as long as I can remember. But you need to have fun too. Life is too short to never take chances or do anything for yourself.”
I hear what she’s saying. While she has valid points, none of this helps with my current situation. “Sofia, you’re not telling me to treat myself and splurge on an expensive purse. You’re telling me to betray my brother and do—”
“Cameron. I’m telling you to do Cameron. I’m not saying marry the hottest pitcher of all time. I’m telling you to bang him. Do something just for you. No one has to find out about it. A forbidden fuck is fun, not to mention this little arrangement will come with all kinds of orgasms. I bet he has a big dick. Damn, I gave myself chills just thinking about it.”
I hide the chuckle bubbling up. Leave it to Sofia to make me laugh during a crisis.
“I’m not going to … do that.” I can’t bring myself to say “fuck” and “Cameron” in the same sentence. “It would be betraying Nico.”
She sighs. “Listen, I love Nic like a brother, but he can be a real dick. Just because he paid for our schooling and stuff, it does not make him our keeper. Go with your gut. If you want to give this guy a chance on the sly, I don’t see the harm in it. Oh. Shit. I have to hang up, or I’m going to be late.”
We say our goodbye, and I sit in my room for another hour, mulling over her words. As much as she’s right—I can do whatever and whomever I want—I don’t think my brother would forgive me.
My nerves are fraught with anxiety, and my stomach is in knots when the car pulls up to the house. Cam’s car sits in the driveway, but the lack of lights on in the house leads me to believe he’s out .
Nico took me out to dinner, but when he saw some old friends out, I decided to leave him behind. He didn’t want me to go home, but I did a hell of a good job convincing him I was too tired to hang out after my very long spa day.
For reasons I do not want to dissect, disappointment hits me and makes the stupid organ in my chest twinge.
Locking myself in my room, I put on my bikini and lie in bed, mindlessly scrolling through Netflix until the front door clicks. My ears prick, and my hair stands on end.
Please don’t be Nico.
Footsteps pad across the hardwood and then disappear to what I assume is the other side of the house. Five minutes of heavy silence pass before I hear the telltale sign of the sliding glass door being opened and closed.
My heart rate speeds up, beating against my rib cage like a snare drum.
Fuck it.
It’s like Sofia said—I’m allowed to do something for myself. Not that I am going to throw myself at Cameron; he probably has enough women vying for his attention, but I do like talking to him. Some friendly conversation with him is harmless.
At least, that’s what I tell myself as I grab my towel and throw it over my forearm. I don’t know where this bravery is coming from, but I’m going with it.
A sense of foreboding falls over me as I walk through the inky-black house. I half expect Nico to jump out of the shadows. As I approach the kitchen, a soft glow illuminates my path to the patio, drawing me nearer like a moth to a flame.
Before opening the door, I stare at Cam while he sits in the giant whirlpool, all sexy and wet. Water droplets sparkle as they roll down his thick neck and perfectly chiseled chest. Steam rises from the surface as the hot water bubbles.
It’s now or never. With a deep breath, I slide the double-paned glass holding me hostage and step out onto the deck .
Cam turns his attention to me. “Nice of you to join me. I was wondering how long you were going to stand there gawking.”
My cheeks flame; I’m embarrassed to be caught staring. Again.
This time, Cam’s teasing ignites a defiant flame in me. Crossing my arms and popping my bikini-clad hip, I smart, “Not much to gawk at.”
Liar.
“Keep telling yourself that, itty bitty.” The endearment slips off his tongue, silky and smooth, as his eyes sweep over my body, setting my skin ablaze. He licks his lips, eyes lingering on my chest for a second longer than they should. “You should know I’m looking.”
“Are you now?”
He nods, his eyes finding mine; the green-gold striations burn bright like a stoked fire, warm and familiar. “I shouldn’t, but I am.”
At his confession, shivers wrack my body and my skin pebbles. My pussy slickens with desire as my clit pulses between my legs in time with my heartbeat.
“No, you shouldn’t.” Neither should I.
Not wanting Cameron to see the mess he’s made of me with one smoldering look, I march up the stairs to the jacuzzi. Thankfully, I don’t slip this time. I climb into the hot tub across from him, putting as much space between us as possible.
We sit in companionable silence as the whirlpool jets bubble and swirl the water into a boiling frenzy. I lean back and stare at the night sky, and for some inexplicable reason, I wish this night didn’t have to end.
“Can I ask you a question?” Cam asks, breaking the silence.
I can’t bring myself to look into his eyes again, so I answer to the stars. “Sure.”
“Did you come out here hoping I’d be here?”
Obviously, I did.
I gnaw on the inside of my cheek, holding back my answer. I’m not a liar, never have been. Answering him is a slippery slope, but I do it anyway. “Yes. ”
“Good.”
The water sloshes, lapping at the top of my breasts.
Warm breath fans across my ear, shocking the hell out of me as Cam says, “I was hoping you’d be here too.”
His arm brushes mine under the water as he sits beside me, and the same electrical charge shoots through every cell in my being, awakening something deep inside me. I wish I knew what strange magic he holds that makes my body react this way.
“Just because I hoped you’d be here, it doesn’t mean something is going to happen between us.”
Cam chuckles, deep, throaty, and oh so sexy. “Relax, Talia. I know nothing can happen. Doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”
Friends. He said as much the other night, but is it possible for us to be friends? Nico aside, there is this undeniable attraction between us that’s more than friendly.
“Friends, huh?” I watch him out of the corner of my eye as he stares at the sky like I was before.
He shrugs. “I don’t see why not.”
“Do you have a lot of female friends?”
“Not unless you count my sisters-in-law and a handful of colleagues. Most women…” Cam’s train of thought trails off.
“Most women, what?”
His chest puffs as he expels a gruff sigh. “Most women don’t want to get to know me.”
He doesn’t need to elaborate. I understand completely. My brother is a professional baseball player too. Most women are more interested in his money and status than who he is outside of baseball. I’m sure most athletes and celebrities experience this problem.
“Tell me about your sisters-in-law.”
A soft smile curls at the corner of his upper lip. “Let’s see. My sister-in-law Rylann is married to my brother Jace. She’s the best. I love that woman, and the girl can cook. They have two kids, a boy and a girl.”
“The little boy on your phone? ”
“Yup. Rhys. He’s the coolest kid around. Little dude owns my heart. So does his sister, Riah. She’s the only girl in the Miller bunch, so she’s our spoiled princess.” He lights up like a Christmas tree as he talks about them. It’s sweet. This big, cocky baseball player who throws ninety-five-miles-per-hour fast balls has a huge soft spot for his family. “Then there’s Emery. She’s married to my brother Mason. I’m still getting to know her, but she’s sweet and has excellent taste in movies. She makes my brother happy, and that’s all I care about.”
“So, you have two brothers?”
“Three. I’m the youngest. It goes…” He ticks off his fingers. “Jace, Eli, Mason, and then me.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of boys for one mom to handle.” My mom struggled with two kids. I can’t imagine how busy it was having four.
“It was. My mom’s an angel. But my dad was there too. He was super involved with raising us. Especially with sports. He was my biggest supporter. Still is.”
The mention of his father hits hard. Not for me—I have no memory of the man—but for Nico. Not having our father around had a big impact on him. It’s hard for me not to blame myself for his heartache, or my mother’s, for that matter.
I overheard her and Zia Rose talking late one night. They were drinking and complaining about the crap men they chose. It made my heart ache for the two women in my life. I never told them I’d overheard their conversation, but it’s part of the reason I like to lie low and not cause any drama.
“What about you? Do you have any other siblings besides…” Cam intentionally doesn’t say Nico’s name. Not that he needs to. My brother will always be the five-ton elephant in the room where Cam and I are concerned.
“Not technically. I grew up in the same house as my three cousins who are like my sisters. My mom and aunt are both single moms, and they raised us all together. ”
“How was that?”
“Hard. Crazy. But also kind of awesome. We are all really close. Even Nico, if you can believe it. He was the only guy in a house full of women.”
My mom worked hard being both parents to us, and she did an amazing job doing so. She’s the best mom ever. I never once felt like I was missing out because I didn’t have a father. I also had Zia Rose. She’s not the girly-girl type, and her less than feminine wiles more than make up for not having a male figure in my life.
“I did not expect that,” Cam mumbles, shaking his head like he can’t wrap his mind around what I’m telling him.
“Expect what?”
“That your brother grew up in a house full of women.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I bristle, offended on my brother’s behalf. I stand, done with this conversation.
Is my brother a dick sometimes? Yes.
But he’s also a good man. He takes care of his family, always has.
Anger burns like acid in my stomach. I don’t want to hear Cam bash my brother when he doesn’t know a thing about him.
Maybe Nico was right about Cameron.
He is an asshole.