Chapter 16
Chapter sixteen
Around him lockers slammed and wet footsteps echoed down the shower hall. With each passing minute they faded, one less person occupying the locker room. Swim practice was over. And thank God for it, Cameron thought with a roll of his shoulders. He was fucking tired.
He was in the back standing near a bench with his towel slung around his waist. His damp hair was still dripping down his neck, while the steam from his shower still clung to the air.
With most of the guys clearing out of the locker room, Cameron paused when he heard the door open. Heavy. Intentional.
Something in him told him to turn around and look. Like some sort of a primitive survival alert. He let out a curse under his breath when he saw him. Cold unnaturally blue eyes stared back at him from across the room.
Gavin didn’t speak. Just stood there for a moment, eyes sweeping the room with a slow deadly patience that set Cameron's nerves on end.
Finally, his wintery eyes settled on two guys loitering near the sinks. “Out,” Gavin commanded.
They didn’t argue. One glance at his face and they scrambled out, probably thanking God they were dressed and not forced to leave in a towel.
Now it was just the two of them.
Cameron didn’t move. Didn’t bother reaching for clothes. He straightened, his arms loose at his sides. “Seriously?”
Gavin took a step forward. There was a deadly calm about him that made Cameron's gut clench. “What did I tell you?”
Cameron didn’t say anything. He was sick of Gavin acting as if he had the final authority of everything. They were friends not master and subordinate. They never had this dynamic before—not until Ebony.
“I told you to stay away.” He said quietly, pouring a wealth of scorn into his words.
Cameron shrugged and averted his gaze. “Yeah, I heard that. Still doesn’t make sense.”
Gavin’s mouth curved, but it wasn’t a smile. “Ah. An understanding issue. That’s good," he said with mock relief. "I was starting to think you were just tanking our friendship on purpose.”
Gavin stepped closer and Cameron cursed himself for not dressing faster. If this crazy bastard fought him it was going to turn into a dick-out type of brawl real fast.
“Tell me, Cam. What’s the part you’re confused about? I’ll clear it up for you.” He glared at him, his cold eyes glittering.
Cameron exhaled through his nose. “The part where you’re acting like you own her. She’s your sister. Not your girlfriend.” He made sure to emphasize the word knowing it was the wrong move even before the words finished leaving his mouth.
Gavin’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening. “You are not dating her," he said evenly.
Cameron refused to back down. “If I was, what? You’d murder me in a towel?”
A humorless smile spread across his lips. “You wouldn’t still be standing.”
A beat of silence stretched between them. Long enough to increase his heart rate.
Cameron shook his head, scoffing even as the beginnings of fear crawled up his spine. “This is insane.”
"Yeah?" Gavin’s voice dropped. "Then pray I never find out you crossed a line. Because if I do, you'll see just how far that insanity goes."
Cameron snapped. “You can’t keep her from everyone forever, Gavin! She deserves a normal life!”
Gavin’s flat stare didn’t waver as he hadn’t said anything. “This is my last warning.”
Cameron didn’t reply. Didn’t need to. Because the line had already been crossed.
And they both knew it wouldn’t be the last time.
If he did this, if he chose to continue on this path—there was no coming back.
Gavin was not the kind of guy to forgive and forget.
If Cameron survived the crazy bastard, he would make an enemy for life.