Cameron
I’m addicted to her.
In a—I probably need rehab kind of way.
In a—if loving her is a sickness, I don’t want to get better kind of way.
Wes and I are in the car on our way to pick up the girls, and I’ve been so zoned out from anything he’s saying the whole drive because all I can think about is getting to see her today.
Wes side-eyes me now from the passenger seat, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“So…” Wes starts, dragging the word out. And I know I’ll hate whatever’s coming next. “How have you and the hot Dr. Dolittle doing?”
That catches my attention like he knew it would. “Don’t call her hot. And we’re doing…good.”
Wes snorts. “Okay, calm down. Don’t go all caveman on me…but just good? That’s all I get. Come on, give me something better to work with.”
I roll my eyes. “Not that it’s any of your concern, but…we’re great, better than great. If it didn’t sound so insane, I’d probably take her down to the courthouse tomorrow and marry her. But I’m trying not to scare her away.”
Wes leans back in his seat, just staring at me. “Okay, wow. That’s a lot to take in. I’ve never seen you like this before, man.”
I glance over at him. “Yeah, well, you’ll never see me like this with anyone else either.”
“I think I like this on you…you know…in love or whatever.”
“Or whatever?” I laugh out.
Wes waves a dismissive hand in the air. “Yeah, like I personally will not be catching whatever it is you have, but…I’m really happy for you, Cam.”
* * *
We pull up to Gabrielle’s building’s garage, and Wes leans up in his seat, stretching.
“I get to keep shotgun, right?” he says, just to be annoying.
I shake my head. “Yeah, no. Get in the back.”
Wes glares at me. “Wow. You use me like a therapist to spill all of your emotions out to, and now I’m getting demoted?”
I smirk. “You’ll survive.”
Wes sighs dramatically but gets out while grumbling, “That’s fine. I don’t mind keeping Kins company back there.”
“Behave, Wes,” I warn.
I look over to see Gabrielle and Kinsley stepping outside of her building.
I swear my heart might literally stop at the sight of her.
I step out and open her door.
She flashes me a small smile. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I murmur back.
Wes is already in the back, flashing Kinsley his most charming grin. “Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite bad decision waiting to happen.”
Kinsley smirks as she clicks her seatbelt. “I think I’ve been waiting a little too long for you to make that bad decision. I guess I’ll have to start looking for trouble somewhere else.”
I exchange a look with Gabrielle when I’m back in the driver’s seat.
“What have we gotten ourselves into?” she mutters under her breath, amusement lacing her words.
I grin. “Those two are a train wreck waiting to happen, and I don’t wanna be anywhere nearby when it does.”
She just shakes her head, but I can see the small smile she’s trying to fight.
The drive to the game is full of easy conversation. Mostly Wes and Kinsley talking at each other more than with each other, but every now and then, Gabrielle and I exchange little glances—small, knowing smiles that remind me just how different things are starting to feel now.
I still can’t wrap my head around her being back in my life, let alone having her back the way I’ve always dreamed about.
I’ve been waiting for this dream to turn into a nightmare, because that’s what I’m used to in my life, but I don’t think it will.
I really hope it won’t.
By the time we get to the field, the energy is already high, the guys are warming up, and the usual banter is being thrown around.
Before heading onto the field, I turn to Gabrielle, tugging her close by her waist and stealing a quick kiss.
She hums against my lips. “Good luck out there, Dr. Hayes.”
I smirk. “I better see you cheering me on.”
Wes whistles from a few feet away. “Gabrielle and Cameron, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”
I flip him off before catching up to him and jogging onto the field together.
Wes claps his hands together as we reach the other guys. “Alright, ladies, let’s go win this thing.”
I shake my head, positioning myself beside him. “You’re feeling confident today?”
“I’ve been carrying this team since day one.”
“Yeah, those three touchdowns last game were amazing…wait, no, that was me.”
Wes scoffs. “Details. The real MVP is really just the best-looking guy on the field.”
I side-eye him. “Wait, that’s still me.”
He grins. “We’ll let the ladies be the judge.”
I shake my head as the ref blows the whistle, signaling for us to start. The game kicks off, and for a while, everything is exactly how it should be.
Wes and I are locked in, playing like it’s a professional game. The ball moves down the field, and we’re all in sync. Our team is taking the lead early on.
After a few solid plays, we huddle up.
“Alright, Cam,” Wes says, tossing the ball back and forth between his hands. “You’re going long, I’ll throw it deep. Think you still got the legs for it, old man?”
I scoff. “Trust me, I can outrun your weak arm.”
“We’ll see.”
We break, and I line up. Wes takes the snap, and I take off down the field.
I cut right, and he launches the ball.
It’s a perfect throw, spiraling straight toward me.
I track it in the air, arms outstretched, ready to catch it.
I’m halfway through the play when my heart starts hammering in my chest…too fast.
Too erratic.
I slow down, my vision blurring slightly, the world around me tilting for just a second.
I push through it, forcing my body forward. I reach for the ball—catch it—but the second it’s in my hands, I stumble.
I slow, then stop completely in the middle of the field.
The voices around me start to muffle.
My body feels hot, too hot, my skin prickling.
I exhale sharply, pressing a hand to my chest.
Wes jogs over. “Cam? What’s wrong?”
I shake my head, trying to steady myself. “Just…gimme a second.”
But even standing still, my heart doesn’t slow down.
I take another breath, blinking hard, then make my way toward the sideline, ignoring the eyes following me.
I drop onto the bench, elbows on my knees, willing my body to just calm down.
A moment later, I hear footsteps in the grass.
Then a familiar soft voice.
“Cam?”
I look up.
Gabrielle is already kneeling in front of me, concern etched onto every inch of her face.
Wes jogs over, following me, his brows furrowed. “Dude, what’s up with you?”
“I’m fine,” I say, rubbing a hand over my face.
Wes snorts. “Bull. First, the nosebleeds, then the bruises, and now you’re randomly about to pass out mid-game?”
Gabrielle stays kneeled in front of me, with even more concern written all over her face now. “And you had a fever the other night…”
Wes’s head snaps toward me. “Wait—what?”
I sigh, already hating this conversation. “Guys, chill. I’m just tired and haven’t eaten much today. Plus, the stress of work. It’s normal.”
Gabrielle and Wes exchange a look that very clearly says we don’t believe him for one second.
Wes crosses his arms. “Okay, but like…you do remember your history, right? Or do we need to refresh your memory on why you should not ignore random symptoms like these?”
Gabrielle nods. Her expression is pretty serious right now, and I can’t ignore it. “Cam, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. It’s okay to listen to your body.”
I hate the way they’re both looking at me, like I’m some fragile thing that could break at any second.
“You need to go get checked out, dude,” Wes pushes. “Not wait until it’s too late, trying to brush it off.”
I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I have my annual check-up next week. If anything’s wrong, I’ll find out then. Seriously, no need to stress.”
Wes still doesn’t look convinced, but Gabrielle places a hand on my knee, squeezing lightly. “Then at least take it easy today. Sit this one out, okay?”
I exhale reluctantly, knowing I don’t have much of a choice.
“Fine,” I grumble.
Wes pats my shoulder, still looking mildly pissed. “Good. Now, I’m gonna go win this damn game since someone is getting too old and washed up to keep up with the young folk.”
I roll my eyes, and Gabrielle just smiles, threading her fingers through mine as I stay on the sidelines with her and Kinsley.
I spend the rest of the game sitting next to her, watching Wes make some ridiculous plays and yelling at him from the bench like I’m still in the game.
And yeah, I still feel a little off. But it’s nothing.
I’ll go to my appointment next week, and it’ll give everyone peace of mind.
And everything will be fine.
That’s what I keep telling myself. I don’t have the energy to think of any other possibility, not when things are finally going so good.