Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Desire overwhelms me and I push his hand right between my legs. “Let’s see if we can beat that ten-minute mark you set.”
Camden growls and sinks a finger inside me as I feel his teeth on my shoulder. It’s pure bliss and I let myself fall into it.
♦
We’re not cuddling now, but this might be even better. We just got done eating pizza in bed and now we’re sitting up against the headboard, our heads bent over his phone as we watch TikTok together. I learned not long ago that Camden is slightly addicted to it, but what’s surprising is the content he’s curated for his feed. It’s not hockey or sports or even celebrities. I’m amazed that he follows TikTokers with content focused on food, animals, art and life hacks.
Lifting his wrist, Camden looks at his Apple Watch. “It’s getting close to time to pick up Travis.”
I lean over to look and see it’s almost two thirty and I’ll have to leave in about fifteen minutes. I need a quick shower because four hours in bed with Camden has left me well used.
My mouth involuntarily curls at the memory of some of the things we did and a pleasurable cramp hits me between the legs.
Yeah… sex with Camden is so good, I’m afraid if I compare it to Mitch, I might be torn apart by the guilt. So I don’t let my mind go there.
I started to slide from the bed but I forgot there was something I needed to talk about. I turn toward Camden. “Have you given any thought to Tillie and Coen’s party tomorrow?”
His eyes cloud over with what I’ve come to recognize as unease about our relationship. “Um… yeah, I have. And I don’t think this is the time to out ourselves to the team. You know, it would take away from Tillie and Coen’s spotlight and—”
“Say no more.” I cut in by placing my fingertips against his lips. “We’ll barely look at each other or talk unless it’s in a group setting and it appears we are nothing more than casual friends.”
I wince internally because I know that sounded a little pathetic. I rush to cover and paste a smile on my face. “It’ll be fine. I’m sure you and I can have a wonderful time, and there’s no need for us to act weird. Everyone knows we were friends before the crash.”
“For sure,” he agrees, sounding a little too relieved I’m not pushing for anything. His hand goes to the back of my neck and he presses his forehead to mine. “We’ll figure this out, I promise.”
I can’t nod in agreement.
I can’t say “I know” because I refuse to put faith in anything at this point.
I can only hope.
Lifting his head, Camden brushes his mouth against mine. “Any chance Travis is having a sleepover tomorrow night?”
My mouth curves into a smile against his before pulling back to look at him. “As a matter of fact, he is.”
“Want to come to my place after the party?” he asks.
“I’d love to.”
I shove away the tinge of bitterness that I cannot have more with Camden. He’s everything I could ever want except that he wants to keep this a secret. I think back to Mitch, proclaiming to everyone at senior prom that he loved me, and I long for that type of commitment from Camden. It’s not only that I want it… I’m afraid I need it.
Frankly, it doesn’t feel good that he’s not fully invested in me when I’ve gone all in.
CHAPTER 25
Camden
Coen and Tillie bought a gorgeous house in Sewickley and we’re all here to celebrate it. This is a big deal for several reasons, the most obvious being that last season, Coen was a complete and utter asshole to everyone. Some leeway was granted because he was one of the Lucky Three, but honestly, he was so unlikable that sympathy didn’t go far.
But something happened to the man over the summer when he holed himself away in the tiny town of Coudersport after deciding to leave the sport. He came up against the bright and bubbly artist, Tillie Marshall, who didn’t take his shit. She refused to be cowed by his surly attitude. I don’t know the entire story or how things progressed, but suffice it to say, Coen fell madly in love.
At the start of this season, it was tough on the guy. Tillie had a home and business back in Coudersport, which is three and a half hours away from Pittsburgh. Since the season started, they’ve been managing a long-distance relationship, but Coen suffers when she’s gone. Everyone can see it. While he smiles these days, it’s only truly bright when Tillie’s in town.
I’m guessing it’s been as hard on Tillie as it’s been on Coen because she decided to move to Pittsburgh permanently and travel back to Coudersport as needed for her business. All I know is that Coen’s been on cloud nine the last few weeks since they closed on their house and moved in.