The Endgame Is You (Rixon Raiders #4) - L A Cotton Page 0,64
toward the Art and Architecture building for my morning classes. I didn’t know how things had gotten to this point, but I didn’t know how to fix them either.
“Hailee,” Devyn waved as she approached me. “I’m glad I caught up to you.”
I frowned.
“Dominic said Cameron missed practice. Something about an emergency at home? I hope everything’s okay?”
Devyn was a sweetheart. She was Dominic’s twin sister and the two of them were best friends. So much so, they shared an apartment off-campus. She also happened to be a huge football fan, so Cameron and I hung out with them a lot during the season.
“It’s Xander, he’s going through some stuff.”
“That must be rough, the age gap.” She hooked her arm through mine as we headed into the building. “Cameron is a good brother.”
“He is.” I really didn’t want to talk about this.
“You know, I heard my brother and a couple of the guys talking... Crap, this is going to sound so wrong...”
“Just spit it out, Dev,” I said, smothering my irritation.
“They’re worried.” She gave me a sympathetic smile. “He never hangs out with them anymore; he’s distracted at practice... they’re saying his heart’s not in it anymore. There’s even talk of Coach giving the second string more time on the field.”
Her words reverberated through me, but Devyn wasn’t done. “Has he said anything to you? Doesn’t he want to play any—”
“What? No! Cameron loves the team. He’d never walk out on them. He’s just finding it hard to balance everything.”
“That’s what I told Dominic. Cam knows there’s too much on the line this season. Especially since the championship should have been theirs last year.” She let out a little huff.
“Listen, Dev, it was good to see you,” I rushed out, “but I need to use the bathroom before class. Catch you later?”
“Huh, sure.” Her lips curved. “I’m sorry if I overstepped—”
“You didn’t. I just really need to pee.” Offering her a small wave, I hurried down the hall toward the nearest bathroom. Inside, I ducked into the first stall and closed the door, inhaling a ragged breath.
The guys thought Cameron wanted to quit.
I knew things had been tough, but I didn’t realize it was affecting his performance so much.
Because he didn’t tell you.
My heart sank.
When Cameron’s mom had gotten sick, he’d turned to me. I had been his person. His safe place. But he wasn’t turning to me now.
Whether he realized it or not, Cam was shutting me out.
And I was letting him.
Cameron
Blood roared between my ears as I sat and waited for Hailee to get home. We hadn’t spoken again all day, despite me reaching for my cell at least five times.
There was so much I wanted to say to her, to explain, but every time I tried to start typing, I couldn’t find the words.
I hoped talking face to face would go better.
The door opened and I heard the soft thud of her sneakers against the floor. “I’m in here,” I called, and seconds later, Hailee appeared.
“Hey.” She gave me a tentative smile.
I wanted to go to her, to pull her into my arms and beg for forgiveness, but there were things we needed to discuss. Things I needed to say without the distraction of her close proximity.
“Sit, please.”
She did, folding her hands into her lap.
“I owe you an apology. I fucked up, and I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I just don’t understand...” she said. “I know things are hard right now, but you didn’t even think to call me. Do you have any idea what that feels like?”
“I... I’m sorry.”
“Wait.” She held up her hand, silencing me. “I’m going to ask you something and I want the truth, Cam. I think I deserve it.”
“Okay...” My brows furrowed, not liking the finality in her tone.
“Do you want to quit the team?”
I reared back, my eyes growing to saucers. “How did you—”
I was going to kill Jason.
“So it’s true?” Disappointment washed over her, the distance between us vaster than ever.
“No... I mean, I thought about it, but—”
“You thought it about it and you never said a word. What is happening to us, Cameron? Because when the semester started and you began pulling away, I told myself it was just the pressure of balancing everything. Then you started going back and forth to Rixon more and more, and I got it, because it’s Xander. He’s your blood, your family. But what I didn’t anticipate was that every time you left, it would drive the wedge growing between us deeper.