30. Sloane

CHAPTER 30

SLOANE

I love you.

The three words echo over and over in my mind and I literally pinch myself so hard I bruise.

After all these years, all the waiting and wanting, Cam said he loves me.

And of course I said it back because I’m madly in love with him. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted and I’ve never been happier. Things between us are easy and fun. There’s no bullshit, no lies or agenda.

I know him and he knows me. We’re absolutely perfect together.

“You sure you’re ready for this, Trouble?” Cam flips his baseball hat backward and squints across the bedroom at me as I slip on my sandals. “We could always hang here, swim in the lake and grill out. Catch the fireworks later tonight, just the two of us.”

“That sounds lovely. But I promised Gracelyn I’d show up for the Fourth of July bash. I can’t leave her hanging. But if you don’t want to go, I can go by myself?— ”

“If you go, I’m there.” Cam steps forward, wrapping his tanned, muscled arms around my waist.

I lift on tiptoe, grazing his lips with mine. “Thanks. I do want to go. This is kind of our hard launch, you know?”

He chuckles, his deep voice vibrating his chest. “I suppose.”

“Pretty sure the entire town knows our business by now, though, after Story Time.”

“I don’t mind.” Cam’s fingers trail over my cheek and heat unfurls low in my belly as I stare up at him. The way he’s looking at me, his marine eyes sincere and intense.

This man is my everything.

After what happened with Ratface, I swore I’d never love again. But this—this thing between me and Cam—is so different. The two can’t compare.

He’s the polar opposite of Ratface, caring and kind, always looking out for me.

No, this is right and good, the way love’s supposed to be.

“Alright, let’s do it then.” Cam kisses me one last time and then we head out for Thunder Creek’s Fourth of July bash in the town square.

We park at the library and walk the few blocks to the center of town. The temperature’s already sizzling, careening toward the high-nineties, and there’s zero breeze. Heat radiates up from the sidewalk and I’m happy I chose a light sundress with spaghetti straps.

“Mercy, it’s hot,” Cam grumbles, wiping sweat from his brow as we cross Main Street.

“You practice in this heat every day.”

“I know. That’s why I like to stay in the AC when I’m not at practice. ”

I elbow him. “C’mon, let’s get a nice icy lemonade to cool you down.”

“And maybe a burger. I see Nash over there.” Cam waves at his friend, grabbing me by the hand and leading us over to the food trucks lined up on the far edge of the grassy square.

“Hey, buddy, what’s up?” Nash slaps Cam on the back, bro-style, then leans in and hugs me. “Sloane, good to see you.”

“Same. Is Nathan here too?” I glance around the field for Nash’s twin.

“Yeah, he’s hanging around here somewhere. Probably trying to escape Natalie and her girl gang.”

Natalie’s their younger sister and she and her friends make it a sport to torment her older brothers. She runs the dance studio in town and despite her brothers’ best efforts, she often ropes them into helping with recitals, passing out programs and running the sound system. It’s hilarious watching these two burly men interact with all the tiny dancers in pink tutus.

“We missed you at poker night this week. But seems like you had a good excuse.” His eyes slide to me and my cheeks heat.

“I’ve been busy this week.” Cam shrugs. “Working out with Coach Carter pretty hard, polishing up my fundamentals.”

“Uh-huh. That’s what we’re calling it these days, huh?” Nash smirks and I try not to squirm. If this thing between me and Cam is going to work long-term, I’ll deal with this type of scrutiny all the time.

Cam clears his throat, looping his arm around my waist and bringing me in close to him. The faint woodsy scent of his cologne hits me and I relax, warmth blooming in my chest.

“Something like that,” Cam says, his grip tightening on my hip. “It was good running into you, Nash. Call me next time y’all go to Mustang’s and maybe we’ll join you.”

Nash shoots Cam a two-finger wave and walks away, toward the games at the far side of the field.

We.

Cam acknowledged the relationship to his buddy, putting the two of us together in the same box.

Me and Cam.

We.

A team.

My insides turn to jelly and happiness oozes through me like sweet, gooey caramel.

“Hey!” Gracelyn jogs up. “Where have y’all been? I’ve been looking for you for-ev-er!”

“We got here a few minutes ago. It’s hotter than blazes, so we’re getting drinks. How are you?” I ask, squeezing her in a hug.

She huffs out a breath, fanning her face. “Better now that you’re here. I can’t take one more question about my love life, I swear. Between that and the ladies from the senior center jockeying to get on my calendar for perms, I’m dying.”

“Don’t worry, you’re safe now.” I pat her arm and she smiles gratefully at me.

“Thank goodness. Y’all hungry? I could go for some food.” Gracelyn stares longingly at the brightly-colored food trucks.

“Yes, let’s do it.” Cam leads the way through the crowd, his large hand pressed lightly to the small of my back, Gracelyn on my other side .

Contentment flows through me, warm and fuzzy, and I cling to the feeling. I know Cam won’t be here forever, but it’s nice being here together again right now. Like old times, except better.

“I’m getting a hot dog and a Coke. What about you?” Grace interrupts my thoughts, shoving my arm.

“A burger for me,” Cam declares, eyeing the bright red-white-and-blue truck to his left. “You want one, Trouble? Or something else?”

“Sure, I’ll take a burger.”

“Whoever gets the food first can snag a seat.” Grace tips her head at the stand of picnic tables set up beside the trucks.

“Sounds like a plan.”

Cam and I join the long line at the burger truck, his palm rubbing light circles on my back. Luke Bryan’s voice booms from the speakers near the stage, urging a country girl to shake it for him. A group of teen girls in short sundresses sway to the beat, taking the lyrics to heart. Clumps of kids run around the field, waving balloon animals and shrieking with glee, and my heart is full.

“It’s good to be home for the holiday.” I lean back against Cam’s broad chest, sighing happily.

“Yeah, it’s nice,” he murmurs, his breath feathering my hair. “Being here with you.”

Damn. Cue the heart melt.

“Aww, thanks, babe.” I tip my head back, capturing his lips in a kiss.

“Hey, Crawford. You gonna move up in line sometime soon? Or are you gonna stand around, shoving your tongue down your girl’s throat all day long?”

Cam jerks away from me and whirls around to face the dark-haired teenager scowling behind us. There’s a group of them, and I bet they’re all Thunder Creek High boys.

“Listen here, Dalton. I’ve had just about enough of you and your attitude.” Cam takes a shuddery breath, trying to get a hold of his anger.

“Same, old man.” The kid smashes his lips together in a tight line, folding his arms over his barrel chest. He’s pretty built for a high schooler, but Cam still has him by about six inches and a good thirty pounds of pure muscle. Doesn’t stop Dalton from puffing up his chest and acting like a tough guy in front of his friends, though.

Cam’s fingers ball into fists at his side and his jaw tics. This Dalton kid definitely gets on his nerves.

“I wasn’t sure why Coach had a washed-up pro practicing with us, but now it’s all coming together for me.” Dalton glances from Cam to me and back again, his eyes lingering on the low neckline of my sundress. “You’re the coach’s daughter, right?”

I nod. “I am.”

“Huh,” Dalton grunts, licking his lips.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, kid.” Cam waves him off dismissively and it’s our turn to order. Cam rattles off the order while I shuffle from foot-to-foot, trying my best to ignore the disgruntled high schooler and his buddies whispering behind me. There’s snickering and I catch the occasional curse word, along with ‘Coach.’

Cam and I step out of line, moving to the side, and Dalton and his pals order their food. As soon as he pays, Dalton slides up next to us. He moves in close to Cam, clearly itching for a fight. Cam inches away, but Dalton doesn’t take the hint, rubbing shoulders with him. Then he leans in, mock-whispering in a voice loud enough that anyone in the vicinity can hear .

“How is it, sleeping with the coach’s daughter? Is that how you locked in your spot on the team back in the day?”

Cam’s face turns red and a vein pops in his neck, pulsating. He whirls around to face Dalton, fists clenched at his side.

“Shut up. Right now. Disrespect me all you want, but don’t talk about Sloane. Keep her name out of your mouth, you hear me?” Cam’s voice is steely, but Dalton doesn’t back down.

“Or what? What are you gonna do about it? Go tattle on me to Coach?” Dalton’s brows quirk up, his lips curling in a sneer and now his friends are circling around, egging him on.

“It’s fine, Cam.” I touch Cam’s forearm, and he shakes his head.

“It’s not. This guy thinks he can say whatever he wants, act however he wants. There’s consequences for actions. Remember that, Dalton.”

Dalton laughs. “Yeah. Like if you suck ass at football, you get cut.”

Hot anger rolls off Cam’s body, the scar above his eye a fiery red. But he somehow keeps his composure and doesn’t haul off and deck the kid.

“Order up for Cam!” the guy at the food truck calls out, breaking the tension.

Cam says nothing. He stalks to the window and grabs our food, not giving Dalton another glance.

“See you at practice, old man!” Dalton shouts and his friends snort and laugh.

I trail behind Cam, my stomach in tight knots. Cam sinks down onto the picnic bench across from Gracelyn, fuming. I’ve never seen him this angry before. He slams the food onto the table, then unwraps the foil from his burger and bites down hard, ketchup squishing out the side of the bun.

“You guys okay?” Gracelyn’s brow furrows.

“Yeah, we’re fine. Some high school kid was being dumb is all.” I wave my hand through the air, brushing away the incident.

“That kid’s such an asshole. And damn straight I’m gonna tattle on him to Coach. He doesn’t deserve to be QB, acting like that,” Cam mutters not all that quietly.

“Seriously? What are you going to tell my dad? That Dalton accused you of sleeping your way onto the football team in high school?” My voice tips up in hysteria and disbelief. “I’d really rather you not have that conversation, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Cam huffs out a heavy sigh. “Fine. Maybe I’ll be vague about the whole thing.”

“And then what happens when my dad goes to Dalton and asks questions? Because you know he will.”

Cam frowns, his dark brows crushing together. “Dammit, you’re right.”

I reach across the table, laying my hand over Cam’s. “It’s fine, Cam. He’s a dumb kid who doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You and I both know that’s not how you got your starting position in high school. You’re obviously not washed-up—I can attest to that.”

Grace snickers, choking a little on her Coke. “Wow, okay?—”

“And thirty isn’t all that old. Just kind of old,” I tease and the corners of Cam’s lips curve up a touch.

“Okay, you’re right. I’ll let it slide this time, but he better not keep this shit up at practice. Or he’s gonna get tackled really fucking hard, swear to God.”

I laugh. “Yeah, I wouldn’t mess with you if I were him, but he’s clearly not that bright. Can we enjoy the rest of the day now and forget about this Dalton kid?”

Cam nods. “Yes. We can and we should.”

By the time we finish our lunch, Cam’s chill again, happy and relaxed. Gracelyn’s telling us a funny story about a woman who came to the salon with a terrible at-home dye job and I’m soaking up the holiday vibes, Cam’s hand resting on my thigh.

“You want to play any games? Get your very own balloon sword?” Cam asks us and Gracelyn shakes her head ‘no.’

“I can’t. I have to run and help my mom with the cakewalk. I promised I’d take a shift so she could eat lunch. But I’ll catch y’all later?” Gracelyn stands, flipping her curls over her shoulder.

“Yes, absolutely,” I say.

“You’re staying for the fireworks later, right?”

“I don’t know, maybe.” I shrug, catching Cam’s eye. I’m pretty sure he wants to watch the fireworks out at the lake, but he may be flexible.

“I hope you do.” Gracelyn gives both of us a quick hug. “Gotta jet.”

She hustles away and we clear the table, collecting our trash.

“I could go for some ice cream. And maybe a game or two.” I stare at a kid’s colorful double-scoop cone as he walks past. “What do you think?”

“Anything you want, Trouble.” He takes my hand and we navigate through the crowd, stopping and saying hi to people along the way.

Eventually, we both get double scoops of ice cream piled high in waffle cones—vanilla and chocolate chip for me, strawberry and banana for Cam. We find a patch of shade beneath a tree and talk and laugh, eating our ice cream in peace, the nasty incident with Dalton all but forgotten.

Afterwards, we play a few games. I’m pretty decent at the ring toss and Cam wins me a huge teddy bear at—surprise, surprise—the football toss.

“That was kind of unfair.” I giggle as we walk away from the booth with a huge white stuffed polar bear. “You’re a professional, after all.”

“So?” Cam shrugs. “Doesn’t mean a guaranteed win. Luck’s always involved at these things.”

“True. Is Mr. Chill going to sleep in between us every night now?”

“Not on my watch. But he can keep you company when I travel.”

My chest tightens. Even though I know Cam’s going to be away some of the time, the idea still stings.

“Hey—don’t be sad, baby. I’ll only be gone a night or two. And you can come with me some of the time.”

“I know.”

“Nothing to worry about now, anyway. I still don’t have a team.”

“But you will, I’m sure of it.” I squeeze his hand encouragingly, but the lighthearted mood from moments ago is heavy now and I hate it.

“You want to go back to your place?” I slide my eyes to his.

“I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed. But only if you do. We don’t have to leave on my account or anything.”

“I know. But I saw Gracelyn, we ate and played games. I think I’m good here.”

A slow grin crosses his face and he loops his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in close and kissing me on the lips.

“Hmm-hmm.”

A voice I’d recognize anywhere interrupts us and I hop away from Cam faster than a caffeinated cheetah.

“Hey there, Daddy. Happy Fourth of July.”