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Hurt flashes across her face, but she doesn’t move away, her arms still resting on my shoulders, hands wrapped behind my head.
“Why not?” Her bottom lip thrusts out in a pout and I’m rock hard for her, every single muscle in my body ready to go. I’d love nothing more than to kiss the disappointment right off her face, strip her out of those silky pj’s, caress every inch of her skin until she’s panting my name.
Using every ounce of self-restraint I possess, I somehow tamp all of that down.
“Because your dad’s my coach. Because I’m living rent-free in his house.” I run a hand through my damp hair, sighing as I crash back down to reality. “Because we’re friends and I’d like to keep it that way.”
Tipping her head, dark waves flow over her shoulder and her eyes sparkle in the dim lamp light.
“We could be friends with benefits?” She teases the idea, but I shake my head ‘no.’
“I can’t do that with you.”
She blushes, her cheeks turning pink. “Why not?”
“Because you mean too much to me.”
Her eyes narrow as she winces and I know I’m fumbling this entire thing.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—” Her voice trails off and she glances away. “I was dumb to think there was more to this, more to us.”
Reflexively, I reach out and tip her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. “You’re not dumb, Sloane. And I meant what I said. You. Matter. To. Me.” I emphasize each word, each syllable, willing her to understand just how much I mean this.
Tears shimmer in her eyes, those gold flecks glittering, and my chest squeezes tight.
“Don’t.” I run my thumb along her lash line, swiping away the offending moisture. She’s so beautiful, her cheeks flushed a soft shade of pink.
Too beautiful. Too perfect.
Too vulnerable.
I shouldn’t be here.
“I’m sorry, Sloane.”
I take one last, longing look at her, memorizing every plane, every angle of her face. Wishing we could be more. Wanting to be more. But deep down, knowing I’m not the one for her.
Standing, I bend down and press my lips to the top of her head, breathing her in. All her goodness, her sweetness.Letting her scent wind around me and squeeze all the air from my lungs.
I only wantherair,herbreath. But I know we’re not meant to be.
After a long moment, I force my legs to move. I need to get out of this bedroom. Away from temptation. Away from her.
“Do you ever check your email?” Her quiet voice rings through the room and I freeze in the doorway.
“What?” I glance back over my shoulder.
“Your team email. Do you ever check it?”
“Every once in a while. But not often. Why?”
“It’s nothing. Forget I mentioned it.”
“Oh-kay—” I frown, confused.
“Night, Cam.”
Then she clicks the light off, leaving us both in the dark. I fumble my way out of her bedroom and down the hall to my own, shutting the door behind me. Knowing full well I may have just made another huge mistake. Possibly one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
