AllFreeNovel
Share Us
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 hisburger 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?”
