I pull back, looking into those gorgeous emerald eyes, searching for the man I thought I fell in love with—but he's nowhere to be seen. What I see now is the boy I once knew and feared.
"I think we need a break," I tell him flatly.
His mouth screws up and he snorts before he gets to his feet. "Come with me so we can talk about this in private."
Bash gives me a questioning look and I just shake my head. I've spent too much time being lonely and sad over this. Maybe talking will make a difference, maybe not. All I know is, I need to hear what he has to say.
Cam leads me out the back door, back toward the wall we sat on only a short time ago. It seems longer.
I scoot up onto the wall and he does the same.
"What's this about, Olivia?" he asks, his tone neither kind nor cruel. It's…empty, annoyed.
"I think with everything you've got going on, you don't have time for me, so it's best if we just take a break."
"A break," he says flatly.
I nod. "Yeah."
He tilts his head to the side and narrows his eyes. "You mean a break or a breakup?"
I shrug. "A break. When you have more time, then we'll see if we're still in the same place. I just don't want to keep sitting around waiting for the scraps you throw me, all the while you thinking I should be grateful for them."
He stands up and starts pacing. "I've been busting my ass for the game. You know that."
"I do. But I don't see any of the other guys freezing out their girlfriends. In fact, I spoke to Erika, Denison's girlfriend, and he sees her every day," I say bravely—and it sounds so much more courageous than I feel.
"He's not looking to get drafted next year.Iam. It takes everything I've got to keep up with school and the pace coach has set for me," he tells me, running a hand through his hair. That gesture used to be sexy, now it's just that—a gesture, and one of frustration.
"This is what I mean, Cam. A break is a good thing. Like you just said, you don't have time for anything else," I repeat.
"God damn it, Olivia, I don't need this shit right now."
"What shit?" I ask, feeling my anger rise.
"This," he says with a wave of his hand. "The girlie shit."
I snort. "I hate to break it to you, pal, but Iama girl."
"Fuck! That's not… I thought I'd be able to count on you," he scoffs.
"And I thought I'd be able to count on you—myboyfriend—to have my back with all of yourex-girlfriend's bullying, but here you are, besties, flirting just like back in Destiny," I sneer, my anger getting the best of me.
"She's just fucking around, Liv. I talked to her and she said she's backed off."
I lean up into his space. "Shelied.Surprise, surprise."
"Set her straight if what I said isn't working," he instructs.
"And make it to get worse? No, thanks," I mock.
"What can she really do? Honestly. Stupid childish pranks?"
"Are you kidding me with all of this right now?"
He gives me a confused look.
"You're going to tell me to suck it up, this whole Alison thing? Seriously? And you can't count on me? Are you fucking kidding? I amalwayshere for you, no matter what you need!" I shout.
