Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
The emotional dam breaks, and I can’t hold back the tears any longer. I shake my head then bury my face in my hands and begin to cry. I sniff loudly and try to rein in the emotions that are battering me and gather my wits about me again. When I feel a little more composed, I raise my eyes and glare at Ryder with nothing but hate and contempt in my gaze. He chuckles again then gets to his feet and heads for the door. He stops though and turns back.
“I’ll see you tonight. Let’s say… eight?” he says. “And make sure you wear something sexy. I like little black dresses.”
Laughing to himself, Ryder walks out of my office and closes the door behind him. I sit at my desk and let the tears fall. I feel trapped in ways I never knew I could be, and I don’t know what to do. If it’s just my reputation and my father’s disappointment in me on the line, that’s one thing. But Carter’s career is at stake as well. And I have no doubt Ryder will make good on his threats if I refuse him.
My stomach roiling, I bury my face in my hands again, fighting the urge to throw up as the tears begin to flow.
14
CARTER
With it looking all but certain that I’m going to be QB1 when the season starts, I know I need to put in some extra work. So, after practice broke for the day, I stay late to run film and get deeper into the playbook. This is a new system to me, so I need to make sure I’m in sync with it so we can hit the ground running when the season starts.
Tired but feeling good, I make my way out to the parking lot. The sun is already down, and a cool wind blows as I walk to my car—the only one in the lot. Using my key fob, I unlock the truck when I hear hurried footsteps approaching me from behind. A wide smile crosses my face when I turn and see Cami. That smile drops quickly when I notice her eyes are red and puffy. It’s obvious she’s been crying.
She steps over to me and is about to throw her arms around me but hesitates and looks around, obviously concerned about who might see us. Seeing her that scared and in that much pain sends a lance of agony straight through my heart, and I suddenly don’t care who might see us. I pull Cami to me and wrap my arms around her, gently stroking her hair and trying to calm her. She holds me tightly and just sobs for several long minutes.
Eventually, she regains her composure and takes a step back. She wipes her eyes with the sleeves of her hoodie and lets out a long, shuddering breath.
“What is it?” I ask. “What happened?”
“I’m sorry, Carter. I shouldn’t have hugged you… I shouldn’t even be standing here.”
“There’s nowhere else I want you to be when you’re upset. You’re right where you should be right now—by my side. Now, what’s happened?”
She looks at me for a long moment, trembling and looking completely lost. Cami shakes her head and wipes her eyes again.
“It’s Ryder.”
Every muscle in my body immediately grows taut, and I clench my jaw. If that piece of shit did something to hurt Cami, I’m going to kill him, consequences be damned.
“What did he do?” I ask.
“He knows about us, Carter.”
And then, she tells me about his visit to her office earlier. She tells me all about his scheme to blackmail her. As I listen, the rage inside of me boils hotter and hotter and the cold certainty that I’m going to beat him to a bloody pulp settles down over me. I’ll definitely be cut from the team and might go to jail, but knowing I hurt him bad enough that he’ll never even look at Cami again makes it all worth it.
“I don’t know what to do,” she says, her voice quiet and filled with fear.
“Well, you’re not going to break up with me for him, that’s for sure.”
“I don’t feel like I have a choice.”
Cupping her face in my hands, I stare into her eyes. “You’re mine, Cami. Mine. Nobody, least of all that little shit, is going to lay a finger on you. I am not going to allow it. Period.”
“If I don’t do what he wants, he’s going to tell my dad about us, Carter. And if he does that, you’re going to get cut. I can’t be the reason for that. This is your career—”
“Like I said, you’re mine. And I will not share you with anybody.”
She leans her head against me again, and I hold her. My mind spins, and I stroke her hair and tell her everything is going to be okay. I’m no angel and have done some fucked up things in my life, but what Ryder did is a depth I would have never stooped to. Ever.