35. Cameron
thirty-five
Cameron
When I get back to the locker room, aside from a few athletic trainers and the cleaning crew, it’s nearly empty.
The sportscasters were rabid for details. You’d think they were paparazzi with the way they wanted to talk about what went down with me and Nico and not the perfect game I’d just pitched. I did my best to quell the rumors by shaking off the spat as nothing more than a misunderstanding.
Instead of heading for the shower, I grab my bag and my phone, then head for my car. My phone has blown up with texts and missed calls from my agent, my parents, and my brothers. I shoot a quick text to Charles, assuring him everything is fine. Next up are Mom and Dad; I let them know I’ll call tomorrow. Then I read through the brother group chat.
Jace: Good fucking game. I’m so proud of you.
Eli: The baseball Hall of Fame is calling! You did so good, brother.
Mason: Great game, Cam. You did good.
Mason: Oh fuck, guess he knows about you and his sister. How’s your jaw?
Eli: Ouch. That looked like it hurt.
Jace: Kid, are you okay? Don’t worry. Rhys was asleep. I’ll keep him off the internet for a while.
Jace: FYI, we can sue the dickhead for assault and defamation. Just let me know, and I’ll call some of my lawyer friends back in L.A.
Mason: He’s not going to sue his future brother-in-law, you psycho. But we can fuck with his bank account and make some very large donations in his name.
Eli: You think she’s still going to be with him after that?
Eli: Is it just me, or should we not fuck with Mase? When did you get so vicious?
Mason: Of course she is. He didn’t hit back, and she loves him, you idiot. I’m only vicious when people fuck with my family.
Jace: That’s what I’m talking about, Mase. Fuck with one, fuck with all. I was just covering all our bases. I like Talia. Her brother, not so much.
Eli: Whatever. You should have hit him back. That prick has done nothing but run his mouth. If you don’t want to punch him, I can do it for you.
Jace: I know I’m supposed to be the levelheaded one, but… What he said.
Eli: Side note: you kicked ass with your interviews. The media training paid off. People are curious, but talk will die down soon.
Eli: Call me if you need anything.
Jace: Same. You and Talia will get through this. This is a hill compared to the mountain I climbed with Ry. Just follow your heart, baby bro. Love you.
Mason: Love you, kid.
Eli: We got your back, bro. Love you.
Putting aside the disaster that was my fight with Nico, it feels damn good to know my brothers have my back and are proud of me for achieving this major career milestone not all pitchers get to experience. I have worked so damn hard to make it happen, and while this might be the biggest accomplishment of my career, it’s meaningless without Talia.
She means more to me than a record in history.
Cameron: Thanks for having my back. I’ll call tomorrow. I’m headed to Talia now. I just want to make sure she’s okay. Will keep you posted.
Jace: Thanks for letting us know you’re alive. Good luck.
Mason: You got this. Don’t lose sight of what’s important.
Eli: And for crying out loud, don’t fuck it up.
Chucking my phone in my bag, I rush out of the stadium and hop in my wagon. As soon as my cell connects to the blue tooth, I call Talia.
She answers after the first ring, her voice panicked. “Cam, are you okay? Where are you?”
“I’m fine. I’m in the car. It took me forever to get out of there. Where are you?” Please be at my place.
“At home waiting for you, like we planned.”
Home. I love when she calls my place home. I want to permanently make it her home.
“My phone is going crazy, but I’ve been too scared to pick it up.”
“Good. Don’t. I’m on my way to you now. Just wait for me. I’m driving as fast as I can.” The last thing I want is for her to be unprepared before she talks to her family.
The silence between us stretches. “He knows, doesn’t he? ”
Fuck, I hate this, but I won’t lie to her. I promised her no lies, ever. “He knows.”
“Okay.” She sighs.
I can imagine her defeated face, eyes glassy as she nibbles on her lip. I press down harder on the accelerator.
“Be safe. I’m not going anywhere. I love you, big guy.”
Fuck, I really needed to hear that.
“I love you, itty bitty.” More than I ever thought possible.
“Cam?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Congratulations. I’m so proud of you. You’re amazing, you know that, right?”
Tears well in my eyes, and my chest pinches. She thinks so highly of me, and I’m about to ruin it. “I don’t know about that, but thank you.”
“I know it. I’ll see you soon.”
My throat closes, choking me, as the fear of losing her sets in. I clear my throat, hoping she doesn’t hear my voice crack with emotion. “See you soon, baby.”
It’s a small miracle that the highways and streets of L.A. are clear, allowing me to make it to Malibu in record time.
When I walk through the door, Talia is sitting on the couch, phone in hand, wearing the purple butterfly crop top she loves to sleep in and a pair of short-shorts. She looks so beautiful like this. Simple. At home. Comfortable.
I close the door with a snick, getting her attention.
When she looks up, her eyes widen in shock as she takes me in. She’s up and rushing towards me in a flash. “Oh my god, Cam. What happened to your face?”
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” I drop my bag at the door and take off my cleats.
In my rush home, I didn’t even bother to change out of my dirty uniform and cleats. The only thing on my mind was getting to her. It should be me who tells her everything that went down with Nico.
She turns my face in her palms, inspecting my swollen lip and bruised jaw. “It’s not fine. You’re hurt. Did my brother do this to you?”
I don’t bother answering. I just grip her wrist and kiss the inside.
“Cam?” she asks again, her big gray eyes begging for an answer.
I nod, confirming her suspicion. The unmistakable pain in her eyes kills me.
Nico may have hit me, but I did this. This whole vendetta is my fault, and it’s going to cost me the most important thing in my life.
I push the thought away for the time being. It’s selfish as fuck, but I can’t tell her the truth yet. I need a little more time with her before she can’t stand the sight of me.
I kiss her forehead, inhaling the sweet, calming scent of her shampoo. “Shower with me?”
Lip between her teeth, she nods and places her hand in mine. We don’t bother speaking as we enter my bedroom and make our way to the bathroom.
I chuck my hat onto the counter before reaching into the shower. I turn the water on, letting it warm up.
Talia stops me as I reach for the top button of my jersey. “Let me.”
I drop my hands to my side and let her work. With care and purpose, Talia helps me out of my uniform until I’m naked before her. I’m a confident guy—hell, I know how I look—but right now, in front of the woman I love, I’ve never felt more vulnerable. I’m bearing not only my body to her, but my heart and soul as well.
She steps back and grips the bottom of her shirt before lifting it over her head. Her perfect tits and hard nipples taunt me as she hooks her thumbs at the waistband of her shorts and shimmies them down her hips to the floor.
Fucking perfect .
My breath catches in my throat as I take in every one of her soft curves. Her waist dips in at the base of her ribs before flaring out over her hips and upper thighs. The exaggeration of her hourglass figure makes my mouth water.
Talia reaches for my hand and leads me into the steam-filled stall.
Once under the water, I pull her into a hug and squeeze. If I could absorb her into my body so she’d always be a part of me, I would.
I don’t know how long we embrace each other as the hot water pours over our heads, but when Talia steps away, it’s not nearly long enough.
“Sit on the bench,” she instructs.
This isn’t the first time she’s asked me to sit in here. Our height difference can be a challenge. We’ve found that it’s easier for us to do a lot of touching and fucking while utilizing the bench.
Tonight’s a different story. While I would give anything to be inside Talia, now isn’t the time.
“Yes, ma’am.” I take a seat and wait.
“Good boy.”
My cock hardens as Nurse Talia takes charge tonight. If I ever get another chance to be with her, I’m going to need her to call me that again.
I take a few deep breaths and relax as she pumps soap into her hands and rubs them together. Starting at my neck and working her way down, she massages the soap into my skin. I close my eyes and relish in the feel of her soft hands on my skin. She washes me with such loving attention that my chest pinches.
I never want to let her go. I’ve never felt more cared for by another human being in my life.
She rinses my body with the removable shower head. If only the soap could wash away the things I’ve done because one thing is for sure—I don’t deserve her.
Talia Romero is way too good for me.
Shampoo bottle in hand, she climbs onto my lap and straddles me. She pours a dime-sized amount into her palm before lathering it up and washing my hair. Her fingertips massage my scalp, and I moan at how good it feels. After a quick rinse, Talia repeats the process with the conditioner.
“All clean.” She peppers the bruise on my jaw with kisses. “Does it hurt?” Her fingers float over the sore spot.
“A little. He’s got a mean right hook.”
She smirks, but it’s sad as fuck, and it breaks my heart to witness. This whole situation is tearing her up.
“Did you hit him back?” she asks.
“Hell no. I deserved the punch.” I probably deserve more than that.
“Thank you. For not hitting him back. I know that couldn’t have been easy.”
I grip her hips and squeeze. “I’ll take all the punches in the world for you, baby.”
She slides her hands over my shoulders and threads her fingers in the hair at the base of my neck. “That’s very barbaric and romantic of you, big guy.” She leans forward and places a chaste kiss on my lips.
I flinch at the sting. My fucking lip hurts worse than my jaw.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It hurts more not to kiss you.” I run my thumb over her full bottom lip before gripping her neck and bringing her mouth to mine.
This kiss isn’t a prelude to physical intimacy. No, this kiss is the culmination of my love. It’s soft and slow. It has a purpose—to show her how much I love her. I pour every ounce of that love into her mouth as her tongue curls around mine. I want her to feel how much she means to me.
When the metallic tang of blood taints our kiss, we break apart. I stand with Talia in my arms, her ankles locked behind my back, and turn off the water. She reaches for the towels on the rack as I carry her out of the stall and place her on the heated tile floors .
She wraps a towel around my waist as I wrap one around her shoulders. Like a well-oiled machine, we dry each other off. I pick her up and carry her over to the bed, where I place her on the edge.
I grab a pair of boxers from my drawer and put them on before grabbing a clean t-shirt for Talia. I slide it over her head, pulling her long, wet hair free from the collar. We climb under the covers, facing each other.
“Talia…”
“Not yet. Please?” she whispers. Like me, she’s delaying the inevitable for one more night of just us.
“Okay,” I agree. If this is what she wants, then I will happily give it to her.
“Will you hold me?”
“With pleasure.” I pull her little body to my side, getting her as close to me as I can. I grab the back of her knee and lift her leg over my thighs the way she likes.
She buries her head in the crook of my neck and shoulder—the spot made just for her.
“Promise not to let go?” Talia asks as she lays her head on my chest, burrowing in.
The last thing I want to do is make a promise I can’t keep. “I’ll do my best, baby.”
It doesn’t take long for Talia to fall asleep. I lie with her in my arms for as long as I can, listening to her breathe, until sleep finds me and pulls me under.