Fair Play Read online

  “Come on.” He takes a big pull from his beer, nearly finishing it, and sets his glass on the counter. A second later he’s standing and pulling me up with him. My body collides with his, and I look up, way up, to meet his eyes, but there’s no spark to dry tinder. Not like there is when I’m near Landon, or not near Landon. I look over my shoulder, my gaze searching the room…searching for the man who makes my insides quiver without even trying or knowing. My heart sits heavy in my chest, when he’s nowhere to be found. I guess I should be glad that he’s gone to my sister’s rescue and really why shouldn’t I do something with Cameron. It might actually help me move past Landon. Or not. Either way, I’m not going to sit here and mope about it.

  “Where to?” I ask, turning back to see some heat simmering in Cameron’s blue eyes.

  “Your place.”

  I nod. I do feel better about going to my place, and Peyton is off in half an hour, so she’ll be home with us. “Okay,” I say. We step outside and I put my arms around my body to ward off a chill as the night temperature has dropped with the sun going down.

  “Cold, Peaches?”

  “Freezing,” I say, and he pulls me to him, offering his warmth. I accept it and let him warm my body as we make the short trek to my place. Inside, I flick on the lights, and Cameron sets the lock behind us. The sound of the bolt sliding home sends an odd little shiver down my spine.

  I turn to him, unable to dispel those tingles a girl gets when something isn’t quite right. Maybe this isn’t a great idea. I’m about to ask if we could do this another night, except when I glance at his face, and take in his soft smile, the easy casual way he’s moving, like nothing is out of the ordinary as he pulls the movie from the inside of his jacket, I give myself a lecture, tell myself I’m being silly. Whatever beef he has with Landon is theirs. It has nothing to do with me.

  We head to the living room, and he goes for the DVD player. “I’ll make some popcorn. Do you want a beer?”

  “Sounds good.” He pulls the movie from the case. I watch him for a second. “Everything okay, Peaches?” he asks.

  “Yeah, fine.” I leave the room and in the kitchen, I shoot Peyton a text and wait for a response as I shove the bag of popcorn into the microwave. When she finally gets back to me, letting me know she has to take on an extra shift, my stomach tightens. I stare at the microwave and shake my head, convincing myself I’m getting alarmed for nothing. I’m not even Cameron’s type.

  So why then, is he here?

  I fill a bowl with popcorn, grab him a beer, and a soda for myself. His feet are on the coffee table and he’s stretched out relaxed on one end of the sofa as the movie begins to play. I

  “Didn’t think you were coming back,” he teases as I hand him the beer and he twists it open.

  “Slow microwave,” I say, and sit at the other end of the sofa, putting a measure of distance between us. He grins, and arches a brow.

  “Afraid of me all of a sudden?”

  “No,” I say and laugh it off. “This is just my comfortable spot.”

  One broad shoulder rolls as he tips his beer to his lips. “Suit yourself.”

  I put my feet on the sofa, and he reaches out and grabs them, allowing me to stretch out. I cast a quick glance at him. “Might as well get comfortable. Looks like this is a long movie.” He looks past my shoulders, to my Canon camera sitting on the side table. “That yours?”

  I pick up my camera, and look it over. “Yup, it was a gift for my twenty-first birthday.”

  “Let’s see.”

  I hand it to him and he looks at me through the lens. “Hard to take a selfie with this thing.”

  I laugh. “It’s not for selfies.”

  He snaps a picture of me. “Don’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. I just don’t like getting my picture taken.”

  “What do you like then?” he asks, a strange suggestive edge to his voice when I hold my hand out, and he gives me the camera back. I set it on the side table and try to pull my legs back, but he holds them on his lap.

  “I like movies, remember.” I gesture to the tv.

  He taps his head. “Of course I remember. I remember everything.”

  For some odd reason, the red headed guy from the Growler pops into my brain. That’s when it hits me. Jonny. He’s the guy who’d been throwing up in the bushes when Peyton and I were standing outside Landon’s house. Why was he staring at me so hard?

  “Are you going to watch the movie or are you going to watch me, Peaches?” he asks and I shake my head to clear it.

  “The movie. I was just thinking about something.” I munch on popcorn, take a sip of my soda, and he starts rubbing my feet, his focus on the TV. I relax slightly, and after I drink the whole can of soda, I grab the remote and pause. “I’ll be right back. Too much soda, and all that Blue Lagoon.”

  He laughs and finishes off his beer. “Just grab another in the fridge,” I say and dart to the bathroom. I listen as he walks to the kitchen, and that’s when I remember I left my phone in there. I finish up and hurry back to the sofa, and he’s sitting there waiting for me with a fresh beer. I check the time.

  “Are you sure I’m not keeping you from anything?” I ask.

  “Nope. No place I have to be,” he says and pats the sofa. I drop down on the other side again, and he gestures with a nod. “Got you another soda.”

  “Thanks.” I’m not really thirsty, but I grab the can and take a big drink, needing to do something. Every now and then Cameron glances at me, and when I catch him looking he just smiles.

  “Do you like it?” I ask.

  “Oh, I like it.” He smirks, but something niggles in the back of my brain, a warning of sorts, that it’s not the movie he’s talking about. I try to tug my feet back again, unease worming through my veins, but he holds them to him, and starts working his hands up my pantleg.

  “Cameron, don’t,” I growl and try to push him away, but I’m suddenly weak and dizzy.

  “Something wrong?” he asks.

  “I don’t feel the best.” I glance at the clock again, counting down the minutes until Peyton gets off. “Maybe I’m getting what my sister has. You should probably go. I could be contagious.”

  “What does poison Ivy have?” he asks, and before I even realize what’s happening, he’s on top of me, on the sofa, pinning me with his impressive weight.

  “Don’t call her that.”

  “Why not?”

  “She’s not poison.” He gives a low laugh that suggests I have no idea what I’m talking about. I kick at him. “Get off me.”

  “You know you want it.” He runs his hands through my hair, the beer on his breath washing over my face and turning my stomach. “I can smell it on you.”

  My stomach revolts. “I don’t want anything.”

  “Hot little virgin wants my dick. Come on, admit it.”

  I push at him, but he’s all strength and muscle and I can’t budge him. I take a few gulping breaths, attempting to clear the fog from my head. “What did you give me?”

  “I didn’t give you anything yet,” he mocks, with a cruel laugh. “But I’m going to rectify that. Then she’ll be happy.”

  Unable to understand what he’s talking about, I push and shove but it’s like trying to stop a semi with my pinkie finger. “Stop it.”

  “I haven’t had to work this hard for it since Rebecca left me for your asshole,” he mutters. “Fucking virgins.”

  “What are you talking about?” I shove at his arms, my breath coming in fast pants.

  “You still don’t know, do you, virgin?” He makes a tsking sound. “So fucking naïve.”

  “Cameron. Get the fuck off me.”

  I shift and turn, but he grabs my face with one hand, his fingers biting into my jaw hard enough to leave bruises. “She was my virgin, but your boyfriend fucked her first.” My head spins, and Cameron blurs through my tears. “He’s not the guy you think he is, Peaches.”
/>   My stomach plummets, real fear invading my body. “I’m not….a virgin,” I tell him, hoping that will get him off me.

  “Yeah, you are. My buddy Jonny heard you tell Peyton you were at the party.”

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  I’m in real trouble here. Why the hell didn’t I listen to my intuition, listen to Landon? Wait, what was that he just said about Landon?

  “Who is he?” I ask, hoping if I engage him in conversation he’ll let me go.

  He lets loose a bark of laughter. “All you need to know is he fucked my virgin freshman year, now it’s time for me to fuck his.”

  “I’m not a virgin. I slept with Landon,” I say. “That night, at the frat party. He thought I was Ivy and I slept with him.”

  He inches up, pins my arms with his knees, but I manage to wiggle one free, and in one fast movement, I reach behind me, grab my camera and crack him over the head as hard as I can.

  “What the fuck,” he curses and falls to the side, giving me enough room to get out from underneath him.

  Dizzy, and weak, I push to my feet, and start for the door, but he grabs my ankles and tugs. I fall onto my face with a thud, and he hauls me back. “Don’t believe you, virgin,” he yells.

  He drags me toward him as I claw at the floor, and the room starts to fade in and out. I need my phone. I need to call someone. As soon as that thought pops into my head, I realize it’s already too late. Cameron has me beneath him again, blood coming from the side of his head where I hit him. He pins my arms above my head, his lips twisted, a merciless grin on his face as he inches closer.

  “Why are you doing this?” I ask, my voice hysterical.

  “Landon took my virgin, and won the game. Now I’m taking his. That’s all the story you need to know, anyway.” Is he suggesting there’s more to it, and what did he mean when he said, then she’ll be happy? My thoughts are so scattered, and I’m having a hard time trying to figure out what he’s saying. “Usually I can bag the girl before our Thanksgiving deadline, but you’ve not been making it easy for me, Peaches. Always studying, always working, always drooling over Landon. It’s a bit pathetic, don’t you think? You weren’t seeing who was right here in front of you all this time.”

  He shifts his weight, and pulls open my jeans. “Stop it,” I beg and try to kick at him, but my legs are too weak. “I’m going to call the cops.”

  He laughs. “What for? We’ve been seen together, and you invited me to your place, plus everyone knows we’ve already slept together—supposedly. Jesus, it’s so easy to start rumors amongst dim-witted cheerleaders.”

  Slept together, what the hell is he talking about?

  “You’ll pay for this,” I threaten, but the warning sounds weak, even to me.

  “Who’s going to believe you? Go after me, Peaches, and see what it does to your reputation. See how far you get in Hollywood.” This time his laugh is cruel and dark. “Besides, you should get used to giving it up if you want to make it in the movie industry.”

  This can’t be happening. Anger and fear balloon inside me. As it expands, fight or flight instinct kicks in. He might be stronger, but I’ll be damned if I go down without getting a few good hits in. I search the floor, my fingers grasping, reaching, searching, until they connect with my camera strap. Cameron is so busy trying to get my jeans down, he doesn’t take notice. I pull it closer, grab the lens, and crack it over his head hard enough to break it. His hold loosens, as a shocked look spreads across his cruel face. With adrenaline kicking it, it allows me to bring my knee up and get him right between his legs.

  His face contorts and he lets loose a loud groan and rolls to his side, bringing his knees to his body. “You fucking bitch. You’re going to pay for that, and that one will be free.”

  Free? What is he talking about? I crawl away, and he grabs my ankle, but I kick his side with the last of my strength. Driven by a force I don’t even understand, I push to my feet and open my door. With my pants open, I dash outside, and tears falling down my face as I run, heading to God knows where. I swipe at my eyes and continue to run. I glance over my shoulder to see if he’s following me, and I run smack into a brick wall.

  “What the hell.”

  Landon.

  He puts his hands on my shoulders, and inches back to see my face. “Ella, what the hell?” A sob rips from my lungs, and I slide my arms around his waist, my cheek against his strong heart as I cry and hold onto him like he’s my lifeline.

  “What is it?” he asks again, smoothing his hand over my back and my hair. “Ella, are you okay? Tell me what happened.”

  I nod and sniff against his shirt, as his hands encircle me, holding me to him securely. He curses under his breath and pulls me impossibly closer as I cry into his shirt, soaking it, and after a long while, he inches back again to check in on me.

  “What’s going on?”

  “What…what are you doing here?” I ask.

  He lifts his head, as I wipe my face with the back of my hand. “I was on my way to see you.”

  I shake my head, nothing making sense. My legs go weak, and when I sag against him, he scoops me up. “Just rest, okay?” I nod, and bury my face in the crook of his neck, as he carries me down the street.

  “Where are we going?” I ask, when I notice he’s not headed to my place. I’m grateful for that, but suspect Cameron is long gone by now.

  “I’m taking you to my place,” he tells me. He hurries down the street, and when we reach his place, he dashes up the stairs, pulls his blankets back and sets me between the sheets. I take a deep breath, refilling my heaving lungs. He tucks me into his bed, and adjusts the blankets around my body. Once he has me mummified, he sits on the edge of the bed beside me, his worried gaze roaming my face.

  “I’m going to get you a glass of water.”

  I tug my hand out, and reach for him. My fingers curl into his shirt. “No, don’t go,” I beg, my mouth so dry it’s hard to speak, but I can’t be alone right now. I don’t want to be alone.

  “Okay,” he agrees, and puts his hand on my arm. He gives it a comforting squeeze and we sit in silence as I stare at the ceiling, my brain struggling to keep up.

  “Can I have your phone? I don’t have mine and I need to text Peyton.”

  He digs his phone from his back pocket and hands it to me. I shoot off a text to Peyton, telling her to meet me at Landon’s place, and not to go home and that I’d explain everything later. I don’t hear back right away, so I hand the phone back.

  After a long moment, I ask, “Why were you coming my way? Is Ivy okay?”

  “Ivy is fine.” He takes a fast breath, and rubs the back of his neck. “And I don’t know, Ella. I just had this strange feeling. I went back to the pub, and Peyton said you left with Cameron. I don’t know, I just needed to see you. Something felt off.”

  “Cameron…” is all I can manage to get out.

  I take in his dark eyes, the worry, and pain lingering there. “I mean, I know you guys are a couple, are sleeping together and it’s not my business…”

  I shake my head and grab my head to stop it from spinning. “I didn’t sleep with him. Why are you saying that?”

  His brow furrows. “Ivy said you did.”

  “Why does everyone think I slept with him? I didn’t.”

  “Motherfucker,” Landon barks, like he knows something I don’t. “He’s a fucking dead man.” He swallows hard and looks me over again. “Did he hurt you?”

  I shake my head no. “No, I got away.” A tortured moan catches in his throat. “I’m going to fucking kill him. You know that right. As soon as you’re up for it, we need to call the police.”

  I tug on his shirt, a tortured sound crawling out of my throat. “I don’t want trouble.”

  “Ella,” he says and I take a fast breath, the world closing in on me.

  “I’m on a scholarship, Landon. I can’t. I just can’t.”

  “He hurt you.”

  “No, he didn’t. He tried, but I hit him wi
th my camera and got away.” He reaches out and brushes his hand over my cheek, no doubt looking at the red marks formed by Cameron’s fingers. “I think he put something in my drink.”

  “We should go to the hospital.”

  “No, I don’t want to…I…I invited him over.” Cameron’s warning comes back to haunt me, and sadly enough, he’s a big-ass superstar jock. I’m a nobody. My name will be raked through the mud. “I should have known better. I should have listened to you.”

  “None of this is your fault, Ella.” His eyes slam shut. “Jesus Christ,” he murmurs as he works to calm himself down. “It’s my fault, not yours.”

  I blink through the haze, and try to settle my jumbled brain as my body begins to warm beneath his blankets. “How is it your fault?”

  His gaze flies to mine, then he turns away, like he doesn’t want me to see what’s behind those dark, tortured eyes. What is it he’s not telling me?

  “He was baiting you right from the start. I fucking knew it too. I should have beat his ass a long time ago.”

  “Baiting me?”

  He pinches the bridge of his nose and pushes to his feet. He paces to the window, glances out and comes back to me. “It was a long time ago,” he begins, his voice thick with regret.

  “He said you’re not who I think you are. I don’t understand, he said you took his virgin, or something. I don’t know, it’s all running together now.”

  “I didn’t take his anything, Ella. Rebecca was never his. She was a conquest for him. He was charming his way into her pants. It was all a game. A stupid fucking freshman game that he’s still playing to get even with me.”

  I try to sort things out but can barely think through the blur. Sleep pulls at me, but I force myself to stay awake. The tumblers all begin to align, but I need to hear it from Landon. “What kind of game?”

  “It’s stupid.”

  “Tell me.”

  “The sports teams play it. It’s like an initiation, a hazing, freshman year.”