Trust Me Always (Boys of Avix, #3)

by Meagan Brandy

“And you’re supposed to be her friend! Everyone knows you’re nothing but a player. You screw anything that walks and then you do the walking. There is no way she would actually date you.”

“I’m gonna be so good at this fake-boyfriend stuff.”

“Hi, Fake Girlfriend.” Cameron crosses her arms with a playful narrowing of her eyes. “Hi, Fake Boyfriend. I take it laying him on his ass wasn’t satisfying enough?” “Not nearly. Wanna make out, celebrate our eight-day anniversary?”

“Sorry, boys,” she teases, meeting my gaze over her shoulder with a grin. “But I belong to someone else.” I smirk from her to them. “She belongs to me.”

“Glad to know he’s not threatened by me,” I tease. “Please.” She stabs her chicken, lifting her fork as she smirks at me. “He’s threatened by no one.” “Because you’re so in love?” I joke. “Or because he wouldn’t know how to take a relationship serious enough to know he should be threatened?” “You know nothing about him,” she snaps.

“If you knew her like you think you do, like I do, you’d know that was a really fuckin’ stupid thing to say.”

“My number, my name.” He throws me a quick wink. “My heart on her sleeve.”

“I don’t think I can let go of what he did to even be able to try to be with him, Brady. I’ve attempted it. I’ve found myself enjoying his attention here and there since, but then suddenly it all comes back, and I can’t get away from him fast enough. Like in the back of my mind, I know we can’t get over the past, but then shit like this happens, and suddenly I’m confused again. It’s like a part of me isn’t convinced I don’t want him, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. I was hoping he would accept this for what it was and distance himself, but he did the opposite.”

She’s not worried about what he’s got going on, so it’s not like it will matter anyway. She won’t suddenly want to wear his number or hang out with him again now that he’s going to be the starting QB. Not that I would mind if she did. My lips pinch together, and I frown forward. Nope, I wouldn’t mind it one bit.

“I’m gonna graduate, Cammie Girl, with honors, and I’m going to have a degree under my belt. And if football comes after that, then I’m even more blessed.”

“Just so you know, luck would have nothing to do with it. Football will wait for you because you, Brady Lancaster, are that good. You’ll have the jersey and the farm and anything else you could possibly want.”

“What?” “That boy is gone on you.” I laugh, shaking my head. “Oh no, we’re…” I pause, not wanting to say fake dating because that would be a whole-ass story to get into. “Just having fun.” “Oh, honey.” She stands, taking her stack of papers with her as she rounds the desk, patting my shoulder on her way. “Bless your little heart.”

“It’s just sad, you know. He gave up a starting position to follow his ex here, and the day he arrived, it all blew up in his face. Now he’s stuck at second-string, and I mean, look at him, Ari. He’s good. Really good. Sucks he…believed in love so much and Cupid just shit on him.”

“If I offer to buy dinner, will you share your bed with me again tonight?” “What’s wrong?” I tease, crossing my arms and leaning in a little closer, against the door. “Chase stop letting you sleep in his?” “I like the feel of your body better.”

No one deserves half-assed, even if that’s all they offer you. Be better. Do better. Be the reason someone else smiles, even if all you want to do is cry, and you can cry, Son. All good men do from time to time.

I want to kiss her, pull her close, and be the reason for a whole different sort of flush to her skin. I want to thank her for choosing me, promise her things and deliver on them, because that’s my job as her man. ’Cause, fuck me, I think that’s what I am. Hers. And she’s mine. If only for a little while…

“Don’t pout, Cammie Baby. You know this is all yours anytime you want it.”

My eyes lift to his, and it’s like there’s a little magnetic pull that wasn’t there a moment ago. It’s trying to tug me in closer, to whisper something I can’t hear, as if I’m a little too far away—only that makes no sense. I’m right here.

I tear my helmet off, wiping my head, and take a long drink, my eyes scanning the crowd until they land on my favorite girl. Only this time when I find her, she’s not looking at me. She’s smiling at him. We won.

I told her I’d help her, give her the time and distraction she needed to work through her own thoughts. Maybe she has. Maybe she’s finally realized what I’ve known for a while now. She doesn’t need a fake boyfriend anymore—not when she’s ready for a real one.

What are you doing, bro? Quit with the bullshit already. You did your job. You gave her time. It’s like you fucking knew. Time is up.

Maybe the boys are right. Maybe I should tell her I’m not the wanton man she thinks I am but a waiting one.

Maybe I’ve just been waiting for this. For…her.

Suddenly it all makes sense. She had been watching him before, but he didn’t know it. She must have realized she had his attention now. She knew he was looking and that’s why she kissed me. She kissed me so he would see, but that’s okay. That’s good. Perfect. That’s what I’m here for. It’s what I agreed to. My team won our game tonight. So why does it feel like I lost?

his every exhale rolls over my skin. It’s warm and enticing, a tingling sensation that starts at the nape of my neck and prickles its way down. Suddenly, I’m not just warm and cozy. I’m hot all over, and this time, it has nothing to do with a fucking fever.

“You know”—I look up at him—“having a ‘girlfriend’ might hurt your chances of that one.” His eyes move between mine, and then he says, “Worth it.”

thinks I am? When she finds out that the infamous playboy she’s known all her life is pretty much a preacher’s son? A virgin at twenty years old. By choice, obviously, but what does that matter? I’m a liar who hates lies.

Ten minutes later, when we get into the drive-through line at the coffee shop, she scoots into the middle, and that’s where she stays for the entire drive home. My heart gives a little thump, like a fist bump from it to me, as a sense of rightness falls over me. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

If given the chance, I’d hold on with everything I’ve got.

I can’t take it anymore. Don’t fucking want to.

“Fuck it.” I take her face in my palms and crush my mouth to hers. And my fucking god, does she respond.

Holy shit, he kissed me when no one was watching. When no one was there to see. When it wasn’t for the benefit of someone else. Does that mean he feels this new pull between us?

I hug her to me, holding her there, and I don’t let go. I couldn’t possibly. At least not until she makes me.

“Night, baby.” Baby. Not Cammie Baby or baby girl. No Hellcat or Cammie Girl. Just…baby. Something inside me melts a little, and I smile against my pillow. “Night, Big Guy.”

What would she do if I bent down and kissed her for my mom and dad to see? A silent claim is what I want to make. Like a kid on show-and-tell day, I want to brag and be like look at what I got, a one-of-a-kind woman to call my own.

I don’t know when it happened, but it did. In fact, it might have always been there, far back in my mind, waiting for the time to come forward. Cameron’s the snow and I’m the sleigh—I only make sense with her.

She needs a man with confidence and a secure hand to hold. I want to be that man. I want to hold her hand in public, and I want to mean it. I want to kiss her when no one is watching and give her more than I’ve ever given anyone. I want to take her like I’ve taken no other, giving her a part of me no one else has ever had. I want her to be my first.

She sounded like sin and she tasted like mine.

She looks like an angel of chaos who wants all my secrets.

She’s acting like nothing happened, like it’s all forgotten, so small of an event that she’s completely unfazed by the sight of me when I’ve been burning at the thought of her all morning, waiting for this moment. Cameron isn’t the one who gets up and makes some excuse to get away. I am.

And from what I hear, the man is a giver. Right now, all he’s giving me is rage-y thoughts.

“A sunrise with the person you love is one of those moments, you know? It’s fleeting but reminds us that love doesn’t fade like the day, but it does change, rekindling anew each morning. The need to watch the sunset is your heart telling you to listen, to stop and savor that moment in time.”

Everything is going to be okay. We’re going to be okay. We watched the sunset together.

Brady didn’t want to end this thing between us. He thought I would once I heard what his teammate had to say. He’s wrong.

The only thing I can do now is let the clock run out and see who takes it all in the end. Alister or me. The visitor…or the home team.

The third man to step into the room smiles back, arms opening wide in invitation. “Trey.”

“You didn’t know he was coming, did you?” she whispers. A humorless laugh leaves me before I can stop it, and I shake my head. “No. I did not.” “Brady,” she begins, but I hold my hand up and slowly slip from the room. I can’t do this right now. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to.

“He said, you know, the heart’s a tricky thing. Sometimes the people who stand closest to you are the hardest to see, but my daughter? She’s not blind. Stubborn, but not blind. Be careful, young man. I can tell she’s the one who’s upset right now, but something tells me she won’t be the one hurt in the end.”

“Guys,” I mumble. “Let’s move that down there,” I hear Mason say. “Can we put on Christmas music?” Paige asks someone. “Guys.” I say it a little louder this time, and I look up, finding they all stopped what they’re doing and are now staring at me. “I’m jealous.” A few chuckles and a few girlie awws. I glare. “Not helpful. How do I stop?”

Noah chuckles, gripping my shoulder, and lowers his voice so not everyone can hear. “Sometimes it really sucks to be the good guy. It would be a lot easier to be selfish, but easy doesn’t always mean right.”