Page 45 of Love On Time

Right now?

Cami

Yes, right now. Open your window.

I throw off my covers, scramble out of bed, and rush across the floor to the glass. Peering out into the darkness, I can see her already navigating the roof. I quietly slide my window open.

“Cami, be careful,” I whisper frantically, already climbing out onto the ledge to help her cross the final step.

She lets out a soft laugh as I catch her around the waist, pulling her against my chest, into the safety of my room.

“You know you're not allowed to be here,” I murmur, my hands lingering on her hips as her feet touch my bedroom floor. “What if your parents go to check on you?”

“They’re asleep,” she whispers, looking up at me in the dark, her eyes bright and filled with yearning she can't hide. “And it's your last few days here. I just couldn't stay away.”

I smile down at her in the dark. Without a word, I squat down, hooking my arms under her thighs, lifting her effortlessly off her feet and walking us the short distance over to my bed. I gently set her down onto the mattress, her back against the sheets as I crawl over her, supporting my weight on my forearms. “I missed you today,” I whisper.

In the dim light filtering through the window, I can see her cheeks flushed pink. “I’ve missed you too.” She says breathlessly. She reaches up, clasping her hands behind the nape of my neck to pull me down into a kiss. Her lips are soft, warm, and minty from her chapstick. My body effortlessly melts into hers as she shifts, opening her legs to let me settle comfortably between them. My blood instantly heats as the movement causes her small shorts to ride up her hips. Keeping her eyes locked on mine, she reaches down and tugs at the hem of my t-shirt, smoothly lifting it over my head and tossing it into the dark. Her small, soft hands begin to explore, burning a path up my stomach and all the way to my shoulders. My eyes flutter shut, a quiet gasp catching in my throat at the addictive feel of her hands against my skin.

With every secret night we’ve spent alone this summer, we’ve allowed ourselves to explore just a little bit further, pushing the boundaries of what we know. But even with the heat rushing through my veins right now, I haven't let anything go too far with her. I refuse to cross a line that might make her feel reckless or pressured.

“Cami,” I whisper, my voice thick and strained while her lips press against the warm skin of my neck.

“Shhh,” she murmurs in the dark. She reaches down, grabbing my hand and placing my palm flat against her bare stomach. She slides it up slowly until my hand is wrapped securely around her. A small whimper escapes her lips, and she arches her back into me. She is my undoing. I reach down, catch the soft hem of her tank top, and slowly lift it over her head, tossing it onto the floor next to mine. In the dim light, she beams up at me, with a radiant smile on her lips. I lean down, trailing a slow path of tender kisses from her jawline, down her neck, and all the way to her stomach. Her skin is hot against my mouth, and covered in goosebumps. Her hands reach into my hair, fingers tightening as I move lower. I pause my trail of kisses right at the waistband of her shorts, fighting the roaring heat searing through me, before returning up to her lips.

“Please don't stop,” she cries softly into the dark. I am thick with desire, standing right at the edge of crossing every boundary I carefully set for us. I slowly trace my hands from the dip of her collarbone, down the center of her chest, circling softly over her belly before landing right back at the waistband of her shorts. She meets my eyes, her stare dark and wanting, as she firmly pushes my hand inside her shorts. Her chest rises and falls heavily with desire, and my body tightens. She’s warm and ready, and I can hardly contain myself. She lets out a gasp, arching up into my touch as the last of my restraint dissolves. My hand explores places it’s never been before, and the girl I love surrenders completely under my touch.

We lie tangled together in the quiet, her head resting in the groove of my bare shoulder as we take in the room's stillness.

“Promise me, you'll still want me after you leave?”

The question is barely a breath, her voice breaking in the dark. It hits me like a physical blow.

“I promise,” I whisper, pressing my lips to her forehead as tears sting my eyes. “I’ll never stop wanting you.” I hold her tight to me, wishing I could live in this moment forever.

We are twelve weeks into the first semester, and I’m finally falling into a steady routine of classes and daily training. On the field, we’ve dominated our first few games. The team is strong, focused, and determined to go all the way, and honestly, a part of me has never been happier. I catch glimpses of Cooper and Ivy around campus, and the three of us have managed to go out a few times to grab food, but our schedules are vastly different, and Cooper’s dorm isn't on the same floor as mine. Between travel days and meetings, I’ve only been able to make the drive home a few times in the last three months.

It's been difficult being away from my mom and Cami. We try to FaceTime a few times a week just to catch up on each other's days, but seeing her through a screen isn't enough. I miss her so much it hurts, and every time I see her face, I can tell she is hurting just as badly. The plan sounded so damn easy when we were tangled up in my bedroom, but the reality is settling in, and it hasn't been simple.

We are gearing up for another home game, and the energy in the air is electric. It’s a crisp November night, and the stadium is packed full. Easily triple the size of my old high school field. The roaring of the crowd sends adrenaline pumping through my veins, fueling my energy, and getting me ready to give it everything I’ve got. But tonight won't be an easy win. We are playing a team that is notorious across the league for their aggression on the field. I hate playing teams like this. They aren't just physical; they play dirty. Always starting petty fights after the whistle for no reason other than to get inside your head and throw you off your game.

We are deep in the final quarter, the score locked in a frustrating tie. The clock drags, constantly interrupted by unnecessary timeouts for every ridiculous little thing that sets their bench off. Everyone on the field is exhausted, running on pure adrenaline and irritation as we line up for the next play.

The whistle blows, the clock starts ticking, and the play unfolds flawlessly. I break into my route and catch a seamless pass from our quarterback. Tucking the ball tight against my ribs, I sprint across the turf, my eyes locked on a clear path to the end zone.

Then, out of nowhere, time seems to stand still as I’m suddenly slammed into the turf, hitting the ground with a sharp impact. A high-pitched ringing pierces through my ears, drowning out the roar of the crowd, and the stadium lights blur and fade to pitch black.

My eyes slowly blink open, battling against the blinding white fluorescent lights on the ceiling. A loud machine is beeping beside me, sending an aggressive thump through my temples. It takes an agonizing second for my vision to clear and let me take in my surroundings. A sterile room with clean white walls, a highly polished floor, and my name written on a dry-erase board.

I’m in a hospital room.

My mom shoots up from the chair sitting at my bedside, catching my hand tightly in hers as tears well in her eyes. I shift my head slightly, seeing Cooper and Ivy standing near the wall. Their faces are drawn and pale.

“What's going on? What happened?” I ask, trying to lean forward as a wave of panic washes over me.

“You were injured at your game, honey,” Mom says, trembling. “You just got out of surgery.”

I whip back in her direction. “Surgery?” I snap. My head pounds from the sudden movement. Before she can answer, a man in a white lab coat walks through the door to my room.