My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 7

Maddie

On Monday morning I seem to be in a complete and utter daze.

I've been trying to forget about this past weekend, but I can't get Cam's face out of my mind. How it felt when he touched my wrist, the way his thumb delicately traced my skin. We hit a breakthrough. He wasn't his normal asshole self. He was back to being that boy I missed. That boy I had a massive crush on.

Damn.

I've got it bad.

Spinning my locker combination absentmindedly, I pop it open and grab the books I need for history next period.

The conversation with Cam made me put a little extra effort into my appearance today. I put a light layer of makeup on my face, and I decided to wear a maxi dress rather than my usual sweatpants and a sweatshirt. A part of me hopes he'll notice.

"Have you seen him yet?"

I jump when Maya suddenly appears beside my locker, an agonizing look on her face as she awaits my answer. I called her immediately in the morning to let her know what Cam had said and what we talked about. She thought he was hitting on me, but I don't think that's what it was. He's like that with every girl.

I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me feel somewhat special, though.

"No, I haven't. It's not that big of a deal if I don't see him. It's fine."

"Sure it is." She rolls her eyes as we begin walking to class. "That's why you're all dressed up, right?"

I can feel the heat rise to my cheeks, knowing she has a point before I feel a shove to my shoulder. I stumble backward, almost falling onto the floor.

"What the—"

"That's for interrupting the other night," Sadie sneers.

"Honestly?" Maya goes to lunge for her, but I hold the edge of her shirt back so she's unable to move.

"It's fine," I mutter, recollecting the books in my hand. "Just let her go. It's not worth it."

Sadie and the rest of her posse of cheerleaders wander off back down the hallway, and as much as I try to brush it off, the anger still manages to surface.

"I hate cheerleaders," I seethe. "So fucking much."

***

When the bell rings after the last period, I silently send up a prayer and thank god it's time to finally go home. Today has been the worst. From the run-in with Sadie, to not seeing Cameron at all today, to the big test I have in two days for algebra, I'm over it. Completely and utterly over it.

"Hey, Maddie!"

As the swarm of students around me exits out the double doors to the courtyard, I glance back and see Mark trying to catch up with me. I'm not sure what's different about him, but as he nears closer I see that he's got a black eye.

"Oh my god," I say. "What the hell happened? Did Ethan do that to you?"

"Oh, this?" He grins sheepishly and shrugs his shoulders. "It's nothing. Honestly. I deserved it after I tried to kiss you and all."

Ethan is insane. I get that he's protective over me, but really? It's not like Mark forced himself on me. He tried to make a move, I said no, and he respected it. He didn't do anything wrong.

"I'm so sorry," is all I can think of to say. "I didn't know he'd do that."

"He didn't." Mark laughs. "It was Cameron. Like I said before though, it's fine. I deserved it."

"Cameron?" I repeat, almost as if I hadn't heard him right. "He did that to you?"

"He said he did it for Ethan. I could have ratted on him for doing it, but that would result in him getting kicked off the team, and that would also result in us losing any chance we have at making states this year. I'd be hated by the entire team."

He offers to walk me to my car, and the entire way there all I can think about is how stupid boys are.

"I'm so sorry," I say again. "I know I keep saying it, but I just don't know what else to say."

We reach my Prius parked in its usual spot. I put my backpack on top of the trunk, resting my back against the silver frame.

"You don't have anything to apologize for," he reiterates. "I just want to tell you how sorry I am for what I did. I shouldn't have made a move on you so quickly, especially since you're not like the other girls here. I was drinking, and I wasn't thinking."

"It's okay," I tell him.

"I would really love to make it up to you. I'm having this get-together at my house tomorrow night. It's nothing big, but it'd be somewhere we could get to know each other a little better. I don't want to take you on a date yet and overwhelm you, because I'm pretty sure I already know what your answer would be to that, but..."

He's rambling, and I can't help but find it somewhat cute. Mark isn't hot in the way that Cam is, but he's cute with his glasses and freckles. It's hard to imagine he's on the football team, too. He reminds me of nerdy Cam.

I see something behind him in the courtyard, and when I narrow my eyes I see Sadie and Cameron. They're holding hands as she drags him to his car. They stop at his trunk, and he lifts her up, pressing his lips against hers. Bile rises into my throat, and I immediately want to take off this stupid dress. Why the fuck did I even think I had a shot with him? He wasn't flirting with me at all last night. He was just wanting to be friends again. That's it.

So much for him being back to who he used to be. He's not going to change. He's still a player, and he's still going to have his life focused on the next girl he can get.

Mark clears his throat, and I suddenly remember that I'm in the middle of a conversation with him. "Sorry," I blurt out, trying to remember what he had just said before.

Oh, that's right. The get-together.

Glancing back at Sadie and Cameron making out heavily on top of the hood of his jeep, I send Mark a smile and nod my head. "I'd love to come to this get-together," I say proudly. "What time?"

Like a little kid on Christmas, he gets all giddy and I can't help but laugh. "Great," he says. "Be there at eight?"