Against All Odds

CHAPTER - 33

CAMERON

I found myself standing outside Elle's apartment, and my heart raced like never before. I knew coming here was a risk. She had strictly told me not to reveal our relationship to anyone, especially Liam. But I had to see her, to explain everything. I just hoped Liam wouldn't be home. He was supposed to be at basketball practice, and I had timed my visit carefully, aiming to catch Elle when she was alone.

Taking a deep breath, I walked up to the front door and knocked, trying to appear composed. Seconds felt like hours as I waited, each tick of my watch amplifying my anxiety. Then, to my dismay, the door opened and there stood Liam, his expression shifting from surprise to suspicion.

"Liam!" I said, my voice betraying a hint of shock. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you at practice?"

Liam crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "I could ask you the same thing, Cameron. What are you doing here?"

I swallowed hard, scrambling to come up with a plausible excuse. "The coach sent me." I said, forcing a casual tone. "He wanted to know why you weren't at practice today. We've got a big match coming up, and he needs everyone there."

Liam's eyes narrowed, and I could tell he didn't fully buy my story. "My sister's not well." He said finally. "I decided to stay home and look after her. So, you can tell the coach that's why I'm not there."

My heart sank at his words, confirming that Elle was indeed sick. "I'm sorry to hear that." I said, genuinely concerned. "Is she okay?"

"Why do you care?" Liam shot back, his suspicion deepening. "You don't even know her."

I hesitated, knowing I had to tread carefully. "We're teammates, Liam. I care about all of you. If someone's sick, I want to make sure they're okay."

Liam's gaze remained unwavering, but he didn't budge. "That's nice and all, but I think you should leave now. Elle doesn't need any visitors."

"Liam, please." I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "I just want to make sure she's alright."

"And I told you, she's fine." Liam snapped. "Now, get lost before I make you."

I could feel the tension rising, and I knew pushing him further would only make things worse. But I couldn't leave without at least trying to see Elle. "Just tell her I stopped by, okay? Let her know I was worried."

"I don't think so." Liam said, his tone final. "Now go."

Defeated, I nodded and turned to leave, my heart heavy with disappointment. I had come here with the intention of explaining everything to Elle, of making things right between us. But now, it seemed like that opportunity had slipped through my fingers. As I walked away from Elle's apartment, I couldn't shake the feeling of regret that washed over me. I had let fear and uncertainty cloud my judgment, and now I had missed my chance to set things straight. But deep down, I knew that this wasn't the end. I would find another way to reach out to her, to make amends for my mistakes.

I tried to calm myself, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. Seeing Liam at Elle's house had been a curveball I hadn't anticipated. I needed to talk to Elle, but how could I do that with Liam guarding the door?

I thought about calling Nathan or Jeremy, my best friends. They might have some advice, or at least offer a sympathetic ear. But then I remembered that my phone had been lost during practice yesterday. I had searched everywhere but found nothing. The loss of my phone added another layer of frustration. Without it, I felt cut off, unable to reach out to anyone who might help.

I slammed my foot down hard on the gas pedal, causing the car to lurch forward with a loud roar. The noise startled me, and I quickly eased off, forcing myself to drive more carefully. Anger surged through me, directed at the situation, at myself, at the whole damn mess.

ELLE

The door clicked shut, and I heard Liam's footsteps retreating down the hall. I walked out of my room, trying to clear my head. Maybe some fresh air or a bit of movement would help. I stepped into the hallway just as Liam was turning away from the front door. He looked up, surprised to see me.

"Elle, you're up." He said, his voice tinged with concern. "Feeling any better?"

I forced a small smile, trying to reassure him. "Yeah, a little. I think if I just rest some more, I'll be back to normal soon."

Liam's expression softened, and I could see the relief in his eyes. "Good. You need to take it easy."

"Was anyone at the door?" I asked, hoping my voice sounded casual.

Liam shook his head. "No, just a package for next door. Nothing important."

"Okay." I said, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment.

"You should get back to bed," Liam said. "You need your rest."

I nodded, but before I turned to go back to my room, I looked at Liam. "Don't you have basketball practice now?"

Liam shrugged. "I took the day off to make sure you weren't alone. Figured you could use the company."

My heart swelled with gratitude. Liam could be tough and overbearing, but moments like this reminded me how much he cared. "Thanks, Liam." I said softly.

He looked away, a little embarrassed. We weren't used to showing affection so openly. "Yeah, well... don't mention it."

I started to walk back to my room, but Liam's voice stopped me. "Elle, wait."

I turned around, my heart rate quickening. "Yes?"

He stared at me intensely, his piercing gaze examining every detail of my face. "Are you really sick, or is this about some boy drama?"

Panic flared inside me. Did he know about Cameron? Had he figured it out? The fear of being caught in a lie was overwhelming. I desperately searched for any sign that he knew about Cameron, but his expression remained unreadable. I forced a smile, trying to appear calm and collected, but inside I was a mess. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, trying to come up with a plausible explanation for any questions he might have. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean." He said, crossing his arms. "Is there some guy causing you all this stress? Because if there is, I need to know."

My throat felt dry. I couldn't tell him the truth, not now. "No, Liam. There's no boy drama. I'm just... it's just the flu or something. I promise."

He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded, seeming to accept my answer. "Alright. But if there is something going on, you can tell me. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know," I said quickly. "Thanks, Liam."

I turned and hurried back to my room before he could ask any more questions. As soon as the door closed behind me, I leaned against it, my heart pounding. The last thing I needed was Liam finding out about Cameron. He hated him, and he had warned me more than once to stay away from him. If he found out we had been together, it would only make things worse.