Healing Hearts (Book 3 Series 2)

Chapter 10 Cameron

The minutes pass in silence, the only sound being the soft hum of the stadium's air conditioning system. I try to keep my thoughts under control, aware of Hailey's proximity and the growing tension between us. 

I watch as she abruptly stands up and heads towards the court, wondering what she's doing. I follow behind her, intrigued by her sudden action. I watch as she starts shooting the ball into the hoop with surprising accuracy. I lean against the nearest bench, admiring her skill and athleticism as she effortlessly make shot after shot.

 I continue watching her, impressed by her performance on the court. I can see the determination and focus in her eyes as she aims and shoots, pouring all her energy into each shot. Without realizing it, a small smile forms on my lips as I observe her. As she jumps to take the final shot, the jersey rises up slightly, revealing a glimpse of her tank top underneath. Unintentionally, my eyes flit down to the exposed skin, my mind registering the brief glimpse of her body. I feel my heart rate quicken, and I have to forcibly redirect my gaze back up to her face, trying to keep my thoughts under control.

 I watch as she takes a seat, finally finished shooting her basketball. I'm still trying to process the brief glimpses of her body I saw, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. I take a deep breath, trying to regain my composure and act natural. I can't help but steal glances at her body, taking in the curves and muscles that the tank top outlines. I feel my heart rate quicken again, and I have to force myself to look away, not wanting to make it obvious how much her appearance affects me.

I watch as her phone buzzes and then dies, cutting off any hope of reaching someone to come pick us up. "Looks like we're really stuck here for a while now."

"is your phone dead?" I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone, checking the screen. Sure enough, the red "Low Battery" warning glares up at me, confirming that my phone is also dead. As my phone dies in my hand, I can't help but feel a mix of disappointment and resignation. We're completely cut off from getting help, stranded in the now-deserted stadium together with no way of reaching anyone.

Thirty minutes have passed since our phones died, leaving us in complete isolation in the empty stadium. Time seems to drag as we sit in silence, neither of us speaking or knowing what to do. I watch as she gets up once again and start playing basketball. I admire her skills, each shot she makes flawlessly executed. The sound of the ball bouncing on the court serves as a soothing background noise, filling the otherwise empty stadium.

"do you wanna play?" I nod, accepting her invitation to play.

"Sure, why not?" I hesitate for a moment before walking over to join her on the court.

We begin our game, each of us making shots and attempting to score. Despite the absence of anyone else here, the competitive spirit between us is alive and well, with neither of us wanting to let the other one win. I can feel the sweat starting to bead on my forehead as we continue playing, my heart rate increasing as our game gets more intense.

I watch as she tricks me like she's  offering me the ball, only to spin around me at the last second. Caught off guard, I stumble momentarily before quickly regaining my footing. I can't help but chuckle at her clever move, impressed by her quick thinking and agility. I watch as she scores, feeling a mixture of frustration and admiration at her skill. Despite my attempts to keep up, it's clear that she's the better player. I put my hands on my hips, breathing heavily from the exertion as I try to catch my breath.

"Tired?" I nod, admitting that I'm starting to feel tired after our intense game. I wipe the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand, panting slightly. 

"Yeah, I'm not used to playing so hard."

"You always play with Asher when your in town." I let out a sigh, realizing that she has a point. I do play basketball with  Asher when I'm in town, but our games are usually more laid back and not as physically demanding. I shrug, admitting that maybe I'm not in as good of shape as I thought I was. I follow her lead and take a seat next to her, still feeling a bit winded from our game. I can feel my muscles starting to burn from exertion, and I try to stretch out my arms and legs to loosen them up.

"Here I thought you were going easy on me."

"Nah, I gave it my all. You're just a really good player."

"perks of being a sister of a famous basketball player."  I nod in understanding, realizing that having a famous basketball player for a brother probably comes with its own benefits. It's no wonder she's so skilled on the court. A comfortable silence falls between us as we sit on the bench, both of us catching our breath from the intense game. I glance over at her, taking in her flushed cheeks and messy hair from our playing. Despite the sweat and dishevelled appearance, she still manages to look beautiful to me.

The quiet moment between us is broken when my stomach growls, reminding me of the fact that I'm starting to feel hungry. I chuckle awkwardly, placing a hand on my stomach. "Guess I worked up an appetite during our game."

"then lets go." I raise my eyebrows, surprised by her sudden suggestion. I look around, remembering that we're still stranded in the stadium with no way to get anywhere else. "Go where?"

"there's a dinner near." I think for a moment, realizing that a diner might not be a bad idea. We could grab something to eat and figure out our next move. "Sounds good. Lead the way."