“Okay, see you guys later.” Coley and Bailey rushed from the room, slamming the door behind them.
I stuffed my duffel under my bed. “You want to put yours next to mine?” I waited, staring at the brown blanket covering the white sheets tucked under my mattress.
“Sure.” After sliding his duffle off the top bunk, he crouched beside me and slid it next to mine. “Shall we go find Tex?”
“Yep.” Following him out the door, I ambled beside him along the path, watching for the signs leading to cabin ten, which was where the linemen stayed. My heart pattered into my throat. What the hell would I say? I’d tried to prepare for this, but nothing sounded right.
As we approached cabin ten, I stepped to the door and knocked.
“Who is it?” A singsong male voice said.
Ramsey, a second-string offensive lineman, popped the door open. “Oh, it’s you. Can’t stay away from Tex?” He lifted theedge of his lips. “Don’t you get enough of each other at home?” He swung the door open fully and stepped aside. “Tex, you have visitors.”
With a tut, I peeked at Grey, who hung his head and wrung his hands at his waist. He looked nervous. Maybe almost as nervous as I was. Had he intended to talk to me too?
Strutting to the door, Tex said, “You on board for that hike we discussed on the bus?” He lifted a brow at Grey.
“Yep.” I worried my lower lip. At what point would Tex bail out?
“Okay, let’s hit it. I know the perfect trail. Has magnificent views.” With a sly grin, he passed us by and strode toward the mess hall. “This way.”
We followed him to a path behind the building and between an opening in a post and rail fence and then toward an open field with scraggly grass. About twenty feet ahead, the path entered the tall trees.
Tex pointed ahead of us. “You keep going up here, and when you reach the summit, you can see the entire camp. When we get to the top, we’ll just turn around. I don’t know what comes after that.” He stopped and rubbed his forehead. “Shit.”
“Shit, what?” Grey halted behind him.
“I forgot I was supposed to check in with Coach after I got the guys settled in my cabin.” He faced Grey. “You two go ahead, and I’ll run the trail and catch up to you.” He gave me a knowing look.
My pulse kicked as I crept my gaze to Grey. Would he buy it?
“Uh…” Rolling his lips, he glanced toward the mess hall, placing his hands on his hips. “Um...”
Shit, was it so terrible to spend time alone with me on a trail? As my chest pinched, I studied him. Could we recover the friendship we’d had, or was it permanently ruined by onemistake? “Come on, Grey.” I grabbed his elbow and hauled him along. I wouldn’t let him escape this.
“See ya soon.” Hopping on his toes, Tex waved and jogged toward the mess hall.
I trudged with Grey through the field, the afternoon heat prickling my skin, and then into the speckled shade of the trees. When and how should I begin this conversation?
He wriggled out of my hold. “Okay, you don’t have to manhandle me. I can walk.” With a huff, he combed his fingers through his bangs and stomped along.
“Grey…” I held my breath as my pulse throbbed in my temples. If I broached the topic, would he turn and run from me? I fell in behind him. In the event of his running back to camp, I could stop him.
“What?” He kept moving, his thick arms swinging at his sides.
“We, uh, we need to talk.” I puffed out a long breath. Fuck, this was hard.
“About what?” He stomped along.
“About what happened the night I woke up in your bed. The night of the party.”
He halted, and I marched into him. As he stumbled, I caught him, wrapping my arms around his waist and holding him steady. “Got you.”
Hanging his head, his long bangs falling into his face, he said, “You always did. Have me.” As his jaw muscle bulged, he twisted around, his eyes glistening. “We need to leave it alone.”
“Do you remember what happened?” Why was he emotional? Had he hated it? Did he think I raped him or something? Fuck. Pain pummeled my heart.
As his lower lip quivered, he said, “Yeah, I remember.” His breath hitched, and he shoved me away. “I can’t do this, Malik.”