Page 43 of Gamebreaker

"I'm not running. I'm strategically retreating."

"That's the same thing."

"It's really not. One implies cowardice. The other implies tactical genius."

"Harper." My name in her voice sounded different. Lower. Huskier. "I'm intimidated by you too.”

My heart stopped. Just completely stopped functioning in my chest.

"You—what?"

"You heard me."

"Say it again. I want to make sure I'm not hallucinating from vodka poisoning."

Cam's mouth curved. Almost a smile. "I'm intimidated by you. I have been since that first fight. Maybe before. I don't know. You confuse me."

"I confuse you?"

"Everything about you confuses me. The way you talk. The way you look at me. The way you make me want to smile even when you're being impossible."

"I'm always impossible."

"I know." She was still holding my wrist. Her thumb brushed over my pulse point, and I knew she could feel my heart racing. "That's part of the problem."

"What's the other part?"

"You scare me."

The admission hung between us. Honest. Raw.

"I scare you?" I repeated. "I'm five-four. You're six-three. I'm literally the least scary person in this scenario."

"Not physically. You scare me because you make me want things I've spent years convincing myself I can't have."

Oh.

We were really doing this. Really having this conversation.

The patio door slid open. Isla appeared, looking between us with barely concealed glee.

"Tiramisu," she announced. "Trish made it from scratch. You two coming?”

The spell broke. Cam let go of my wrist very gently. Stepped back. Put distance between us that felt like miles.

I grabbed my vodka soda like a lifeline and followed Isla inside, trying not to think about what Cam had almost said, what I'd almost replied.

Two hours later, Mia was passed out on the couch, snoring gently, her head in Laine's lap.

"She had too much to drink," Laine said fondly, running her fingers through Mia's long strawberry-blonde locks. "I'm going to take her home with me. My place is closer."

Oh, great. There goes my ride.

Laine turned to me. "I'll drop you off first."

"Nah, it's okay. I can just take a SHAU4."

"Nonsense," Isla interjected, appearing like she'd been summoned. "Cam will drive you. Right, Cam?"