truth or dare - game on series #1

chapter 47

I scoffed. "And who is that?"

Drew smirked. "A guy who doesn't lose."

Liam grinned, clapping my shoulder. "Come on, Cap. Let's show them who the hell we are."

I let out a breath, feeling some of the weight shift. It wasn't gone. It wouldn't be, not tonight. But maybe I could push through it.

I got up. "Alright. Let's do this."

...

Halftime.

The scoreboard was brutal. We were losing, and I knew exactly why.

Me.

I couldn't get my head in the game. Every shot was off, every pass was sloppy, every play felt like it was happening in slow motion while I was three steps behind. The team knew it, too. They weren't saying it, but I could feel it in their glances, in the way they weren't joking around like usual.

I sat on the bench, running my hands through my hair, breathing hard. Drew crouched in front of me, his face unreadable. "Cam, man, you gotta lock in. This is important."

"I know that," I snapped, my voice harsher than I intended. "I know I'm messing up, okay? I'm trying."

A tense silence followed. No one knew what to say to me. Hell, I didn't know what to say to me.

Then came the knock.

Every head in the locker room turned to the door, eyes widening. Who the hell was knocking during halftime?

"Come in!" someone called.

The door creaked open, and I swear my heart stopped.

Stella.

She stood there, covering her eyes with her hand like she was scared of what she might walk into. "Is everyone decent? I really don't want to see any naked basketball players."

A few guys exchanged confused looks before Drew chuckled. "Yeah, you're good."

Stella lowered her hand and met my gaze. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. She was the last person I expected to see here.

"Can we talk?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

I didn't even think. "Yeah."

I was already on my feet, leading her out into the hallway. My heart was pounding in my chest, a mixture of shock and hope twisting inside me.

"What's going on? Did something happen?" I asked, trying to read her expression.

She sighed, shifting uncomfortably. She didn't want to be here—that much was obvious.

"I just... I watched the first half of the game," she said, staring at the ground. "I don't understand basketball, but even I could tell you were awful."

I huffed a dry laugh. "Thanks."

She ignored that. "I know your dad is here."

The air between us shifted.

I clenched my jaw. Of course, she knew. Somehow, she knew everything about me.

"I don't know if this has anything to do with me," she continued, her voice softer now, "but if it does... I don't want to be the reason your dad hurts you. I don't want him to hurt you at all."

I swallowed hard. I wasn't sure I'd heard her right.

She still cared. Even after everything. Even after I hurt her, broke her trust, made her hate me—she still cared.

I felt something tighten in my chest.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, barely recognizing my own voice.

She lifted her eyes to mine, and for the first time in weeks, she wasn't looking at me with anger. Just exhaustion. "Because I'm a good person," she said simply. "And because I still care enough to hate the idea of your dad hurting you."

I nodded slowly, not trusting myself to speak.

Then the locker room door swung open, and the guys poured out, ready for the second half. "Let's go, Cameron," Drew called.

Stella took a step back. "Good luck."

I hesitated. I didn't want to walk away from her yet. Not without—

"One last thing," I said quickly. "I need something that'll actually help me."

She raised a brow. "What?"

"A hug."

Her whole body tensed. I could see the conflict in her face, the hesitation. It was probably a terrible idea.

But then, after what felt like an eternity, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.

I closed my eyes, holding onto her like I'd never get the chance again. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe.

And for a second, just a second, I thought she felt safe, too.

Then she pulled away, the discomfort back in her eyes. "Go play."

I nodded, stepping back, watching her as I turned to join my team.

And for the first time that night, I felt like I could actually win this game.