Cameron

It only takes two days before she contacts me.

I just finished practice, and I'm exiting the locker room freshly showered when my phone starts to ring. When I pull it out of my pocket, it's an unknown number. Normally, I wouldn't even answer it, but deep down, I know it's my psychotic fucking ex, and I'm ready to end this game she insists on playing.

My teammates are still filing out behind me, so I dip into a random hallway and hide in an alcove, clutching my duffle bag in one hand and my phone in the other. "Hello?"

Her snarky giggle fills the line before I hear her voice. Instantly, all the hairs rise on my arm in pure loathing. "Hello, Cameron," she purrs. "Long time no talk."

I swear I'll break my phone from how tightly I'm gripping it. "What the fuck do you want, Katie?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she replies innocently. "Can I not call up an old friend to check in on how they're doing?"

I scoff. "On an unknown number? Yeah, okay. Sure."

"Did you or did you not block my current phone number? Last I checked, I couldn't get through, so I had to resort to this."

Well, shit. I did block her number after she roped me into our fake engagement to spike her social media platform. When being "engaged" to me didn't produce the results she wanted, she ended things shortly after, and those videos of leverage she had on Maddie and me were deleted. Or so I thought.

"I don't really give a shit how you're calling me. Just tell me why the fuck you emailed the video to my manager. What do you want?"

"Again, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Yeah, right. She's such a conniving little bitch. She probably knows this phone call could be traced back if I went to the police. No way in hell will she confess to me over the phone if she did send the email. For now, I have to play her game.

"Why are you calling, then?"

Her laugh sends a rush of anger and regret through my veins. I've let this woman control so much of my life. I let her take away years from Maddie and I's relationship. If it weren't for Katie having a video that could quite literally ruin Maddie's career, we never would have been apart, and I would never have missed out on the first year and a half of Izzy's life. I blame Katie for everything.

"Well, I was notified by my manager that there's a photoshoot opportunity for the cover of the world's largest sports magazine. Now, I'm not sure if you've been keeping up with me recently, but—"

"Trust me, I haven't." While I want that to be true, it's been hard to avoid seeing what she's been up to since she's plastered on every social media site at the moment. I can't escape her. She made some popular workout videos that were apparently driving crazy weight loss results, and in return, she signed deals with all the major health and fitness companies.

Still, telling her I haven't gone out of my way to keep up with her is the truth, and the sneer she sends through the phone has me smirking. "Anyways, what better way to drive the best results than to have us both on the cover? The sexiest man and woman in sports and fitness?"

The laugh that escapes me is way too loud. It echoes off the large, empty hallway. "No way in hell. Forget about it."

"Really?" She pauses as if I'll change my mind. "Well, if you're certain, but I'd hate for this to be a missed opportunity for you. If you pass this up, this might just be the start of a downfall to your career."

I can read between the lines. I knew she was the one who sent that video, and now she's threatening to release it. Either I agree to this stupid photo shoot, or the video gets released.

And while a photo shoot might not be the biggest deal, it's not like she'll stop there. Until I find a way to delete those videos, she'll always find a way to hold them over my head. This favor won't be the last.

"No," I repeat, my voice firm. "Find someone else."

"And you're positive about that?"

I clutch the phone tighter, and every word that leaves my tongue is laced with pure venom. "I want nothing to do with you anymore, Katie. All you've done is make my life a living hell, and that video you own doesn't just include me. It includes you, too. You don't have the balls to release it. We both know that, so stop while you're ahead, okay? Let me live my life and leave me the hell alone."

She laughs again. "While I have no idea why you'd assume I'd release my own sex tape, I'm surprised you haven't heard about it already since it's..." I grit my teeth when she inhales a sharp breath. "Oh wow. It already has a thousand views."

My blood runs cold as ice. My hand shakes as I try to keep my voice steady, but I can't stop the tremble when I ask, "What are you talking about, Katie?"

She hums as if she doesn't have a care in the world. "I would be more upset about this, but all the comments keep saying how hot we are. If anything, this will improve both of our careers. We're going to be plastered on the front page of every magazine known to mankind tomorrow."

I want more than anything to call her bluff. She's lying. She has to be. But when my phone starts to ring, my manager's contact on the screen, time seems to come to a massive halt.

Katie's menacing giggle fills the silence, and it finally hits me that she did it. She actually released it.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I shout. "Are you insane? You're actually psychotic!"

"I didn't release anything, Cameron," she says teasingly. "One might think you released it after this conversation. You have been very irate, after all."

"I'm going to k—" My voice falters, realizing that everything I say is more than likely being recorded. She can't have more leverage on me than she already does. I won't allow it.

"I'll let you think on my offer," she says. "Tomorrow morning, I need to have an answer. I suggest you unblock my number, or I'm unsure how you'll get ahold of me. If I don't hear anything, I'll assume you're declining. Think hard on this, though, Cameron. It seems like karma has already caught up to you for declining the first time. I'd hate for it to hit you or anyone else a second time, too."

That fucking bitch. She still has the video of Maddie. And if she so casually released this video, then...

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Maddie.

What are the odds of this video going viral in Germany? Will she see it? Has she already seen it? Oh, god. She's going to kill me for not telling her.

"I'll do the shoot," I blurt desperately. Katie has already destroyed so much for Maddie. No way am I going to let her take away the one thing she's worked practically her entire life for. I'll find a way to delete that video. Until then, I'll play along with Katie's stupid game.

"Good choice," she replies sweetly, knowing she's won. "My manager will reach out shortly with the details."

As soon as she hangs up the phone, I deflate against the alcove and rest my head against the tiled wall.

I'm not going to keep this from Maddie. I already made that mistake once, and it ruined us. Now that it's confirmed, now that I know it's her? I need to tell my wife, and we need to bring this bitch down together. Once and for all.

As it is, millions of people are watching me have sex with Katie right at this very moment. How long will it be before she sees it? And if she watches it? I know how badly our relationship hurt her. If she sees any part of that video, doubts are going to fill her head, and if we're thousands of miles away from each other?

Fuck.

I have to see her.

"Holden. What the hell are you still doing here?" My coach pauses by the alcove, running a suspicious sweep over me. "You're normally the first one out of here."

"I'm fine," I say, even though I'm not remotely okay. This is the best our team's looked in a long time. I can't afford not to be at my best, and if Coach knows there's something wrong, he'll be on my ass until the only thing on my mind on that field is football and only football.

Even though my life is a complete shit storm, I have to be fine.

There isn't another option.