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“My full name is Gabriel Lewis.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment, then I saw the light dawn over her face.
“As in Camp Gabriel Lewis?”
“Yes.”
I held back a chuckle as she smacked herself in the head.
“So, you’re a football player and this is your camp?”
“I’m a retired football player, and yes, this is my camp.”
“Wow,” she said, picking up a grape and popping it in her mouth. “Chris is going to lose his mind. He loves you!”
I smiled, pleased at her reaction, and said, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away. I didn’t know you, and I’ve had women come here before in hopes of sleeping with an NFL player, or hell, getting married to one.”
Zoey’s eyes widened and she leaned forward. “Really?”
“Yeah,” I replied with a laugh. “You’d be surprised how many women want that … Then again, some of them just want my money.”
I kept my eyes on her face, looking for any sort of negative reaction, and was relieved when I found none.
“I get it,” she said, reaching a hand out and placing it on my knee. “You kept your true identity a secret just in case I was a gold digger or a groupie. I’m not offended. I mean, really, we’ve only known each other a few days … It was the smart thing to do.” Zoey smiled sweetly, then nodded again and said, “That explains Serena’s initial reaction to me. It also explains why you and your cousins come here every year to set up. I was wondering. I just figured you were the caretaker or something.”
I shook my head, my smile a permanent fixture.
“No, we all come up every year to see each other, like I said. Everyone but Reardon will leave on Sunday before camp starts. If they have the time, they’ll come back at the end of summer. Reardon usually takes two weeks off. He likes to stay for the first session of camp, get some time with the kids and blow off steam before heading back home. Plus, it gives us a little extra time together. He’ll be leaving at the same time that you and Chris do.”
Zoey scooted closer and pushed me slightly, causing me to lie back on the blanket, and then she lay next to me and placed her head on my chest.
“What made you decide to tell me now?”
“What you said on the way over here, about our connection,” I replied, hugging her closer to me. “Like I said, I feel the same way, and it didn’t feel right to keep part of who I am away from you. It’s a very big part, and can come with some complications. I wanted you to know everything, so we can move forward and see where this thing goes.”
Zoey’s arm tightened around my waist, but she didn’t say anything, so I pushed on.
“I don’t know the logistics yet, and I do have seven more weeks of camp left after you leave, but I’d like to keep seeing each other ... long distance, until we can figure something out.”
“I’d like that too,” she replied, and I closed my eyes, letting that feeling of warmth and contentment envelope me.
Chapter Sixteen ~ Zoey
“I’m so happy he told you,” Jasmine said as she watched me put makeup on from the corner of my bed.
I’d been barefaced and au natural for the entire time I’d been at camp so far, and since we were about to join the gang for a big bonfire, and I planned to sneak off with Gabe afterwards, I thought it would be nice to do myself up a bit and let Gabe see another side of me.
“I understood his reasons, but didn’t like feeling like we were all keeping this big secret from you.” My eyes came to hers in the mirror, and I knew what she was going to ask next. “Did you tell him who you are?”
She didn’t look accusatory, just curious, but I was saved from answering when Serena came to the door.
“Hello,” she called.
“Come on in,” I answered, giving her a smile when she pushed open the door.
She looked cute in a pair of cut-off shorts and a lightweight long-sleeved top with the Roxy emblem on it. Her hair was long and loose, the entire ensemble making her look sweet and fresh.
“Did I miss anything?” Serena asked Jasmine as she sat next to her on the be
