But Cam interrupted him before he could finish the admonition. “If you’re gonna say you don’t need taking care of, save it, okay?”
“Why?”
Rolling his eyes, Cam said, “It’s okay to let someone else handle shit for once—and don’t you dare fucking say I can’t. I was okay before you came along.”
Cam didn’t need to specify what he meant when he saidbefore you came along.Obviously it wasn’t the beginning of camp. Or even the beginning of the season. Back then, Dawson’s gaze had slid over Cam like he was just there, like he wasn’t anything really worth noting.
But back then, it had been the same with every other guy on the team. Even Aidan, who’d been an old friend.
Different.Not what you’re used to. A cruel and unusual punishment, exacted by an unforgiving universe.
Now, Dawson was beginning to understand that this change wasn’t all bad. Marty was a good coach. He was learning things. To find his focus when it didn’t want to be found. To be more graceful under pressure. To weather any storm. Then there was Cam, who was new and different, but the kind of new and different that Dawson had realized hewanted.
“Okay,” Dawson finally said. “If you want to, I’m not gonna stop you.”
“Oh, you’re gonna let me, huh?” Cam teased, glancing over, the look in his eyes soft.
“Seems like I can’t stop you,” Dawson said. Even though he probably could. Well,normally, he might be able to. But probably not tonight.
“What do you want for dinner? Still want noodles? Chinese? Pizza?”
“Pizza?” Dawson’s mouth watered. They were both usually pretty vigilant about the meal plan, and pizza was not on the meal plan.
“I think you’ve earned it today,” Cam said. “Aidan told me about this place he likes. Not sure if they deliver downtown . . .” But at the next light, he was on his phone, calling them up.
Dawson barely paid attention to the conversation, except to chime in that he wanted anything but pineapple, thank you very much.
Cam shot him a look that said,you’ll take what I give you and like it, and that shouldn’t have been a turn-on. Not when Dawson was as tired as he was, but it turned out that just about everything Cam wanted to do was a turn-on these days.
God, he’d missed having regular sex. Because that was what it had to be, right? All those extra endorphins he didn’t usually have, swimming through his system, making Cam so goddamn irresistible.
Cam hung up the phone and drove them the rest of the way to the building, parking Dawson’s car in his numbered spot without being prompted.
It made Dawson wonder, absently, just how long Cam had been paying attention.
“They’re gonna make an exception and deliver here,” Cam said, checking his phone when they got into the elevator. “Should be here in about thirty. You wanna get in the tub first?”
Cam’s voice was so soothing and comforting, it was easy to just nod his head, and then a second later, he thought about what Cam had just said. “Wait, what do you mean they’re gonna make an exception?”
“Technically we’re out of their delivery zone, but when I dropped Aidan’s name, the guy was open to it,” Cam said.
“Aidan’s name and the promise of a big tip, probably,” Dawson said.
Cam flushed. “Maybe.”
The elevator dinged open, and as they headed down the hall to Cam’s apartment, Dawson nudged him. “You didn’t have to do that. We could’ve gotten anything.”
“You had a rough day,” Cam said. “Honestly, it’s fine. I don’t mind.”
“Just—”
Cam opened the apartment door and took Dawson’s hand, squeezing it firmly. “Stop it,” he said. “It’s okay. You’re tired. Not just physically, but mentally. I know what kind of toll that sort of practice takes on you. I’ve been there. Just let me handle it, okay?”
The last of Dawson’s anxiety drained out of him. It was okay to put himself into Cam’s hands, at least for a night.
“Come on,” Cam said, tugging him in the direction of his bedroom and its attached bathroom. “I’ll get the tub going.”
It was a big tub, nice and spacious, long enough and wide enough for two, probably, but Cam didn’t seem like he was getting in as he ran the water.
