“Hey, Cam.” I turn to see my three cousins staring at me from a few feet away.
Dylan’s gaze leaves my face and shifts behind me in the direction my father just walked.
“Uncle Tyler’s in a mood,” he says lightly.
I shrug as I step forward to meet them. “He always is.”
Dylan gives me a hug, followed by Colton and Brayden.
I blow out a breath. “That’s Tyler Wild for you.”
“Sorry, Cam.” Brayden eyes me with concern.
“You guys hungry?” I say, wanting to change the subject. “I know I could use a drink.”
As we chat, I glance past him, and my gaze lands squarely on Savannah. She’s dragging the water cooler across the floor, and it’s clearly an effort for her. Some of her hair has come loose from the ponytail she always wears, and she stops to push a few strands out of her face. When she does, she locks eyes with me. We stare at each other in silence, but when I don’t make any move to acknowledge her, she puts her head down and keeps moving with the cooler.
I feel like an ass. But I can’t introduce her to my cousins right now. I make a quick decision.
“Why don’t you head into the lobby?” I say, turning to Dylan, Colton, and Brayden. “I’ll meet you there soon.”
The three of them have to pass Savannah to reach the doors leading to the tiny lobby area, but her back is to them, and they’re too busy laughing and chatting with each other to notice her.
Once they’re gone, I put two fingers to my lips and whistle.
Savannah jerks her head up at the sound.
I laugh as I hustle toward her.
“Was that you?” she asks indignantly, a crease forming between her eyebrows. “You sounded like you were catcalling.”
“Maybe I was,” I say, which earns me a blush.
Her cheeks are pink already from the cold arena, but she flushes a deep red at my teasing. “Right,” she says in a flat tone. “My hair’s a mess, and I’m sweating like a pig from dragging this damn thing.”
She gestures to the cooler next to her, and I immediately grab it. “Let me take it for you. I’m heading that way anyway.”
Her eyes warm. “No, you weren’t. You were headed to the showers. But I appreciate the help, Cam.”
Her sincere gratitude always gets me. Savannah doesn’t ever ask for anything, and that makes me want to give her everything.
“So how are things?” I say as she walks next to me, the water cooler bumping along behind me.
“They’re okay.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m getting together with my sisters tonight.”
“Cool.” I have a crazy, passing thought to invite them to join my cousins and me at the bar. I barely manage to keep my mouth shut.
The day I introduce the Wild cousins to a woman other than Amy will be a big deal, and I won’t do that to Savannah tonight. She and I are just becoming friends; we’re not dating, and to do that to her would be selfish.
“Are you looking forward to the conference we’re going to in Milwaukee?” I ask her. “I know you didn’t want me tagging along at first.”
“I don’t mind you coming with me.”
Another blush as she must realize how suggestive that sounded, and I laugh to myself.
Savannah clears her throat. “It will be fun. But I’m sure you have plenty of better things to do.”
I eye her steadily. “I’m looking forward to the trip. It’s a business trip fully endorsed and approved of by Coach. You know, so you and I can hang out together more. Being with you is the only real thing I’m excited about with the trip, to be honest.”
