“It’s fine, Cam,” he chuckles and starts heading down my hallway.
The hallway that leads to my bedroom.
He stops at the linen closet, noticing more water on the floor. “You tracked it everywhere.” Sid grabs a towel and starts to soak up the water in the hallway when he takes note of yet another thing. I see him reach for something, and my heart flips in my chest when I see a gold button in his hand.
A gold button from Zhuri’s dress.
How the hell did that end up out here?
“Have you had someone over recently?” Sid asks curiously. “I can’t see you wearing something that has a button with flowers embossed on it.”
“Oh, uh…”
Sid pinches his brow. “That’s why you woke up late today. You have a woman here now, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I sigh, thinking that maybe I can play this off if he thinks it’s someone random. I join him in the hall and grab another towel to help clean up. “Sorry, man.”
“No big deal,” he shrugs. “But is that really a good idea?”
“What do you mean?”
“Cam, you have feelings for Zhuri. Is it really a good idea to hook up with someone else just to pretend you don’t?”
“Zhuri was just an… infatuation,” I mutter, desperately trying to play this off.
“Oh, please,” he chuckles. “You wore a Conway jersey at team dinner the other night. Bet told me Conway was her crush when she was younger. You can try to deny it, but you’re different around her.”
I shake my head. “I’m not different. Z and I are friends. Don’t forget about the no-fraternization policy.”
“I didn’t,” he sighs. “Just… be smart. I know you don’t like sleeping around, and doing it when you really want Zhuri isn’t going to help you.”
Sid exits the hallway and heads toward the puddle by the balcony door.
“I don’t know why you think I want Zhuri so much.”
“Because I’m not stupid,” he laughs, bending down with the towel.
And that’s when I see something else.
A pair of shoes on the floor.
Sidney looks at them intently, and with how damn perceptive he is, I know he’s remembering the times Zhuri has worn them before.
“Cam…”
“What?” I ask, not at all as relaxed as I’m pretending to be.
“These shoes… they’re Zhuri’s.”
“Are they?”
“Cam.” He stands up and faces me, but I still have to look down to see him. I’m pretty sure Z would have to do the same. “Is Zhuri here?”
“What?” I laugh. “W-why would Zhuri be here?”
Sid gives me the most disbelieving look I’ve ever seen, and I feel like I’m going to crack under the pressure.
Zhuri, though, must have been listening to our conversation because she walks down the hallway—looking far too damn good in a pair of my sweats and my T-shirt—and comes out to join us.
