“Such a shame then that you won’t find out what that means.”
I groan. “You’re so annoying.”
“Now, now,” he teases. “We’re being nice to each other.”
“You can still be annoying,” I grumble. “Let’s move on from the Croatian lesson. What type of music do you like?”
“I like softer alternative music, honestly,” he says. “Del Water Gap would probably be my favorite artist.”
“Shut up,” I shout, clamping my hand around his bicep. His very muscular, tattooed bicep. “You listen to Del Water Gap?”
“Yes…” Cameron looks at me in confusion. “That is what I said.”
“I love Del Water Gap,” I smile.
“Huh,” he says. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a fan.”
“I mean, I wasn’t always a fan,” I shrug. “We had a girl on the Dragons a few years ago who was a big fan of his. She always played his music in the locker room, and I just fell in love with it. It’s so smooth and sultry.”
He cocks his eyebrow at me. “You like sultry music?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, Cameron. Just because I don’t exploit my sexuality doesn’t mean I don’t have any.”
I swear I can almost see something flicker in his caramel eyes, but it’s gone before I can discern what it is.
“Maybe you’re not as uptight as I thought.”
“I’m not uptight.” My head falls back against the tree. “I just need to be cognizant of the image I’m putting out of myself. I’m a black woman—I don’t get to have any slip-ups without it being made into a huge thing.”
“Fair enough,” he breathes. “I guess that’s just not something I’ve ever had to worry about.”
“Because you’re hockey’s golden boy. That’s not a status I’ll ever attain. I’ve always had to work twice as hard to get half as much attention. I can get a little bitter about that sometimes.”
Cameron turns to face me now. “Is that why you were so against me when we met?”
I let out a deep breath. “Yeah. Jack had it in my head that you got everything handed to you on a silver platter just because your dad played in the NHL. I was really resentful of that.”
“I fucking hate Jack,” he chides.
“You and me both,” I laugh. “He’s in this new league, too. On the Los Angeles Lasers. We play them in the preseason. I heard Sean mention it.”
“Good,” he chuckles darkly. “Can’t wait to kick his ass on the ice.”
“You don’t fight, Cameron. Theo seems to be the bruiser from your team.”
He smirks at me. “Have you been watching me play, Zhuri baby?”
My cheeks heat at the observation. “I occasionally watched the Lizards. We did share a rink, after all.”
He smiles before steering the conversation in another new direction. “Would you rather read a book or watch a movie?”
“Book,” I answer. “Especially if it’s a romance novel. I love curling up at night with a good book. Would you rather vacation on a cruise or in a cabin?”
“Cabin!” he replies a little too quickly. “I’d prefer a cabin.”
“That’s a strong response…”
He tries to shrug it off.
