Hayes finally brings our drinks over, and we grab them before heading back to the table.
I’m starting to learn more about Cameron than I ever expected I would, and I don’t hate it.
I don’t know how we went from eleven years of absolutely despising each other to getting along the way we are so quickly, but I’m glad we are.
He isn’t at all who I thought he was, and I kinda like getting to know him now.
eleven
Cameron
BeanVoyageisbusierthan I expected it to be on a late Wednesday morning.
I grab my black coffee from the barista before scanning around the place, finally spotting Zhuri and Blake tucked into a booth at the back.
Seeing Zhuri again gives me the reminder that she views me the exact way everyone else does—good for sex and nothing more. I figured that’s what she thought, but until she said it the other night, I was hoping maybe she’d be someone I could convince I’mnotthat person.
I’m so goddam tired of the way everyone sees me, but I can’t seem to show a single person that it’s not who I really am.
I’ll always be the guy that fucks around.
Maybe I’m not destined for more, no matter how much I want it.
The thought is disheartening.
I shake it from my head, muster a fake smile, and slide into the booth next to Zhuri. “Good morning, ladies.”
“Good morning, Cameron!” Blake chimes, far too cheery for me right now. It’s probably why she and Wes get along so well. They’re both always so damn happy. “Thank you both so much for doing this interview for me! Hopefully, my boss will get off my back a bit now.” She cringes. “Sorry, you didn’t need to know that. I have a tendency to ramble, especially when I’m nervous.”
“I’m well aware,” I laugh. “You and Wes are attached at the damn hip, Andor. We’ve spent plenty of time together.”
She huffs. “I was telling Zhuri! She doesn’t know me and my neuroticism yet.”
Zhuri chuckles. “You’re fine, Blake. I’m sure by now you know to ignore that one”— She jabs her thumb toward me. —“and his shit.”
Blake smiles brightly. “I think I’m gonna like you, Zhuri.”
“Nice to see you two bonding over torturing me.”
Zhuri throws her head back and laughs. “Like I said before, you’re so fucking dramatic.”
“Are you guys friends?” Blake asks, looking curiously between us. “I thought Wes mentioned you guys not liking each other, but that doesn’t seem right.”
“Oh, I fucking hated Zhuri,” I smirk, to which Zhuri rolls her eyes.
“The feeling was mutual,” she interjects. “Wes wasn’t wrong; Cameron and I loathed each other for more than a decade.”
“But we’re co-captains now,” I add with a shrug. “Put that shit behind us so we can move forward.”
“Okay then.” Blake pulls out her laptop while I take a sip of my coffee. “Are we good to go ahead and start?”
“Fire away, Andor.” I relax back against the booth with my hands clasped behind my head.
“We can start with what I think everyone wants to know. How did you feel when you found out about the change in the league leading to the combination of the men’s and women’s leagues?”
Zhuri starts. “Honestly? I was furious at first. I’m a female athlete; it’s hard enough to be taken seriously as it is. Putting womenwithmen would surely only lead to animosity between teammates. I felt like I had spent my entire career carving out a place for myself, for all that to be thrown away with the changes. But the more I sat with the news, the more I started to look at it as a new beginning. I’m not afemaleathlete playing in thewomen’sleague anymore. Now, I’m aprofessionalathlete playing in theprofessionalleague. Those were both true before, but with the separation of leagues, many fans didn’t see it that way. I decided this would be my new opportunity to be seen as a serious athlete who can actually compete with the men.”
“Sometimes I forget just how much shit you have to deal with being a woman.” I shake my head. “I’ll admit I wasn’t necessarily happy about the change, but I wasn’t as upset as Zhuri was. I didn’t have those same concerns because, quite obviously, I’m not a woman. I can’t pretend to know what that’s like. I took the change in stride, though. I always want to play to the best of my ability, and that’s not changing just because the team has changed. Zhuri and I have known each other since college; I’ve watched her play for years. We haven’t played together yet, but I’m looking forward to getting to play alongside her and the rest of the former Dragons. I think we’ll help make our team something Denver can be proud of.”
