“Yeah. You, Mom, Dad, and Ty, too. Hell, even Cameron hated him.”
“And in turn, you hated Cameron,” she teases, and I playfully swat her.
“I didn’t hate him because he hated Jack. I hated him because I believed all the shit Jack told me about him, and when he tried to hit on me the night we met, it all seemed to be true.”
My sister sits up now in excitement. “Cameron hit on you when you met?”
“Did I not tell you that?” I rub the back of my neck sheepishly. “Yeah, he did. He backed off as soon as he realized I was dating Jack.”
“Oh my God,” she laughs. “I’m not crazy.”
I look at her curiously. “What do you mean?”
Nia stares at me expectantly. “Come on, Z. You know.”
“What do I know?” I ask in exasperation.
“That Cameron has it bad for you, baby sister.”
I choke on my coffee, covering my mouth to keep from spraying it everywhere. “Cameron doesnotwant me like that, Ni.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” she smirks, and I just sigh in response.
I know Cam has been flirting with me, but can he actually want me that way?
He isn’t how everyone thinks he is. I know he wants a real relationship with someone, but no one gives him the chance to get closer because of his reputation.
But does that mean he would want one withme?
It hasn’t even been two months since we became teammates, and we’re closer than I ever imagined we’d be. I talk to him every damn day, even when we aren’t at practice.
I like being with him.
Honestly, I think I just likehim.
Fuck me.
A loud knock at my door startles us both. I set my mug down on the coffee table and walk over to open the door, surprised tofind Cameron on the other side. He looks disheveled and upset, and I just know his dad said something to him again.
“Cam…”
“I’m sorry to just show up,” he says, voice unsteady. “I just… didn’t know where else to go.”
“It’s okay.” I step back and gesture for him to come inside. “Come on in.”
Cameron steps inside, and I can feel all the tension on him right now. He says he doesn’t know why he’s here, but I do. He needs someone to talk to.
He needsme.
Cam rakes a hand through his hair and stops when he notices we aren’t alone. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had someone over.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I wave him off. “Cam, this is my sister, Nia.”
He forces a small smile. “Nice to meet you, Nia. You’re Nova’s mom, right?”
“Yes,” she chuckles. “Girl still hasn’t stopped talking about how cool Cameron Kovacic is since you let her paint your nails.” Nia stands up now and walks over to me. “I’ll head out now. Thanks for the coffee, Z.” She wraps her arms around me in a hug before letting go. “Nice to finally meet you, Cameron. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
They wave at each other as my sister walks out the door, leaving us alone now.
