Chapter 11 Cameron
eleven
Cameron
Bean Voyage is busier than 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’m not that 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 women with men 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 a female athlete playing in the women’s league anymore.
Now, I’m a professional athlete playing in the professional league.
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. ”
Blake types away at her computer while rattling off her next question. Reporter Blake is much more focused than Regular Blake. “How has the team been so far? Is there any animosity? Are there still things to work on to create a cohesive unit before the season begins?”
“Definitely,” I breathe, replying before Zhuri this time. “We’ve gotten the team together a couple of times since the announcement to help foster that. The more time we spend together before practices start in a couple of weeks, the better our teamwork will be on the ice.”
“Exactly that,” Zhuri adds. “I know there has been a bit of animosity from both sides, but it’s not to the extent that I expected, if I’m being honest. Everyone has really been working hard to get along, and that leaves me really optimistic about how our inaugural season will go.”
Blake continues firing off questions to us, and Zhuri and I respond as thoroughly as we can. After an hour, our coffee is all gone while she wraps up our interview.
“One final question for you both. What do you think of your co-captain’s ability on the ice?”
“Cameron is great,” Zhuri replies, and I can’t help the pride blooming through my chest. Hockey is about the only thing in life I excel at.
“There’s a reason he’s so well-known. Even back in college, he was the first-line center as a freshman.
He’s probably one of the best centers the game has seen. ”
“I’ll be happy to accept compliments like that anytime,” I chuckle.
“As for Zhuri,” I say now, turning my attention back to Blake, “she’s the best left winger I’ve seen.
Not just a female left-winger; overall, she’s the best. I’m from Boulder, so I’ve always been a big Denver fan.
I loved watching the Dragons and the way Zhuri just owned the ice.
She has an extremely rare talent, and I’m looking forward to playing beside her as a Comet. ”
Zhuri looks at me in surprise with a sweet expression on her face. “Thank you, Cameron.”
“I mean every word. You’re a damn great forward, Hart.”
“That should do it!” Blake smiles, closing her laptop before slipping it into her bag. “I’m going to head out of here now. I want to get this article written tonight so I can send it over to my boss. Thank you both so much for doing this!”
We say our goodbyes and watch as she disappears through the glass doors.
As soon as she steps away, a familiar blond walks up beside Zhuri and me.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite big brother and his mortal enemy?” Bodhi smiles, sliding into the booth across from us.
“Ah, you must be Bodhi,” Zhuri chuckles.
“What are you doing here, Bode?” I ask.
“Stopped by to treat myself to a fancy coffee,” he shrugs. “Gotta celebrate a little.”
“What are you celebrating?” Zhuri questions.
“My new equipment manager job.” Bodhi’s grin is so wide that it has to be painful.
“Now I’ll never be rid of you,” I chide jokingly, and Bodhi flips me off as he so often does.
Zhuri grabs his attention. “You working for the Comets?”
“I am.”
“Because Bodhi has no athletic ability whatsoever.”
“Be nice to your brother, Cameron.” Zhuri elbows my side, and ouch, that fucking hurts.
“Yeah, Cameron,” Bodhi pouts. “Be nice to your brother.”
I glare at Zhuri. “Are you going to gang up against me with everyone you meet?”
“Probably,” she smirks, and the mischievous glint in her eye does something to me.
Well, to my dick specifically.
This playful side to Zhuri is starting to seem very dangerous, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying every fucking minute of it.
Honestly, I might be starting to enjoy it a little too much.