Chapter 19 Cameron
nineteen
Cameron
“God, you guys smell like ass,” Bodhi groans, stepping into the locker room after practice.
“You sure you’re in the right line of work, Bode?” I chuckle.
“Fuck off,” he huffs. “I’m just pointing out that hockey players smell terrible.”
Wes rips off his practice jersey and tosses it to Bodhi. “So why’d you wanna be our equipment manager then?”
“Clearly,” he replies, tossing Wes’s jersey into the bin, “I hate myself.”
Nico smiles and throws his arm around me. “Is that a Kovacic trait?”
I shrug his arm off. “Bodhi isn’t a Kovacic, lucky bastard.”
“Also not a bastard,” he winks, and I can’t help but laugh.
He knows he has everything I didn’t—two parents who were happily married when he came along. I was quite the surprise, and my parents were never actually together.
So I guess technically I’m the bastard.
I clap my hand on Bodhi’s shoulder. “Better get used to the stench, little bro. This is the career you chose.”
“Chose it because I love hockey and can’t play for shit.”
“Because you take after Mom,” I tease, and Bodhi rolls his eyes.
Sidney pipes in now. “We’re grabbing some coffee with a few of the girls after this. Wanna come with us, Bodhi?”
“You guys might be done for today, but my day is only beginning,” he chuckles. “I’m taking a break after I throw all your smelly ass jerseys in the wash, though. I can come by for coffee, but I can’t stay.”
We stall in the hallway while Bodhi meets up with Kaitlyn—the equipment manager for the women, since they’re splitting duties—to start his actual workday.
He’s back a short while later, and the five of us leave to meet up with the girls at Bean Voyage.
We walk inside and find them tucked into a booth in the back. We stand in line to grab our drinks first, though.
“I know Zhuri already,” Bodhi says, grabbing my attention. “The women beside her are Almr and Morin, right?”
“Yeah,” I answer. “Bet is the blonde, and Isla is the one with bright pink hair.”
He hums. “It suits her.”
“It matches her personality,” Sid chuckles. “Isla is an absolute firecracker.”
“With zero filter,” Nico adds.
We grab our drinks from the barista and make our way over to the women.
“Zhuri’s met him before,” I say, sliding in across from her, “but Bet and Icy, this is my brother, Bodhi. He’s one of the equipment managers.”
“Holy shit, you look like a fetus!” Isla yells.
Bodhi stares at her while chuckling. “I look like a… fetus? How is that?”
Her cheeks immediately turn rosy. “I just mean that you look young. How old are you?”
Wes elbows my brother. “We told ya she didn’t have a filter.”
“I’m twenty-two,” Bodhi states, answering Isla’s question.
Zhuri practically cackles in laughter. “He’s three years younger than you, Icy, and you just told him he looks like a fetus.”
“He’s got a baby face!” she says emphatically, gesturing over at Bodhi.
“Um, thanks?”
Isla throws her head back and groans. “Fuck me.”
Bodhi smirks at her. “Not really what I’m looking for at the moment.”
“Quit fucking with her, Bodhi,” I say. “Go back to work.”
He laughs heartily before saying his goodbyes and peeling off back to the arena to finish out his day.
I turn my attention to Isla. “Fetus? Really?”
“Fuck off, Kovacic,” she fires back as our friends laugh around us. “He’s so much younger than you.”
I shrug. “He’s my half-brother. His dad married our mom when I was four. Bodhi was born when I was six and a half.”
“I need you guys to get me a fucking muzzle so I stop embarrassing myself,” Isla mutters.
“I don’t think a muzzle will help much,” Bet laughs before she turns her attention to Wes. “How’s Blake?”
“Fine…?”
“Why do you sound unsure?”
Wes runs his hand through his hair. “I’m not, but I don’t know why you’re askin’.”
Bet stares at him. “Isn’t she your girlfriend?”
“What?” Wes chokes on his coffee while the rest of us laugh hysterically. “Blake is not my girlfriend. We’re just friends.”
“Wait, really?”
“Cam and I told you that, Bet,” Sid chuckles.
“I thought you were lying!”
That causes Sidney to laugh harder. “Why the hell would we lie about that?”
“I don’t know!” Bet firmly slaps her hands down on the table. “I can’t believe you’re not dating.”
Wes groans. “Why do y’all always think we’re together?”
Zhuri shrugs. “You two are just really close. It can confuse some people.”
“Well, we’re just friends,” Wes breathes. “I fuckin’ swear. I don’t want Blake.”
Nico laughs to himself. “I still don’t buy it.”
“You don’t have to buy it for it to be true, dick. But don’t forget we all know you’re pinin’ for Ivy.”
“I’m not,” he replies emphatically. “I just think she’s… pretty.”
“Who’s Ivy?” Isla asks excitedly.
“No one!” Nico says far too quickly.
I lean closer to her. “Anthem singer. Nico wants her bad.”
“I hate every fucking one of you,” he grumbles under his breath. “Can’t we give someone else shit for once?”
I shake my head. “There isn’t anyone else to give shit. As far as I know, no one else here is interested in anyone.” I glance over at the girls. “Unless I’m wrong about that.”
Isla lets out a derisive laugh. “Fuck no. I don’t date.”
Bet looks uncomfortable but responds with a soft, “Nope, not interested in anyone.”
“Z?” I cock my brow at her.
She shrugs. “I’m just worrying about my career.”
I feel a smile tug at the corners of my mouth. Apparently, I like the thought of Zhuri not being interested in anyone.
There’s no denying that I’m feeling a lot closer to her now. That heart-to-heart shifted my entire perspective of her. There’s no point in holding myself back anymore now that I know she’s actually a really great person.
A person I genuinely enjoy spending time with.
A person I’m reaching out to more often because I like talking to her.
A person I’m willing to paint my nails for just to make her niece happy.
I glance down at my hand and chuckle. The guys did give me shit for it at practice this morning, but the polish is already chipping away.
Maybe I’ll try to finagle my way into getting another manicure if it means I can spend more time with Zhuri.
I need to tread carefully here and remember that Zhuri is my teammate and co-captain. Nothing could ever happen between us.
But a small part of me is starting to wonder what that might be like.
I’m not the fuckboy everyone seems to think I am, but I fear that will always be my perception.
Maybe it’s a good thing that it’s forbidden.
She’d never want someone like me anyway.