Chapter 49 Cameron
forty-nine
Cameron
Sean
I’ve reached out to your agents and coaches already
I need to see you both in my office at nine
Do not be late
MOVES LIKE JAGR
Aili
Any clue why morning skate just got canceled?
Reggie
I haven’t heard anything
Theo
Who cares why
I ain’t mad about not getting my ass outta bed yet
Isla
What’s going on?
Nico
Did something happen?
Cameron
We got caught last night
Zhuri
We’re meeting with Sean at nine
Elisabet
WHAT?!
What do you mean you got caught?!
Zhuri
Exactly what Cam said
Sidney
What the hell is going to happen?
Cameron
No fucking clue
Wes
What about tonight’s game?
Zhuri
I’m not even sure we have careers anymore…
I’ve never been this fucking nervous.
My career has never been on the line, but I’m more concerned about Zhuri’s. Whatever happens in this meeting, I have to do everything possible to keep her on the team.
She’s one of the best players in the league, and I’ll be damned if she loses that over me.
“You ready?”
“Fuck no,” I breathe, “but we have to get this over with.”
We decided that a meeting when our fates are up in the air meant dressing nicely, hoping that it would help us with our case. I went for a black suit and a white button-down with no tie. Zhuri’s deep green dress is skin-tight with thin straps, and she looks fucking divine.
At the end of all this, I’ll still have her. Nothing else matters as long as I get to keep Zhuri by my side.
She gives my hand a light squeeze. “We can do this. I love you, Cam.”
“I love you, too, Z.”
I take a deep breath before knocking on the heavy oak door in front of me.
“Come in,” Sean says flatly from the other side.
I feel like I could crawl out of my skin right now, but I trudge forward anyway.
Zhuri and I walk in beside each other as five sets of eyes watch us—Sean, Marissa, Nils, Patrick, and Melanie.
“Shut the door behind you.”
When the door clicks, we look for open seats, and I’m surprised to find the only open spots are next to each other.
Sean points at them. “Sit. I can’t imagine you two would have a problem being close to each other.”
I’ve always known Sean to be kind and friendly. This current attitude is new, and I really don’t like being on the receiving end of it.
Zhuri and I take the open seats next to our coaches and agents.
“Good morning, Mr. Eckhart,” Zhuri says nervously.
Sean peers at us over the rims of his glasses, but doesn’t correct her by telling Zhuri to call him Sean.
We’re so fucking screwed.
The silence is deafening for the next few moments before Sean lets out an exasperated sigh. “Before any discussions get started, I need you two to explain yourselves.” He grabs his phone to show us the picture he received last night. “What is this?”
“I’m not sure it really needs an explanation,” I reply, warily meeting his eyes. “It’s exactly what it looks like.”
Sean pinches the bridge of his nose. “What is going on between my co-captains?”
Zhuri clears her throat, trying to keep her composure. “Cameron and I are… dating.”
“How long?”
“Since last month,” I answer. “We didn’t intend for that to get out.”
“Considering it’s against your contracts, I’m sure you didn’t.” Sean turns his attention to our coaches. “These two are on the same line. How have they been playing together?”
“They play very well together,” Marissa replies. “I think I speak for both Nils and myself that we’re just as surprised by this as you are.”
Nils adds, “They never gave any indication that they were anything more than friends. They play the exact way you expect regular teammates to play.”
I speak with as much conviction as I can. “On the ice, Zhuri and I are only teammates. We treat each other just as the rest of the team does. It’s only different off the ice. I’m sorry that we broke our contracts, and I’m sorry you found out the way you did, but I’m not sorry for being with her.”
“I’m not sorry either,” Zhuri says, shooting me a soft smile. “I know we’re co-captains, and you expect us to be leaders, but I don’t have any regrets. I’m not ready to give up my career, but I won’t give up on Cameron either.”
“This is serious between you two, isn’t it?”
“Very. I know we started off by not liking each other, but somewhere between all the team get-togethers, photoshoots, and coffees, we fell in love. I’ll never regret that.”
Sean lets out a sigh. “You two might just be lucky.”
Zhuri looks at him in confusion. “What does that mean?”
“It means that the league has decided to leave fraternization up to the individual teams now. Some teams are going to keep the clause in their contracts; some aren’t. I’ve been undecided up until now.”
“I’m not sure I’m following,” I say.
“I’m saying that you’re no longer breaking league rules because the league rules have changed. Your fate is now up to me.” He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Based on what your coaches have said, I see no reason to enforce a no-fraternization clause going forward.”
“Our careers are safe?” I’m absolutely beside myself right now, and I have to know.
“Yes,” he nods. “But that doesn’t mean there aren’t repercussions.
You will both be fined fifty thousand dollars for breaking your contracts.
As long as that is done, I don’t feel the need to give either of you a suspension.
You’ll need to officially declare your relationship with HR, but as long as everything stays as it has within the team, that’s all that will be needed.
I’m disappointed to find out that my co-captains were sneaking around, and I’ll need you both to continue to show me you can lead this team without issue, but we’ll move forward once your amended contracts are signed. ”
“Do you know who sent you the picture?” I ask.
“I don’t,” Sean responds. “They didn’t tell me who they were, just told me I’d want to see the picture.”
Zhuri shakes her head. “They messaged both of us, too, but we have no idea who it is.”
“Hopefully they’ll leave you alone now, but if we do find out who was behind it, we’ll see what, if any, actions are appropriate.”
Melanie and Patrick hand us our new contracts, and Zhuri and I waste no time looking through and figuring out where to sign. Before we finish, we’re interrupted by someone practically knocking the door off its hinges.
“You can’t punish them!”
We look behind us to see Elisabet running inside as Sidney slowly follows her.
Sean looks at them curiously. “What are you two doing here?”
“You can’t punish them,” she says again. “Zhuri and Cameron still deserve to play. Their relationship has never impacted the team.”
Zhuri tries to get her attention. “Bet—”
“Sidney and I are together as well!”
“Well, that’s one way to do it,” Sid sighs.
“You two are together, too?” Sean asks.
“Yes.” Elisabet stands tall. “You can’t punish them unless you’re going to punish us, too.”
“How long have you been together?”
“A year,” Sidney replies. “We’ve been together since well before the Comets were formed.”
“Exactly how many couples are on my team?”
“I believe we’re the only ones,” I answer.
Sean sighs and shakes his head. “You didn’t need to barge down my door to plead your case, but it is commendable that you’d stand up for your teammates. But it’s all been handled already.”
Zhuri smiles at our friends. “Everything is fine. We’re signing amended contracts. The no-fraternization policy has changed within the league, and each team gets to decide how to apply it.”
“Oh,” she says quietly. “I did not know that.”
“Now that I know about the two of you,” Sean says, gesturing between Sid and Bet, “I’ll be taking necessary action the same way I’m doing for Cameron and Zhuri.
You’ll be signing new contracts and declaring your relationship with HR.
You’ll also each pay a fifty-thousand-dollar fine for breaking your contracts. A suspension isn’t necessary.”
“Did I really not need to make this a big thing?” Elisabet asks.
Sidney laughs and shakes his head. “I told you we should just talk to them.”
When the ink dries on our new contracts, I feel lighter than I’ve ever felt.
I’m keeping my career as well as the woman I love more than anything.
Good things are happening to me, and it’s about goddamn time.
I’ve never felt luckier than I do right now.