21. Camden #2
“It’s more exciting when you know what I’m wearing underneath,” he replied, winking. He finished getting dressed and made to leave for the door.
I snagged his arm before he could grab the doorknob. “Forgetting something?” I asked, motioning to my exposed torso and feet.
He smiled. “Oh, I guess I forgot. There’s no way that was on purpose.” He dropped some flip-flops from his suitcase on the floor and grabbed a slate blue hoodie from the closet and tossed it to me.
“This one’s your favorite,” I said, staring at it in my hands.
“Uh huh.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“That makes two of my favorite things all in one package,” he said, coming back to give me another kiss. “How convenient for me.”
My phone vibrated.
Mom: Happy to hear that.
Mom: Let me know how podium training goes.
Cam: Fingers crossed, but I’ll let you know.
“How ya feeling, Cam?” Noah asked from in front of the stove, as Luke and I walked into the kitchen.
“Pretty good. Still a little tired.” Shane and Noah exchanged a look. I sat on the stool next to Shane at the island and allayed his fear. “We crashed early.”
Luke went over to Shane and gave him a hug. “Morning, Coach.” Then headed to the fridge to pour himself some orange juice.
“Morning. So, you took care of Cam last night?”
Luke spit out his mouthful of juice. Luckily, it just landed on the floor and not in anyone’s face.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, kid. I meant it in a doctorly way. His medicine, oxygen, et cetera.”
“Yes, he helped me with all that,” I answered, holding up my mug. “He even brought me tea this morning.”
“Well done, Luke,” Shane said.
“Should you be talking, though?” Noah asked.
I shrugged. “Throat was a little scratchy this morning, but it feels okay. I’ll try to limit the chatter.”
“That’s probably wise, Cam,” Noah said. “Eggs should be ready soon.”
There was a knock on the front door, and Shane went to get it. It was Coach, Ford, Ty and Bret. Shane went into the dining room, presumably to go bang on the other guys’ doors. They weren’t up yet. The other coaches piled into the kitchen.
“How are you today, Cam?” Coach asked.
I held two thumbs up.
“Good. Good.”
Oomph! Most of the air in my lungs was squeezed out swiftly. Tyler bear-hugged me from behind. “Glad to hear it, bro. We’d be lost without you.”
Luke thanked Ford for getting everything the doctor recommended for me and setting up the humidifier, and I echoed his sentiments.
Chaos descended as Shane and the guys came in and I had to repeat everything I’d already said to the new audience members.
There was toast, jam, bagels with cream cheese.
Everyone quickly devoured the eggs Noah had made, so he made some more.
It was a little different from waking up in the village, but a good different.
“Shuttle should be here in ten, guys. Let’s not be too late,” Coach warned.
“Shuttle?” Orion asked.
“Yeah. With the recommendations from Cam’s doctor, we believe the air quality is too poor in the Underground to risk his health, even with a mask. Might as well take the entire team together, right?”
“Is it really that bad?” I asked Coach.
“We’re not taking any chances,” he said, coming up behind me and giving my shoulder a squeeze.
“Oh! We have to do your steam breathing!” Luke shouted. I had forgotten, but smiled as he ran back to our bedroom and came back a minute later with the towel and bowl in hand.
“Aw, all the cute nurses are gay,” Colton teased.
Luke flipped him off and put the kettle on the stove.
“Whose clothes are you wearing, anyway?” Colton asked me. I answered and asked him the same question.
“Ford let me borrow some of his. The rest of y’all are too short. I can’t wait to go shoppin’.”
It looked like I was going to need the cough drops after all.
Even with the cough medicine I took earlier, the air was dry enough that it irritated my throat.
I had already fallen off the rings from coughing.
Realistically, a cough could ruin any of the routines.
The vault had the smallest chance because it was over in four seconds, but still, it made me nervous.
It was even more worrisome because today was podium training, our last session in the O2 before the event finals started tomorrow.
“Shake it off, Cam,” Noah tried to reassure me. “Your body is still healing. You just have one routine to get through tomorrow, you’ll be fine.”
“I hope so,” I grumbled as I headed to the sideline seats.
We were giving me a break, so I could rehydrate and try to relax.
I quickly found Luke. He was hard to miss.
I could see his bright white smile from across the arena.
He was smiling a lot more lately and I couldn’t help but think it was because we were back together.
It didn’t seem like the situation with his parents bothered him.
I still didn’t understand them, but I know it added stress to his life and I didn’t like that.
I wondered where he would live after London, especially if they ended up kicking him out.
He had been in New York, but if we were serious, would he want to live with me?
I didn’t have much, but I had been slowly working on renovating an old cottage my mother inherited from her great aunt.
Living with my mom had allowed me to save a lot of money, especially with two part-time jobs.
I was hoping a promotion to full-time with the Tampa Bay Thunder was in my future, but only time would tell.
“How are things with Luke?” Noah asked. “I don’t want him to hurt you again.”
I had forgotten he was there for a minute.
“I’m still in love with him, Noah. I couldn’t help it if I tried.”
“I understand that. I’m just looking out for you.”
“Plus, I really don’t think he’d break my heart twice.”
“I’m pretty sure if he fucks this up, Shane will kill him for you. He’s not an advocate for third chances.”
“Sounds like there’s a story there.”
“Ready for another go?” Noah asked, sidestepping my observation.
I nodded, stood up, and stretched my arms. One more try on the high bar.