‘Until I lost consciousness?’
‘You would have come round in a minute or so. It’s not like I knocked you over the head or anything; just a little tug on the carotid artery, that’s all.’
‘That’s all? That’s all?’ Cam moved closer to me and something in his eyes changed. The very serious conversation we’d just been having seemed to have been tossed out the window, and now something else was happening. The same thing that usually happened.
‘It’s nothing you wouldn’t have done to me!’ I accused him.
He looked like he was thinking about this for a moment, and then he started nodding. ‘Perhaps. But perhaps not.’ And then something flashed over his face as he looked down at my exposed neck.
‘What are you doing?’ I asked, even though instinctively I knew. His approach was an upcoming attack, so I backed away, readying myself. Then—
‘What the . . .!’ I spluttered as my entire body was thrown backwards into the water. When I came back up, he was standing there with a fat smile on his face. I slapped the surface in front of me, sending droplets flying into his face, but this only made him laugh.
‘Is that all you have?’ He smiled, beckoning me with his hands, in that way we’d done with each other a million times before on the wrestling mat.
‘No, I have much more. Muchmore.Question is, can you take my more?’ I got into a combat pose.
‘Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth . . .’ Cam said.
‘Cameron, Cameron, Cameron,’ I echoed.
‘Calling each other by our full names now, Elizabeth Edna Brown?’
‘How do you know my middle name?’ I asked, totally embarrassed. Edna had been my grandmother’s name, and I hated it, not to mention went to great lengths to conceal it.
‘I know everything about you, Lizzy. And yes, I’m also probably the only person in the world who can take your special brand ofmore.’
I thought about his statement for a second before nodding my head. ‘That’s true, and you never went easy on me.’
‘I would’ve been doing you a disservice if I had. I mean, look at you now. I’m not going to lie, I feel a flicker of pride deep inside.’
‘Pride! Well, that’snotpatronising at all, implying you had something to do with my “creation”.’ I gestured the quote marks.
‘Didn’t I?’
‘You’re just saying that to rile me up.’
‘It’s so easy to do. I’ve always known what buttons to press when it comes to you, sweetie.’
‘Swee—’ I started, but quickly stopped. ‘No. I’m not falling for that.’
He laughed. ‘See, that’s what I mean.’
‘Are you saying I’m predictable?’
He shook his head. ‘No, you’re anything but predictable. Trust me, I’ve never met anyone less predictable and more challenging than you. Ever.’ And then he did something completely unexpected. He thrust his hand into the space between us.
‘Truce?’ he asked.
‘Truce from what?’
‘From this, you and me always fighting each other.’
‘Um . . .’ I scrutinised his hand for a moment. ‘How do I know this isn’t another trap? The second I put my hand in yours, you toss me over your shoulder or dunk me.’
‘How do I know you’re not the one planning to do that to me?’ he asked.
‘I kind of was.’
