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I pick up the cup of tea, take a sip and it tastes awful. Grimacing, I push it away and lock my gaze on Danica.
“Start from the beginning. All I know is you like Camden and he likes you, so catch me up.”
“It’s a bit more thanlike,” she murmurs.
“On your part?”
“I think on both our parts. The feelings have gotten strong, but it’s complicated, for him more than me.”
I pick up a scone. “Let me guess… he feels he’s in Mitch’s shadow and can’t handle that.”
She shakes her head. “On the contrary, no. We’ve had those talks and yes, I think he had some insecurities in the beginning, but he trusts that I don’t compare. Camden knows what I had with Mitch was amazing, and what I have with him is amazing.”
“Then what’s his problem?”
Danica shrugs. “He wants us to see each other secretively. He’s not ready for the team to know about us. Thinks it will cause waves and people will judge and not understand.”
“So what? I mean… if y’all have feelings for each other and they’re genuine and deep… what does it matter what anyone else thinks?”
Even as the words come out, I realize they could apply to me and Bain. We’re hiding in the shadows, too, because we don’t want Drake to know. He wouldn’t understand that we’re just fine being casual.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Danica says with frustration. “I’m confident that I should be able to move on with my life in any way I see fit. I loved Mitch with all my heart and I love his memory. That will never change. But I’m allowed to be happy again and I will be. I’m just afraid it’s not going to be with Camden.”
“The whole teammate thing is the complicating factor.” Again, that tidbit could apply to me and Bain. “I wonder if he’s talked to any of them. I mean, I know for one, Drake would never have a problem with you two dating. I bet most would be fine with it.”
“I think you’re right, especially since most of Mitch’s friends…” Her words fade because she doesn’t need to say that most of Mitch’s friends died when the plane went down.
I hate this is causing her so much pain. “It’s nobody’s fucking business who we allow into our hearts, Danica.”
“I know. I agree.”
My anger isn’t only for the situation. It’s for the man making it difficult on her. “Camden should know it too.”
“He knows it.” Her expression morphs into one of pain and heartache. “He knows it and believes it, but he’s too afraid to go for it.”
“Then fuck him,” I growl. “Metaphorically, of course.”
Danica leans back in her chair, no anger at all in her demeanor. “I can’t be mad, though. I understand why he’s nervous about the entire situation. It’s a legit worry.”
I shake my head, considering the scone still in my hand, and the thought of eating it has no appeal. “Those things are dry as fuck.” I toss the biscuit down and wipe my fingers on a napkin. “I’m confused. Are we mad at him or not?”
She’s unable to contain her laughter. “I’m not mad. Disappointed. Also understanding. Sad. Worried I made a bad decision in parting ways.”
“Now I understand why you said you’re fucked in the head.”
Danica sips at her tea, but I don’t miss the wobble of her lower lip or the sheen in her eyes. “What if… what if the reason he doesn’t want anyone to know is that this isn’t serious for him? I’m… convenient.”
“Do you really believe that?” I ask gently. “Because you’re a good judge of character, Danica. I don’t know that you could miss something like that and Camden seems like a nice guy.”
“I told him if he changes his mind… he knows where to find me.”
“Well, there you go. He’ll come around.”
“And if he doesn’t, then I’ll know that it wasn’t as special as I thought it was.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Kiera asks, crossing her arms on the table. “Do we set you up with someone hot and rub it in his face? Drive him wild with jealousy so he knows what he lost?”
Danica snorts so loud, patrons at the next table look at us. “While that does sound fun, you know I’m not the type to do that. I think I’m going to have to move on from the loss, the same way I did after Mitch died. While it’s two different circumstances, it still hurts.”
