Page 52 of Cold Feet
Cam immediately grinned and the two of them began cracking up before they could even get the punchline out, yelling in unison, "GUAKY-MOLO!", before exploding into riotous laughter.
It hadn't even been a full 24 hours and Cam already had an inside joke with my Aunt Margaret.
"What are your pet names for each other?" my mother asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she sipped her mimosa across the outdoor breakfast table. "I always think they say so much about a couple."
I froze mid-chew, my potato salad suddenly tasteless in my mouth. Pet names were something we had explicitly avoided discussing in our fake relationship planning session. I shot a panicked glance at Cam, who sat beside me radiating casual confidence.
Without missing a beat, Cam leaned forward with an easy smile. "Well, I call her Cupcake Queen because she loves these lavender cupcakes from Sweet Caroline's downtown. She practically goes into a trance when she eats them. It's adorable."
My mother clasped her hands together, delighted. "Oh, that's precious! What about you, sweetheart? What do you call Cam?"
All eyes turned to me. I felt heat creeping up my neck as my mind went completely blank. What would I call Cam if we were really together? Honey? Baby? Sweetheart? All too generic and unconvincing.
"Um, I..." I stammered, feeling Zayne's suspicious gaze boring into me from across the table.
Cam slipped his arm around my shoulders, his thumb rubbing reassuringly against my skin. Completely useless, as Cam's touch had literallyneverhelped my ability to think clearly.
"She's shy about it," he said, his voice warm with affection. "It's cute."
That only intensified my mother's curiosity. "Oh, now you have to tell us!"
Cornered and desperate, I blurted out the only thing that came to mind – the ridiculous name I'd mockingly threatened him with during our planning session.
"Puck Daddy," I admitted, my face burning. "I call him Puck Daddy."
There was a split second of silence before my father let out a roar of laughter, followed by my aunt and uncle. My mother's eyes widened before she joined in.
Zayne rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Jesus Christ," he muttered, stabbing at his potato salad.
“Did she just say Fu…” inquired Aunt Margaret. My mother gasped in faux outrage and swatted Aunt Margaret with her napkin.
"Puck Daddy?" my younger cousin Emma repeated, giggling. "Like hockey?"
"Exactly like hockey," Cam confirmed, looking entirely too pleased with the situation. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to my temple, whispering, "Nice save, Cupcake Queen."
"I love it!" my mother declared between fits of laughter.
I caught Cam's eye as my family kept giggling. His smile was genuine, his eyes twinkling with mischief. And I couldn't help but smile back, despite being absolutely mortified.
The afternoon mellowed into evening, the sun beginning its slow descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in increasingly vivid shades of pink and gold. Gradually, the extended family began to disperse – Nora and Ben leaving first with their exhausted children, followed by Aunt Margaret and Uncle Pete, who had dinner reservations at a restaurant down the Key. Nana insisted on hugging Cam tightly before she left, whispering something in his ear that made his eyes widen before he smiled at her with genuine warmth.
"We'll be back tomorrow for the bonfire," Aunt Margaret promised, kissing my cheek. "Can't wait to hear more about this whirlwind romance." She winked at Cam. "I've got more questions for you, young man."
"Looking forward to it," Cam replied with a grin that made my aunt giggle like a schoolgirl.
I helped my mom put dinner on the table: A huge pot jambalaya with spicy shrimp, warm corn bread and a giant spinach salad. My dad, brothers, and Cam made quick work of the meal as usual — everyone laughing and chatting animatedly.
As we finished dinner and the house quieted, I found myself drawn to the beach, seeking a moment of solitude after the social marathon of the day. I slipped off my sandals at the edge of the dunes, relishing the feel of cool white sand between my toes as I carefully stepped around a sea turtle's nest marked with wooden stakes and yellow tape, and made my way down toward the water's edge.
TheGulf was calm, barely a ripple disturbing its surface as it reflected the kaleidoscope of the sunset. I stopped where the sand met the water, letting the gentle waves lap at my feet, and took a deep breath of salt-tinged air.
"Room for one more?"
I turned to find Cam standing a few feet away, his hands in the pockets of his shorts, the breeze ruffling his hair. His linen shirt billowed in the breeze, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of tanned skin beneath. It was terribly unfair that he was so hot. And kind. With the fiery sunset illuminating his face, he looked like something out of a travel magazine: the quintessential beach dream come to life.
"It's a free beach," I said, though my heart sped up at his presence. "How'd you escape the Decker inquisition?"
"Your brother rescued me," he said, moving to stand beside me. "Zayne challenged Drake to a round of beach volleyball. I think it was partly to save me and partly to show off for Serena."
