Page 96 of Cold Feet
The clip ended with Zayne's reluctant nod and what appeared to be a grudging hug between the two men.
I stared at the screen, my heart in my throat, heat flooding my face. He'd told Zayne. He'd told him the truth – not just about our past, but about his feelings. After ten years of silence, of respecting Zayne's "hands off my sister" rule, Cam had finally claimed what he wanted.
Me.
I handed the phone back to Katie, trying to compose myself. "I... hadn't seen that."
Her eyes widened with disbelief. "Seriously? It's got like two million views already. TikTok is losing its mind."
"I've been a little preoccupied," I grinned, grateful when my office phone rang, saving me from further explanation.
"I'll bet," she nodded with a knowing smile. "I think I want to be you when I grow up."
I retreated to my office, closing the door behind me. For a moment I just stood there, processing. Cam's words replayed in my mind:It's always been her. She's the only one.The genuine emotion in his voice, the way he'd stood up to Zayne. It was everything I hadn't known I needed to hear.
My fingers unconsciously found the sapphire ring, twisting it around my finger.
A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts.
"Lana?" Katie peeked in. "Sorry. They're ready for you in the conference room."
I nodded, smoothing my skirt and squaring my shoulders. Whatever this emergency was, I could handle it. Especially today. Today, I could handle anything.
The conference room fell silent as I entered. Around the polished table sat Marcus Thompson, our general manager; Coach Sully; Coach Rocco; and Ryan Keller, Cam's agent – slick and sharp as always in his tailored suit.
And there, at the far end, was Cam himself.
Wait, what was this?
My stride faltered slightly at the sight of him. He’d clearly just rolled out of bed and he looked Sunday morning sexy in dark gray shorts and a well-worn Regrettes t-shirt. Hot AF. Our eyes met, and for a brief second I saw the same warmth from last night, a flicker of heat that made my pulse quicken before either of us had said a word.
But something was off. His expression was guarded, his posture tense. A flicker of unease ran through me, cooling the warmth that had been building to a crescendo since last night.
"Lana, thanks for joining us," Marcus said, gesturing to an empty chair, conspicuously not next to Cam's. "We've got some developments to discuss."
I took my seat, setting my tablet in front of me like a shield. "What's going on?"
Cam glanced at Ryan, who leaned forward, all business. Ryan's perfectly whitened teeth flashed in a practiced smile.
"First, the good news: Redline has confirmed they're proceeding with Cam's endorsement deal. The signing is set for Thursday as planned."
Everyone aroundthe table clapped and cheered, and relief washed through me. Our plan had worked. Cam would get his multi-million dollar deal, and the Slashers would benefit from the association. Mission accomplished.
"That's excellent," I said, allowing myself a small smile in Cam's direction. He nodded but didn't return the smile, his jaw tight.
The unease in my stomach intensified, a cold weight settling there.What was going on?
"However," Ryan continued, his voice taking on the careful cadence of a man delivering complicated news, "there's been another development."
Marcus cleared his throat, leaning forward slightly. "Following last night's performance, the Cup win, the Redline deal, Montreal has expressed serious interest in acquiring Cam in a trade and sign deal. Montreal has presented an offer that is... well, unprecedented."
The room seemed to tilt slightly beneath me. Montreal. One of our biggest rivals, a storied franchise with deep pockets and a rabid fanbase. And they wanted Cam.
I felt the blood drain from my face, my fingers suddenly cold. My mind raced, attempting to process the implications. Cam in Montreal. Cam leaving the Slashers. Leaving St. Pete.
Leavingme.
"As you all know," Marcus continued, his tone measured as he avoided looking directly at me, "Cam's contract with us expires at the end of this season. We'd certainly love to keep him, but after winning the Cup last season, we're going to have major challenges with the salary cap next year. This might be the way to solve that problem."
