Page 34 of Cold Feet
"Right." My brother looked between us, his expression unreadable. "Well, as long as we're all on the same page."
Cam cleared his throat. "About Siesta Key..."
"I'm not covering for you," Zayne said immediately. "I won't lie to Mom and Dad."
"We're not asking you to lie," I assured him. "Just... don't volunteer the truth."
Zayne considered this, then sighed heavily. "Fine. But PG only, understand? And separate rooms."
I winced. "Mom already said we're in the good bedroom."
My brother's face darkened. "I don't want to hear it. Just… " he made a vague, grossed out gesture, " …keep things appropriate. And if anyone asks me directly, I'm not lying."
"Fair enough," Cam agreed, looking relieved that the immediate crisis had passed.
"And when this is over, you both come clean. To the whole family. No collateral damage."
I nodded, some of the tension easing from my shoulders. Having Zayne's tacit approval, well, perhaps "approval" was too strong a word, but at least his lack of active opposition, made the whole charade seem more manageable somehow.
"Thank you," I said softly.
Zayne grunted in acknowledgment, then checked his watch. "It's late. I'm heading to bed. Try not to get engaged to anyone else before morning."
He moved to the door, pausing to give Cam one last warning look. "Remember what I said, Murphy."
"Crystal clear," Cam replied.
As the door closed behind him, I exhaled slowly, sinking back onto the bed. "Well, that was..." I trailed off, searching for the right word.
"Terrifying?" Cam offered, loosening his tie. "Your brother is intimidating on the ice, but off it? Whole other level."
Despite everything, I laughed. "He's protective. Always has been."
"Oh, I'm familiar." Cam hesitated, then sat beside me on the edge of the bed, careful to maintain a respectful distance. "For what it's worth, I meant what I said. I won't let this hurt you."
The sincerity in his voice made me look up, finding his eyes already on me, warm and earnest in a way that made my chest tighten.
"I know," I said softly, and was surprised to realize I meant it.
We sat in silence for a moment, the events of the day settling between us. The awards ceremony, the dancing, the almost-kiss in the hallway. It was a lot to process.
"So," Cam finally said, his tone deliberately lighter. "Siesta Key. Your family home. Should I be worried?"
I welcomed the change in subject, pushing away the lingering warmth of his nearness. "Terrified, actually. My entire extended family will be there. Aunts, uncles, cousins, my very unusual grandmother."
"Sounds intense."
"It is. We Deckers don't do anything halfway." I smiled ruefully. "Hope you're good at remembering names."
"I think I can handle the Decker family roster," he replied with a confidence that seemed genuine. "What else should I know?"
I considered this, absently twisting the ring on my finger. "My dad will pretend to read the newspaper while actually analyzing your every move. My mom will try to feed you until you burst. And my Aunt Margaret will absolutely try to get you drunk on her 'special punch' to extract embarrassing stories."
Cam laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "So, a typical family gathering."
"For the Deckers? Pretty much." I stifled a yawn, the emotional and physical toll of the day finally catching up with me.
Cam noticed and stood, adjusting his cuffs. "I should let you get some sleep. Big day tomorrow with the press breakfast."
