Bender (The Core Four #1)(16)

I HADN’T GOTTEN MUCH SLEEP last night due to a certain male in the house inducing butterflies in my stomach and giving my brain whiplash. Being up before Camden wasn’t an issue this morning. I decided to stop tossing and turning at around five and went downstairs to read a book. I heard creaking upstairs about an hour later, and it didn’t take long till a groggy looking Camden came trudging into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. He was wearing a pair of dark grey sweats that curved over his perfectly toned ass. His upper body was bare of any clothing. The defined muscles in his back moved as he filled the pot with water. All tan and smooth skin, my mouth went dry with his every movement. Why must he walk around half naked and be all delicious? I nearly groaned when he turned around and faced the living room. He had yet to see me, and I was thankful because it spared me a few extra seconds to scrutinize his every inch. Camden leaned down and placed his elbows on the counter, resting his head in his hands. He was a picture of perfection. Looking at him now, I only hoped that I’d be able to speak to him without making an issue out of how he’d treated me during my first week here. The coffee pot behind him beeped, and he rubbed his hand through his unruly hair and tugged at the ends. Standing up, he was about to turn when he caught me looking at him.

“Morning,” I said shyly. I looked down to the book I’d closed and rested on my lap.

When he didn’t reciprocate my greeting I glanced up at him. His dark eyes were on me, but I couldn’t tell what kind of mood he was in. “What are you doing up?” His normally deep voice came out rough and scratchy.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

He regarded me before turning away. “Coffee?”

“Please,” I said, getting up from the couch. I walked over to the island and sat down. He poured two cups. He made my coffee just as I had the other day; splash of cream and two teaspoons of sugar. I hadn’t realized he paid that close of attention.

He passed the mug to me and I said, “Thanks,” enveloping my hands around the almost too hot cup. The silence was making me squirm, and I felt as though I needed to start this conversation before I chickened out. “Are you always up this early?” I took a slow sip of the steaming joe. He’d made it perfectly.

I noticed his eyes were watching my mouth as I licked any stray drops of coffee from them. “Usually.”

“Are you going for a run?”

“Probably.”

“You’re quite the conversationalist in the mornings,” I mused sarcastically.

He grunted at me. “And you talk too much.”

Was he teasing me, or was he being serious? This was exactly why I needed to talk to him. I knew nothing about Camden, and I didn’t really know how to gauge his behavior and responses. I gave him a small smile to show that if he was teasing I picked up on it. If he wasn’t, well, at least I seemed to feign indifference.

“Just trying to figure you out.”

He set his mug down, and he leaned against the opposite counter from me. His arms folded over his chest making him appear even larger than he already looked. He crossed his ankles, and I noticed his bare feet. I swallowed, hard. What was it about a man in sweats or jeans with bare feet that was so tantalizing?

“Alright Blue, what do you want to know?”

I raised my eyebrow at him and took another sip of coffee. “Well, for starters, what’s with the nickname? You’ve barely spoken a few short sentences to me since I moved in here.”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Obviously not,” I retorted, being a smartass.

“Next question,” he said, disregarding the first one.

“You’re not going to answer?”

“Nope.”

I grumbled under my breath. I noticed the side of his mouth twitched up but quickly went away. Did I just catch him trying not to smile at me?

“Fine. How about telling me about your gym?”

He seemed to roll his eyes at the question. “Dodger told you?”

“No, not really. He said you and your brothers owned one, and that you were the manager of it. That’s all I know. I don’t know where it’s at, or anything about it.”

He sighed and released his arms. “I’m surprised. Dodger likes to run his mouth. The gym belonged to my dad until he decided to retire early and pass it along to us. He and my mom wanted to travel so the gym is now ours. I was the one who showed the most interest in it, more than my other siblings. It’s the one a few blocks over, The Dugout.” He shrugged. “Well, except for Dodge, but he’s not interested in managing the place, he just likes to train.”

I felt like I had been slapped stupid. This was the most that Camden had spoken to me since, well… ever. What was even more surprising was him being so forthcoming with the information. I only expected responses from him similar to what he’d given me so far this morning. Short and clipped.

“Hmmm, I’ve actually driven past it a few times. But I’m catching a theme here; The Dugout, Camden, Dodger… your parents have a thing for baseball?”

“You’re quick.” His mouth tipped up in a smile.

“So are your other two brothers also named after something baseball-ish?”

“They are.”

We’re back to being short. “Care to share?”