Bender (The Core Four #1)(39)

“Blue…” His brown eyes looked nervous.

“Yeah.”

“What’re you doing?”

I wanted to know what was making him so nervous. He was listening to something that was making him hide from me. Determined, I was going to find out what it was. Playing it casual, I walked into the kitchen. Shrugging my shoulders, I picked up a ripe strawberry and took a bite. He was only a few feet away from me, watching me skeptically. “Nothing, just grabbing some breakfast before I leave to go to the mall.”

His shoulders visibly relaxed. “What are you going there for?”

Camden still had one ear bud in. I could hear the faint sound of music playing through the one dangling at his side. Pretending to reach for a banana I moved quickly. Grabbing the iPod out of his briefs I dashed around the counter and swiftly put one of the ear pieces in. His face blanched. He started to come toward me, but I put my hands up to stop him. Recognizing the voice singing I burst out laughing.

“Celine Dion? You’re listening to Celine Dion?”

“Yeah, so what?” He tried to let it roll off as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“So what? Camden, you’re not the type of dude that listens to the woman who helped make Titanic popular.” I kept giggling, and I could tell it was ruffling his feathers. “Are you a closet Celine fan, Cam?”

Shaking his head slightly, I could see light dancing behind his eyes. “I’m going to give you three seconds to come back over here and hand me my iPod like an adult, or I’m coming after you.”

“Oh come on. I swear, your little secret is safe with me.”

“One.” He stood with his hands braced on the counter.

Giggling I took a small step back. Dramatically lifting my arms I held them out to him. “Never let go, Jack.”

I saw a ghost of a smile cross his mouth. “Two.”

“I can totally find you tickets to see her in Vegas, if you love her that much.”

“I warned you. Three.”

I squealed and dashed for the dining room table. Making it to the other side before he caught me, I turned and saw him grinning from ear to ear. I was breathing heavy but enjoyed taunting him. “I guess I never would have pegged you for a ballad kind of guy. That’s sort of sweet.”

“You’re pushing your luck. I’m going to catch you, and when I do, you’re going to wish you’d handed the music over like a good girl.”

“It’s a good thing you won’t catch me then.”

We were in a staring contest. Who would jump first? Almost as if we moved at the same time, Camden hopped up onto the table and scrambled across it while I went running back toward the kitchen. A yelp came from my mouth, and I tossed the iPod over my shoulder, hoping he’d give this up if I gave him what he wanted. Arms came around my waist and lifted me in the air. He caught me. I was laughing so hard, I knew I couldn’t escape him.

“Gotcha.” He spun me around and walked me into the living room toward the couch.

My legs were swinging freely, and I tried to kick away from him. “Let me go.”

“Huh uh. For all I know, you’re going to run out of here and tell everyone that I like chick music.”

Chortling I said, “But you do like chick music.”

He dropped me onto the couch and came over the top of me to straddle me. “I swear to God, I will tickle you until I’m sure you’ll keep your mouth shut.”

I gasped. “You wouldn’t.”

He raised his hands like claws and wiggled his fingers. I started laughing before he even touched me. “Oh God no, please don’t. I hate being tickled.”

“Then tell me what I want to hear.”

“What do you want me to say?”

He lifted a brow at me. Those darn eyebrows always said so much. “You’re going to say, ‘Camden, I promise I won’t tell anybody what I heard today.’”

I let a few seconds pass by. “I am sure that Macie and Dodger won’t judge you for your eccentric musical tastes. In fact I’m sure they’d sing right along with…AAAAAHHHH!” I screamed as his fingers came down and wiggled against my armpits. I was laughing so hard tears were streaming from my eyes. “Stop, stop, stop!”

“Say it.” His voice was gruff but playful. He stopped moving.

Taking a deep breath I sang, “Near, far, wherever you are…” His fingers began their torture again. “Ahhhh okay, okay…I won’t say anything. Just stop! I swear I’m about to pee my pants! STOP!”

He chuckled. Leaning down to get closer to my face he said, “You promise?”

There was a crackling in the air. All of the playfulness was being sucked back and something else was taking its place. “I promise,” I stated sincerely.

A calloused finger came up, brushing down my cheek and stopping under my chin. “So beautiful,” he whispered.

He continued to hover over me. His eyes seemed to look from my eyes, cheeks, nose, lips, and back again, as though he were searching for something. My heart began pounding in my chest, and I was certain he could hear it. Swallowing, I tentatively asked, “What’s happening here?” I’d said it so quietly, I barely even heard myself.

“What do you mean?” he said, clearing his throat slightly.