“I’m sorry if I was bad,” she said quietly.
I stopped panting and looked at her in shock. The moon was high in the sky, illuminating her swollen lips and cheeks flushed pink. But what was most prominent was the expression on her face. She looked embarrassed.
“Bad? What do you mean?”
“Well, I don’t have much experience with kissing outside of a game of spin the bottle when I was fifteen,” she admitted shyly. Hesitation dimmed her eyes. “I’m sure you’re used to kissing girls who’ve had more practice. If you don’t want to kiss me anymore, I would completely understand.”
Eighteen years old and never been kissed–and I mean really kissed. Teenage party games didn’t count.
Fuck…she’s so innocent. Was every guy she met a fool?
That heart-shaped mouth of hers begged to be kissed… and often. She dropped her head, almost as if she were too nervous to look me in the eye.
“Cadence, look at me. What you are in innocent and sweet, and so pretty that I can’t even see straight. You are beauty looking back at me and I’ve never wanted to kiss anyone more than I want to kiss you. I really hope you’ll let me do it again.”
Her eyes brightened.
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
I leaned down and kissed her again. Summoning every ounce of willpower I could obtain, I pulled her small body tight to mine. I delved in deeper, trying to convey a message that said I wanted her. Only her. No kiss had ever felt so good. Tasted so sweet. I could kiss her for days and never tire of it.
It was wrong of me to want her, especially since I knew it could never last. If I continued to see her, we could only have the summer. The problem was, she didn’t know that. Yet at that moment, with Cadence in my arms, everything felt right. The future, no matter how bleak, didn’t seem to matter.
8
CADENCE
I walked down the instrument supply aisle in The Flourish and scanned the shelves. Running my finger down the list attached to my clipboard, I matched it with product holes on the shelves. Satisfied the supply re-order checklist was complete, I headed over to the cash register where my friend Joy was working behind the counter.
Joy was a year older than I was and had been working at Camp Riley for the past three summers. We had gotten to know each other while working side-by-side in the camp store. While the students were in lessons or rehearsals during the day, we often had long hours with not much to do other than chat our days away behind the counter. As a result, she and I had become fast friends almost right from the get-go.
“Next year, remind me to tell my momma to add another section to the student application. We need a list of the specific instruments they plan to bring and the replacement parts,” I told Joy. “I can’t seem to keep size four clarinet reeds in stock for more than a few days. Last year, it was the three and a half size.”
Joy laughed, flipping one of her braided cornrows over her shoulder and leaned against the doorjamb to the stockroom.
“It’s all that practicing they do around the campfires at night. I know because their ruckus keeps me up too late!”
I pursed my lips in a frown.
“I haven’t heard them. Lights out is supposed to be at ten. Do I need to get on the camp leaders about it?”
“Nah,” she waved off. “Girl, you know me. I like to be asleep by nine. Besides, you couldn’t pay me to be outdoors at night around here. All those mosquitos! No thank you!”
I laughed at her aversion to the outdoors. Originally from Baltimore, Joy was a city girl through and through. When she began working summers here, her plan was to only stick around for two seasons. She wanted the experience to help her chances at getting into George Washington University’s School of Music. Why she was back here for a third year in a row was a mystery to me.
“Oh, speaking of mosquitos, that reminds me. Bug spray is a little low on the shelves. Are there any cases left in the stockroom?”
Joy leaned back and poked her head into the room. After a quick glance around, she looked back at me and shook her head.
“Looks like only a half case is left. You should probably order more.”
I opened my mouth to ask her how many cases she thought we should order, but closed it when I heard the bells above the main entrance to The Flourish chime.
Fitz came strolling in, his steps lined with power and purpose. Sweat from a hard day’s work in the Virginia sun caused his t-shirt to cling to his torso outlining the six-pack beneath. His face was tanner than it was when he first arrived at camp and somehow seemed to make the chiseled lines of his face and hard jaw all that much more defined.
His eyes met mine, staring with a dissecting gray gaze that said he had a secret. I swallowed, and my heart nearly sank to my knees when he stepped up to the counter.
“Afternoon, ladies,” he said, his mouth turned up on one side, offering me a glimpse of the crooked grin that caused little butterfly flutters in my belly. “Good to see you again, Cadence.”
Joy looked at me in surprise. Quickly, I explained.
“Joy, this is Fitz. He’s one of the guys working maintenance with Daddy this summer.”
I tossed her a knowing look. I had told Joy about Fitz and Devon the day after they arrived. I warned her they were troublemakers who we needed to keep a watchful eye on. What I didn’t tell her was I kissed one of them last night. A heat began to crawl up my neck from the memory. A part of me still couldn’t believe it had happened. I wasn’t the sort of girl to kiss boys who I barely knew. It was wrong, yet with Fitz, it seemed oh-so-right. The whole thing felt like a dream.
“Nice to meet you, Joy,” Fitz acknowledged with a quick nod.
“Likewise,” Joy responded before turning to me. “I was just about to run over to the bathhouse and check the supplies over there. I’ll make a list of anything that needs to be ordered. Will you watch the register while I’m gone?”
“Sure thing, Joy. Thanks for saving me the trip.”
Once Joy left, I walked behind the counter, put down the clipboard and tucked the pencil I had been using behind my ear. Fitz just stood there, studying my every move, not saying a word. It was completely unnerving. My stomach dipped, wishing he didn’t look so damn good. He was all temptation and sin, making me want to dip my fingers right in and experience exactly what it would taste like.
“So,” he eventually said. He rocked back on his heels, almost appearing nervous. For some reason, I found it charming.
“So… what?” I asked when he didn’t say more.
“I’m not sure what time you get off here, but I just finished for the day,” he began.
The bells for the door chimed again, interrupting whatever else he was about to say. Rachel Kane, one of the camp leaders, sauntered in. She wasn’t wearing the standard issued Camp Riley t-shirt. Instead, she wore a skin-tight red University of Alabama t-shirt that had been cut off at the bottom, revealing way too much of her flat tanned stomach. The words ‘Roll Tide’ arced across the barely-there cotton covering her chest. Her jean shorts didn’t leave much to the imagination either, putting even Daisy Duke herself to shame.
I frowned and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearing five which meant lessons and rehearsals ended an hour ago. That might explain her inappropriate attire.
“Hey, Fitz,” she drawled out in a thick southern accent.
She made her way over to where Fitz stood, her hips swaying. She tossed him a coy smile and flipped her glossy brown hair over her shoulder in an overly flirtatious manner. I narrowed my gaze, not liking the way she was coming up on him, even if I had no business being jealous.
“Um, hey?” he replied questioningly. He glanced in my direction. I just shrugged and began to busy myself needlessly by straightening items on the checkout counter.
“A bunch of us are going into town later to check the local bars. Want to come along?” Rachel asked him.
Fitz shook his head in confusion.
�
�Ah, I’m sorry. I’m terrible with names. I know I’ve seen you around, but I don’t remember your name.”
I had to stifle a smile at that. He didn’t even know who she was. Good.
“Oh, how silly of me. Devon mentions you so often, I feel like I know you somehow,” she gushed and placed a hand on his shoulder. I rolled my eyes. “I’m Rachel. I’m a music instructor and the leader over at Clarinet Chalet.”
“Well, it’s nice to officially meet you, Rachel.”
She moved slightly to the left, positioning herself, so she was square with him. Leaving one hand to linger on his shoulder, she placed the other on his arm. I nearly grimaced.
For crying out loud, could she be any more obvious?
“So, what do you say? Want to come out with us tonight? Devon will be there too,” she pushed.
Fitz took a step back, putting distance between himself and the hussy who was standing way too close. He glanced in my direction, but I quickly averted my eyes.
“Actually, I kind of already have plans tonight, Rachel.”
“Oh, really?” she whined. She stuck out her lower lip in a pout. It was so pathetic and made me want to vomit. I couldn’t stand it when girls acted that way.
“Yeah,” Fitz confirmed. “I’m meeting someone over at Creator Hall for dinner, then we’ll probably chill for a bit afterward.”
I raised my eyebrows, my interest suddenly piqued.
“That’s too bad, Fitz. Who are you meeting if you don’t mind me asking?”
Fitz tsked at her.
“Sorry, Rachel, can’t tell you that. But you can tell Devon that maybe I’ll catch him next time.”
I struggled to keep the smirk off my face. Secretly, I was thrilled Fitz rejected her advance.
“Oh, well. Your loss,” Rachel told him with a shrug. Walking over to the row of refrigerator cases, she opened one of the doors and pulled out a sixteen-ounce bottle of Mountain Dew. Taking her sweet old time, she proceeded to peruse the magazine rack. After settling on one, she came back over to us and placed the items on the counter. I looked down at the magazine she selected. Apparently, Brad was over Gwyneth and had moved on to Jennifer.
“Is that all today?” I asked.
She simply nodded, and I cashed her out on the vintage antique register. When I began to place the items in a small paper bag, she stopped me.
“I don’t need a bag,” she said. Removing the bottle, I handed it to her. She opened the top and took a long swig. Scooping up her magazine, she glanced back and forth between me and Fitz, eyes lingering on Fitz for a moment longer. “Y’all have a nice day now.”
“Thanks. You too,” I said cheerily. This time, I didn’t hide my grin as she turned to sashay out the way she had come in.
“Sorry about that,” Fitz said after the door closed behind her.
“About what?”
“Rachel. I swear, I’ve never talked to her before in my life.”
“That much was obvious!” I laughed.
Silence fell again. The air seemed to buzz with a charge of unexplainable energy. I felt pinned to the spot, enraptured by those gray eyes that were watching me so intently. I licked my lips, preparing to say something–anything to cut through the awkwardness. Fitz beat me to it.
“Eh, well, anyway…” he trailed off and did that rocking thing on his heels again. “About what I said to Rachel. You know, about having plans to grab dinner with someone later?”
“Yes.”
“What do you say? Want to hang out? I thought we could grab a bite, then head back up to the lake.”
Oh my God. This boy, this older, gorgeous boy, was officially asking me out.
My body screamed to say yes, but I knew I couldn’t. My parents would never approve of me seeing a member of the staff even if he wasn’t technically on the payroll. There were rules. My parents were trusting me to take on more this year. I had a responsibility, one that didn’t include being accused of favoritism by other members of the staff.
“Fitz, as much as I’d like to, I can’t. It wouldn’t look good if we were seen hanging out together. I mean, technically I’m your boss.”
He raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Yeah, I suppose now that you mention it. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
His face fell, and I scrambled to think of something fast–anything that would allow us to see each other again. Then I remembered my secret place.
“I can meet you at the lake though,” I added quickly.
He grinned and leaned against the counter, cool and confident in that James Dean sort of way. Anxious flutters tickled in my belly.
“Yeah? What time?”
“How does eight sound? It will give me time to eat and get an hour of schoolwork in.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll bring some snacks.” He turned away and headed up the snack aisle. When he returned, he raised both hands. One held a bag of Bugles, the other a bag of Doritos. “Have a preference?”
“Both work for me. I can bring the drinks,” I offered.
Just as I had with Rachel, I rang up the snacks and placed them in a paper bag. When I looked back at Fitz, he was watching me intently. I handed him the bag and he took it with a slight nod.
“Thanks. I guess I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Yeah,” was all I managed. All this nervous excitement seemed to have hindered my vocabulary.
When he turned to walk away, I impulsively came out from behind the counter and walked with him to the door. Once we reached it, he turned to me. His mouth tilted up on one side before turning into a full-blown smile. The corners of his eyes crinkled, and those deep grays seemed to sparkle with mischief.
“I can’t wait to see you later, Cadence.”
I smiled back and bit my lip nervously.
“Me too.”
“Don’t do that,” he quietly chided.
“Don’t do what?”
He reached up and traced my bottom lip that was still stuck between my teeth.
“Make me want to kiss you again, right here where anyone walking by can see.”
My skin tingled from his touch before he all too quickly pulled his thumb away. Something heavy gripped at my heart. I didn’t understand my reaction to him, but I couldn’t stop the rush of need that engulfed my senses. His gray eyes burned into mine and I sucked in a breath when I noticed him leaning in. Instead of kissing me like I thought he would, he simply pecked my cheek lightly and headed out the door.
Stunned, I reached up to touch where his lips had brushed. My heart began to pound. Visions of childhood cartoons came to mind–the ones where the cartoon’s heart was visibly beating out of their chest. I could almost see the hearts in the air around my head.
My head shouted warnings. I was acting ridiculously love-sick. This wasn’t good. After only one kiss, I was clearly in over my head. I had very little experience with boys. And Fitz… well, I was fairly certain he’d been with more than his fair share of girls. Plus, he was four years older than me. Even if he weren’t a member of the staff, that fact alone would make my parents absolutely freak.
However, my heart didn’t want to listen to my head. There was a reason why I was drawn to Fitz like I’d never been to anyone else, and I was determined to find out what it was.
9
FITZ
I paced along the edge of the lake, splashing water as I went. I had left my shoes on the dock, along with the bag of snacks I bought earlier at The Flourish. A quick glance at my watch said that it was ten minutes past eight. I scanned the tree line, hoping to see Cadence.
Nothing.
It was bizarre. Never in my life had I been so anxious to spend time with a girl. When I had gone into The Flourish earlier that day, my intention was just to grab a soda and be on my way. If I happened to catch a glimpse of her while I was there, so be it. What I didn’t expect was to be so fucking turned on by the way she stood there with her little clipboard, looking all efficient and business-like. With her golden h
air swept back into a practical braid and a pencil tucked behind her ear, it was all kinds of sexy. I couldn’t resist. Talking to her, asking her to meet me tonight–I knew it was a mistake. After last night’s unexpected kiss, I should have stopped everything before any kind of emotional attachment occurred, but I just couldn’t do it. There was something about the way she pulled me in with those sparkling emerald eyes.
Trying to tamp down the worry that she wouldn’t even show up, I picked up a flat rock and flung it across the water. One. Two. Three skips. I frowned and picked up another. That time, I managed seven skips. Just as I was about to squat down and search for a third, I heard a bark in the distance. Looking up, I saw Cadence and her furry friend emerging from the woods.
Relief flooded through me at the sight of her. She was carrying the Boombox again, along with the sodas she promised to bring and what appeared to be folded-up towels. She struggled as she approached, barely able to juggle everything she brought while holding Dahlia’s leash. I rushed to her side.
“Here, let me help you,” I offered, taking the soda and bulky stereo from her arms.
“Sorry I’m late. I thought I could carry it all, but with Dahlia pulling on the leash, she made it hard.” She bent to unhook the leash from the dog’s collar and scratched her behind the ears. Bringing her nose to Dahlia’s face, she let her lick her on the cheek. When she spoke again, her voice took on a sweeter tone as she lightly scolded her pet. “Maybe if you’d stop chasing rabbits, I would ditch the leash. But you need to learn how to behave first. Don’t you, girl?”
I smiled wistfully as I watched the affectionate exchange, suddenly overcome with a wave of nostalgia over the dog I had lost so many years ago. Perhaps my father was right–maybe I was too soft. Cadence seemed to bring out all kinds of mushy emotions that I didn’t even know I was capable of feeling.
Cadence Untouched: A Dahlia Project Novel Page 7