We all figured she was in for a big disappointment.
“So…why are you guys helping me?” I asked as Gwen feathered the compact brush across my cheeks. I appreciated that they wanted to make me over, but I also didn’t really get it.
“Because you’re our friend, silly. And we know you like Kyle,” Presley said. I started to protest, but she just laughed. “Don’t bother coming up with some lame excuse. You like him. It’s okay. At one point or another, all of us have liked him, so it’s expected. It’s like a camp ritual.”
Gwen and Presley laughed some more.
But I didn’t.
Was it typical of me that I fell into line and crushed on Kyle like all the rest of the girls? I liked him for his looks and nothing else, considering I didn’t really know him. So did that make me shallow? I wanted to get to know him better, but it was so hard. He was always with his friends. He hung out a lot at the pool or the lake. And I was never there.
I was too scared to go there.
“Is there, um…” My voice drifted off and I cleared my throat, my heart starting to pound when Gwen and Presley turned their curious gazes on me. “Is Kyle more than good-looking? Like, is he funny? Nice? Smart?”
Gwen winced. “Smart?” The look on her face said it all.
Maybe not.
“He says dumb stuff, and that makes us laugh,” Presley said like she was being helpful.
But that only made me feel worse.
“Listen, he’s very nice. Entertaining,” Gwen said, grabbing another makeup brush and waving it toward my face. “Now sit still. I need to finish your face. Pres, quit distracting her.”
I let her work her magic, my mind racing with possibilities. Most of them negative, like my fear of water possibly causing me to freak out. I needed to stay strong. I needed to act like tonight was no big deal.
I’d embrace it. Embrace me. Tonight I was going to wear makeup and a cute outfit and one of those bikinis I brought with me that still had the price tags on it and I was going to have fun. I was going to convince Kelsey to go with us and have fun, too. It could be done. It would be done.
I guaranteed it.
Chapter Five
JAKE
Everyone was out tonight.
I left the staff cabin around ten thirty to see a bunch of people milling about. More like sneaking around. I knew Brian and Hannah were meeting at the bonfire pit, so that wasn’t happening. I didn’t want to hang out on the volleyball court again. I wanted to go somewhere more private. Somewhere Lacey and I could really be alone.
Turning, I headed toward the lake, not surprised to see a small group clustered out on the dock, most of them sitting on the end, their legs swinging over the water. A girl squealed and soft laughter followed, but I ignored it. Most of them were around my age, but they were all campers. I couldn’t really hang out with them, since Uncle Bob frowned upon it. I noticed Kyle was among the group, and we were cool, but he was kind of a dipshit, so yeah. Not someone I really wanted to be friends with for the long term.
Worked out well, then, that I couldn’t.
I was about to go left when I collided with someone. A female someone, if the muffled “sorry” I heard was any indication. I grabbed hold of slender shoulders and set her away from me, surprise washing over me when I realized it was the new girl. The cute blonde with the swishing ponytail. I didn’t recognize her at first, what with all the makeup she was wearing and the fact that her hair was down, waving past her shoulders.
“You shouldn’t be out here,” I tell her, my voice low, like a warning. Helplessly I ran my thumbs across her soft skin, catching just beneath the sleeves of her T-shirt.
She frowned, pulling out of my grip. I let my arms fall at my sides, surprised that my fingers were still tingling from…what? Touching her? That was insane.
“Seriously, I could write you up,” I continued when she still said nothing. “You should go back to your cabin.”
Her lips parted, and my gaze fell to them. They were full. And glossy. And…tempting? “You can’t tell me what to do.”
I jerked my gaze from her mouth, surprise filling me at her defiant tone. Her eyes bugged out, like she’d just shocked herself, before she turned and ran toward the dock, her hair streaming behind her.
What the hell just happened?
“Hey, lover boy.”
I turned to see Lacey running up to me, nearly tackling me to the ground when she grabbed hold of me. She pressed her hand against the back of my neck and pulled me down for a kiss, but I broke away from her before our lips connected, taking a step back. “Not here, Lace,” I muttered, looking around to make sure no one saw us.
Specifically the blonde that I just ran into. And thought about kissing.
Had I lost my mind or what?
She frowned, her lips forming a little glossy pout. “Why do we have to meet in secret?”
“Aw, come on. Don’t you think it’s more fun that way?” I smiled, trying to convince her that what I said was true. I needed a distraction from the new girl, and Lacey could help with that.
But she just continued to pout, her hands on her hips as she glared at me. “It’s all we do, Jake. Sneak around after lights-out just so we can what? Make out for ten minutes? Then you tell me you have to go to sleep and you end up ditching me. Every single time.”
Damn, she was ruining my mood. “I just…I don’t want anyone to catch us, you know? I can’t have a bunch of gossip spread about me. About us,” I added. I didn’t want my uncle to find out I was doing this. He expected me to be some sort of example, which was laughable. And if I did something that pissed him off, he’d send me back to my dad—who’d send me back to court and that mean judge.
I didn’t need that sort of trouble. I needed to stay clean. Or at least, look clean.
Messing around with Lacey would be bad enough. Having…thoughts about that new camper was way out of line. And they were just thoughts. You shouldn’t be held accountable for thoughts, right?
“Well, everyone’s out tonight so…what? You want to call this off?” She curled her arms in front of her chest and studied me, waiting for an answer. “I don’t like being treated like a side piece.”
“Oh, come on. Like you’ve seen me with anyone else around here?” I’d been working so hard I hadn’t noticed anyone else—until tonight. The first week of camp with a new group was basically me running around at full speed and working from dawn until dusk. That I even made time to hang out with Lacey for a little bit was a big deal, not that she’d see it that way.
“I don’t know, but you sure don’t seem that interested in me.” She lifted her chin. “I could find someone else, you know.”
“Then go for it.” I didn’t need this. Not like we were a real couple. Funny, the sense of relief that suddenly flooded me. I didn’t like being drilled, especially by a girl I’d never see again once the summer was over.
Lacey’s gaze turned downright murderous. I bet she wasn’t the sort of girl who dealt much with rejection. “Fine. I will.” She stormed off, taking the same path the blonde just had and headed straight for the dock.
Rubbing the back of my neck, I watched her go, frustration making my stomach knot.
Women. They were freaking crazy.
…
ANNIE
I stopped at the beginning of the dock, my breath coming in quick, sharp bursts. I wanted to look back and see if Jacob was still there. But then again, I didn’t want him to see me checking for him, either. Would he assume I was scared by his threat? Or worse, that I liked him or something?
Because I so didn’t. He freaked me out—and made me angry. Who did he think he was? My father? Trying to say he’ll write me up or whatever? Everyone else was out tonight, but I was the one who would get in trouble?
I didn’t think so.
“Annie!”
I glanced up to see Kelsey coming toward me. “Hey,” I said weakly.
“Where were you?”
“I
had to go to the bathroom.” True, but I left out my running into Jacob. “Is Kyle here?” I asked, wincing the moment the words left my mouth. Could I be any more obvious?
“He is,” Kelsey said with a nod. She hooked her arm through mine. “Let’s go.”
Hesitation made my feet stick to the creaky wooden slats, and I glanced down. The water swirled below; I could actually see it, and all I could think about was falling through the weak slats. Plunging into the water. I sucked in a sharp breath, and Kelsey sent me a weird look, tugging on my arm. “You okay?”
My throat was dry, and I could feel the panic setting in. I took a deep, shuddering breath and inwardly commanded myself to start walking. And I did.
On shaky legs.
Kelsey dragged me along, the other girls coming to greet me, their smiles wide, their voices enthusiastic. I was ready to feel on top of the world tonight, and the moment I saw Kyle, my heart started to pick up speed.
Of course, he was gorgeous. Of course, he was dressed perfectly, the white T-shirt showing off his tanned skin. He laughed at something Presley said, and I fought the wave of jealousy that threatened. They were old friends. They could talk and laugh, though I wished he were talking and laughing with me.
“Come on,” Kelsey muttered as she took me over to where they stood. I said nothing, my brain scrambling to come up with something to say to Kyle.
“So hey. What happened?” Presley asked, her gaze on me. She had a tiny flask clasped in her hand, and she brought it to her lips, taking a big swig before handing it over to Kyle.
Shock coursed through me, though I didn’t know why. I fully expected them to smuggle alcohol onto the premises. I’d heard them talking earlier and knew there could be some here tonight. Though I didn’t want any of it. I wasn’t a drinker at all, and being this close to water? I didn’t want to lose control.
“What are you talking about?” I asked warily, noticing how Kyle’s lips shone with alcohol after he took a sip. He caught me staring and sent me a knowing smirk.
Blushing, I looked away.
“That guy. Fozzie’s nephew,” Presley said, her voice dropping an octave as she delivered that particular piece of juicy gossip. “You were talking to him out on the beach.”
Oh God. They saw that?
“He was actually touching you,” Presley continued, sounding the slightest bit…jealous? No way. “Why?”
Nerves buzzed in my stomach as everyone seemed to go quiet, all attention on me. Biting my lower lip, unable to look in Kyle’s direction, I said hesitantly, “I ran into him.”
“Okay,” Presley said slowly when I remained quiet. “And then?”
“He grabbed hold of me to make sure I wasn’t going to fall.” I took another deep breath, struggling to keep my voice steady. “Then he told me I shouldn’t be out here and he was going to write me up.”
“What an asshole,” Presley said, her big blue eyes wide.
“I know, right?” Everyone laughed and I smiled, the nerves settling somewhat. “I told him he couldn’t tell me what to do and came over here.”
“You did not,” Presley breathed, her gaze turning admiring. “So ballsy.”
“Very ballsy for a new girl,” Kyle drawled. He held the flask out toward me. “You should take a drink.”
“Um…” How to say no without looking like a total loser?
“There’s hardly any left.” Presley snatched the flask from his fingers and brought it to her lips. “I’m impressed, though, Annie. Next time I’ll make sure to bring enough to share with you.”
“Okay. Good.” I nodded, thankful I wouldn’t have to drink. The only time I’d ever had alcohol was a glass of champagne at my cousin Lydia’s wedding.
“Selfish,” Kyle muttered, shaking his head. “Our new girl had a traumatic experience with Jake the snake tonight. She needs something to calm her nerves.”
“Ew, did you really just call him Jake the snake?” Presley laughed. “You’re the snake, Kyle.”
“Am not,” he said, sounding like a sullen ten-year-old boy.
“He was kind of mean,” I added. Kelsey’s arm was still looped through mine, and she gave it a squeeze. “He looked…really angry.” And intense. So intense.
“Whatever.” Presley grinned and handed the flask back to Kyle. Guess there was more in there than she thought. “He’s hot, so I’d forgive him for being mean.”
“Is that all you care about, Pres?” Kyle asked, laughing before he took another drink. “Is if a guy is hot or not?”
“Pretty much,” she said, which only made Kyle laugh harder.
I laughed along with them, though it felt forced. And I couldn’t stop glancing around, the realization that I was standing out on a rickety old dock over deep water making me nervous. So many things could happen that were completely out of my control. We could be caught and get in trouble. The dock could collapse under our extra weight and we could fall into the water. Oh, and then I could drown and die.
Totally overdramatic, but I couldn’t shake those thoughts.
“Hey, we should play truth or dare,” Kaycee suggested, earning cheers from everyone on that stupid old dock but me.
“And Annie should be up first!” Presley said, sending me a sugary smile that was backed with a hint of venom.
Unease slipped down my spine, and Kelsey stepped forward, her voice clear as she said, “I’ll take a dare first.”
“Sure you don’t want to answer a very personal question?” Presley asked.
Kelsey shook her head. “Dare, please.”
“I dare you to run to the end of the dock and back with no shirt on,” Kyle said, his voice smug.
“Deal.” Kelsey smiled, tore her shirt off, and ran down the dock, her shoes slapping against the wood with every step, making the structure rattle. I wanted to hold on to something, anything, but I couldn’t. I just had to count on the stupid wood to withstand all of our weight.
Though I wanted nothing more than to follow Kelsey right off that dock and keep running until we were back at the cabin.
“You didn’t do what I dared you to,” Kyle said when Kelsey returned, out of breath and red-faced.
“I sure did,” she said with a smile. “I ran down the dock and back without my shirt on.”
“But you have a bikini top on underneath it,” Kyle said, waving a hand at her.
“You never said anything about taking that off.” She started to laugh when she saw the irritation on his face.
He turned toward me, his dark brows lowered, his mouth set in a thin line. “Your turn. Truth or dare?” he asked, sounding downright hostile. Nothing like my usual dreamy Kyle hellos or what’s ups. I could only blame the alcohol he’d been drinking.
“Um, truth?” I didn’t have much to hide, and I definitely didn’t want to take a dare.
“If you could kiss any boy at camp, who would it be?” Presley stepped forward after asking the question, her smile so smug I wanted to smack it off her face.
“Oh.” I laughed, trying to play it off. Desperate to play it off. Kyle was in the forefront of my mind, and so was the hot counselor, not that I could mention either of them.
But all my new friends just stared at me, even Kelsey, waiting for my answer. Most of them were smiling, but not in sympathy. No, they were waiting for me to humiliate myself.
And that hurt more than they could ever know.
“If you don’t want to say, you could take a dare,” Kyle offered, his voice soft, his gaze meeting mine.
Mesmerized by his eyes, his face, by his mere nearness, I agreed before he could take the offer back.
“Please, I’ll take the dare.” It couldn’t be any worse than that question I so did not want to answer.
“I dare you to jump off the dock’s ledge and into the water,” Kyle said.
Oh wait.
It just got much worse.
Chapter Six
ANNIE
“I can do this,” I whispered under my breath, curling my toes
over the rough wood as I teetered on the edge of the dock. The cool wind rushed through the trees. I could hear them rustle in the near distance, felt the breeze wash over my already chilled-from-nerves skin, and I lifted my arms above my head. A pose I’d practiced maybe a handful of times forever ago, since I’d always firmly believed swimming, let alone diving, wasn’t for me.
But I was feeling brave tonight. Maybe a little reckless.
Okay, maybe a lot stupid, too.
Here goes nothing.
“You can do it, Annie, I know you can,” Kelsey whispered just before Presley started her countdown. I couldn’t believe I’d agreed to this. But I didn’t want to look like a baby in front of Kyle, in front of any of them, really. I’d wanted to conquer my greatest fear this summer, but not this early into the season.
Clearly I’d completely lost my mind. At least I had Kelsey keeping the faith.
“One!” Presley whisper-shouted the number from where she stood behind me. I could hear everyone crowding around, a few murmured words, one yelp when one of the guys stepped on Kaycee’s toes.
I stood up straighter, stiffening my arms into what I hoped was a perfect arc.
“Two!” We didn’t want to get caught, so Presley counted down in a whisper. I really hoped one of these people was a decent swimmer so they could jump in after me and save me if need be.
Well, I hoped one of them would try to save me. My knees knocked against each other in that age-old way they used to do when I was little, and I stiffened my legs, willing them to behave.
“You really want to do this, Annie?” Kelsey’s nerves bled through her voice, and I closed my eyes for a brief moment, willing myself to stay strong.
Glancing at her over my shoulder, I sent her a look. One that said, really? You’re asking me this now?
Daring the Bad Boy Page 4