Daring the Bad Boy

by Monica Murphy

  “I don’t think so. You go on, Annie. I’ll see you around.” He ducked under the water and began to swim in earnest. His arms sliced through the water, his legs kicking up a huge splash, and I watched him for a while, impressed with his speed, his pure determination seeming to propel him across the length of the pool and back.

  He didn’t talk to me. So after waiting around for a few minutes, I reluctantly left the pool area and went in search of my friends. Trying to ignore the confusion over my feelings toward Jake that lingered.

  But it was hard. He remained on my mind the rest of the night, even when I tried to go to sleep.

  I was starting to think it wasn’t Kyle I liked at all.

  Chapter Twelve

  JAKE

  I went in search of Annie, frustration filling me when I couldn’t find her anywhere. I needed to start my lifeguard tower shift in less than fifteen minutes and I had no freaking clue where she was.

  Luckily enough, I ran into some of the girls who were in her cabin out by the volleyball court.

  “Hey!” I shouted at them, crooking my finger when they all turned to look at me, their brows lowered in puzzlement. “Come here.”

  They bounded over to where I stood, all four of them like they were a pack or a herd or something. I had no idea what their names were, not that it really mattered. “What’s going on?” one of them asked.

  I could see the curiosity blazing in their eyes. I was opening myself up to all sorts of questions—and rumors—by talking to them. But I had no choice. “I’m hoping maybe one of you, uh, knows where Annie is?”

  They all turned to each other, matching smirks on their faces before another one of them said, “She’s in the arts and crafts building.”

  Relief flooding me, I took off, yelling a thanks over my shoulder as I did so. I could hear them laughing behind me, but I didn’t care. I needed to talk to Annie, and it couldn’t wait much longer.

  I’d sort of avoided her the past two days, which wasn’t cool. But that last night together in the pool, the more we talked, the madder I got. Worse, I’d felt jealous over her constant questions about Kyle. I knew she liked him. Hell, I lured her into the pool with promises of information on Kyle. And then when I had to give up the goods, see that dreamy look glaze her eyes every time she said his name, I don’t know. It made me…angry.

  Jealous, too. And I never felt jealous. It was hard for me to admit even to myself that I was jealous of Kyle. The guy was a selfish idiot. He didn’t care about anyone else, especially Annie. He didn’t even remember her name.

  That tool wasn’t worth the ground she freaking walked on.

  Not that I could tell her, or do anything about it. Not that I could say to her that I liked her. I couldn’t like her. She was off-limits.

  Forbidden.

  At one point late last night when I couldn’t sleep, I wondered if that made her even more attractive, the forbidden part. And how totally messed up that was. Could it be true? Was I proving the point that we want what we can’t have?

  I wasn’t sure.

  Despite my wariness, and my avoiding her, I missed her. A lot. I wanted to continue giving her those stupid swimming lessons. I wanted to make her smile and encourage her to keep going and see the flush of pleasure sweep across her cheeks when I told her she did a good job. Seeing her so happy did something to my chest that made it feel tight, like I could hardly breathe.

  Truth? My reaction to her made me uncomfortable. I wasn’t used to feeling like this, like I wanted something—someone—I couldn’t have. I’d been angry and sad before, when I lost my mom and wanted her back so damn bad. I was pissed at everyone and for a while there, it felt like my world was coming to an end. But eventually I moved on because I had to. Life didn’t let you stop no matter how hard you tried to make it slow down. I realized that quickly.

  The death of my mother was the only thing I could relate to my confusing feelings for Annie, which messed with my head even more. How could losing my mom compare to losing any and all potential contact with Annie? I knew I wasn’t in love with her—how could I be? I barely knew her. But maybe she was the first girl who’d entered my life that could possibly matter.

  And I didn’t know what to do with that.

  “Relationships can cause problems, especially if you’re in a position of authority,” Uncle Bob had advised me when I first arrived. “If you want to…date a counselor, I have no problem with that as long as it doesn’t affect your ability to work. Though honestly, I’d discourage you from getting yourself involved in any sort of relationship with a counselor. You need to keep your head on straight this summer and not get into trouble. That’s why I need to tell you up front—if you’re interested in a camper, it can’t happen, Jake. They’re taboo. And don’t you forget it.”

  His words had stuck with me all through the first session. There weren’t any campers who caught my interest, because I wouldn’t let it happen. And then I met Annie and though at first I’d found her a pain in the ass more than anything, she grew on me. To the point that I couldn’t stop thinking about her…

  I’d thrown myself into work, trying to focus on what I needed to do versus what I wanted to do. I started assisting Dewey again with the beginners’ swim lessons twice a week in the mornings. I helped Brian with the bonfire pit for the night activities. Just last night I told a ghost story, scaring the crap out of the ten-year-olds so that they ran shrieking for their cabin.

  That had been fun. Brian and I got a good laugh out of that one. Even Uncle Bob had chuckled, telling me later that he was glad that I was “coming around.”

  Whatever that meant.

  When the arts and crafts building came into view, I slowed down, going over in my mind exactly how I should approach her. I didn’t really want to barge into the room and go right up to her. I didn’t want to cause a scene. Subtlety was the name of the game.

  I slipped just inside the building, remaining against the back wall where no one really noticed me. Nancy was at her desk, her head bent as she assembled something. My gaze searched the room, trying to find Annie’s familiar blond head, and when I finally found her, the ache in my heart that I didn’t know was there suddenly eased.

  She was sitting at the table near the front of the room, putting together what looked like a picture frame made out of Popsicle sticks. Well, she was really helping out, since every table had an older camper sitting at it, assisting the younger kids with their Popsicle stick projects. Forgetting my subtlety plan, I went straight to her table and stood behind her, waiting for her to look up and acknowledge me. But she wouldn’t, though I knew she saw me. I could tell by the subtle shift of her head in my direction.

  She kept her gaze locked on the half-completed picture frame in front of her, her voice pitched unnaturally high as she talked to one of the girls she was helping. Her hands started to shake when she tried to straighten out a crooked Popsicle stick in her frame, and I gave in, both hating and liking that I made her so nervous.

  “I need to tell you something, Annie,” I said.

  Her head still bent, she murmured, “Go away.”

  Hurt, I blew out a harsh breath and knelt beside her, not caring who was watching. I saw another set of girls from her cabin sitting at the other tables, their eyes wide as they studied us together. I was giving them a full show for their gossipy conversations over dinner later, but I didn’t really care. I needed to talk to Annie before I started my shift. “I know we haven’t talked the last few days but I’ve been busy.”

  She turned her head toward me, her gaze meeting mine for what felt like the first time in forever. Looking into those pretty, dark blue eyes made my chest ache. “Busy doing what? Avoiding me?”

  I chuckled, surprised and impressed at her calling me out. “Maybe.”

  I started to stand, but she grabbed my hand, pulling me back down beside her. “I need to help everyone finish their projects first before I can talk to you.”

  “Right, because Popsicle s
tick picture frames are coveted works of art.” I snorted. She glared, and I immediately regretted my crappy remark. “Sorry. I need to get to work, so I don’t have much time.”

  Her expression softened, though I could still see the anger in her gaze. “What did you want to talk to me about, anyway?”

  I glanced around, then lowered my voice. “I can’t really say in front of everyone else.”

  She sent me a withering glance before she looked away. Like she didn’t believe me.

  Scooting closer, I pushed myself in between her chair and the girl sitting next to her, offering an excuse me when I bumped into the other girl. I leaned my arm across the table, my hand close to Annie’s as I leaned in and whispered near her ear, “I’m sorry.”

  Her head jerked toward mine, her face close. Kissing close. Not that I was about to do anything like that in the middle of arts and crafts. “That’s not going to get you off the hook.” Her voice trembled.

  I moved in even closer, tilting my head so I could breathe in the scent of her hair. I knew I’d missed her, but having her so near was making me think all sorts of thoughts. Bad ones. Ones I couldn’t act on because fraternizing with campers was taboo. “We agreed earlier that I’d give you a swim lesson tonight, but I can’t make it,” I murmured as I reluctantly pulled away from her.

  “Whatever.” She looked away, her expression irritated, and my stomach churned.

  She seemed mad. And it felt like I could do nothing right.

  “I have to help lead the hike tonight.” I really didn’t want to do it, but my uncle pretty much said I had to. It was an annual thing, and they needed every counselor on duty. Even Dane had to work it.

  She still said nothing.

  I stood, my neck bent so I could keep watching her. “Come on, Annie. Talk to me.”

  Glancing up, she stared at me quietly. It was like the entire room had become quiet. Even Nancy was watching us with unmistakable interest.

  My coming in here was probably not the smartest move.

  I walked away from her table without a word and went to the other side of the room. A countertop ran the entire stretch of the far wall, shelves and cubbies below filled with all sorts of crafting stuff. A row of narrow shelves housed colorful construction paper, and I pulled a bright blue piece out of its slot.

  A jar of markers stood nearby, and I grabbed a black pen, uncapped it, and wrote a quick note, pausing as I pondered each word I wanted to say. For once, I cared. I didn’t want to screw this up.

  Putting the pen away, I folded the paper into an airplane, taking my time as I carefully pressed each fold into the paper so the thing would fly properly.

  If it didn’t, I’d feel like a jackass.

  Once I’d deemed it good enough, I strode back across the room, closer to Annie’s table, and held the paper airplane between my fingers, practicing my throw. Working up the courage. I glanced around, saw that a few other girls from Annie’s cabin were blatantly watching me, and I knew this story would definitely be around the camp by the end of the night. Uncle Bob would probably know all about it, too.

  But screw it. I might look bad, doing this. I should walk away and forget about the brief time I spent with Annie, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t think about breaking the rules, about forbidden relationships. The minute I saw her, saw how hurt and angry she was, I had to get back into her good graces. I wanted to spend more time with her. Tomorrow, I would. Tonight, I had to help lead the hike. Tomorrow night would be about Annie. Helping her. Making her smile.

  I aimed the airplane toward her pretty blond head and let it sail through the air. It landed on top of the table, right beside her elbow, and she glanced down at it before she turned in her chair and looked back at me, surprise lighting her eyes.

  Flicking my chin at her, I turned and left the room.

  Now it was on her.

  …

  ANNIE

  I stared at the carefully folded paper airplane, tilted on its side where it rested on the table, right on top of my lame Popsicle stick picture frame.

  It was from Jake.

  I couldn’t believe he’d come into the building like he did, like some sort of determined hero straight out of a romance novel, demanding that I talk to him. I’d been so embarrassed, I couldn’t even look at him, and once I finally did, he flat out took my breath away, which was so confusing, I didn’t know how to react or what to say.

  He was wearing a white T-shirt with bold red lettering across the chest that said “lifeguard,” and he had on the red shorts. He was somehow tanner than the last time I’d seen him, and he’d had his sunglasses shoved on top of his head, something he seemed to do a lot.

  That I knew this tiny detail about him was…weird. Right? I shouldn’t pay attention to those tiny details. I didn’t like Jake. Not like that.

  I was supposed to like Kyle. I mean, everyone was trying to put us together—even Jake!—and I appreciated their matchmaking efforts. I’d spent an hour with Kyle yesterday. We hung out during free time, and he was trying to make me laugh with his—yep, Jake had been right—really bad, super-dirty jokes, but I hadn’t found them funny. He even tried to get me to help him play some pranks on the counselors, and at first I was game. Until he wanted me to sneak into Dane’s cabin and steal his underwear. I don’t mind playing harmless pranks, but stealing a grown man’s underwear?

  Um, no thanks.

  Gwen had finally rescued me, muttering something about guys who were totally beneath me, and how I was wasting my time. She was probably right, but I’d been determined to focus on Kyle, especially since Jake was ignoring me.

  I’d even hung out at the pool, staying in the shallow end and practicing my kicking. I’d been with the younger kids so no one really said anything. I’d pretended I was helping the kids out, and we kicked up such a huge splash I had all of them laughing and demanding more.

  So I’d stayed with them for more than an hour. Even doggy-paddled around the shallow end. I couldn’t believe it.

  Jake would’ve been so proud of me.

  Taking a deep, shaky breath, I reached for the paper airplane, my entire body tingling with anticipation. Was there a message inside? Or did he just throw it at me to be a pain? No, there had to be a message…yep, one of the wings had the words “open me” scrawled across it in black marker.

  So I opened it.

  He’d constructed the plane out of multiple complicated folds, and I had to admit, I was impressed, not that I knew much about the art of folding a paper airplane. Jake sure did, though. The guy was a complete mystery. One I told myself I didn’t need to figure out. There was no point, considering we couldn’t be involved anyway. Counselors weren’t allowed to fraternize with campers, and I didn’t want to get in trouble. Bobbee told me a story about a camper who got caught with a counselor a few years ago and they sent her home.

  My parents would be so disappointed in me if that happened.

  Maybe that was why Jake had ignored me the last two days. Because he knew we shouldn’t be around each other, which hurt, but what could I do? The rules were the rules.

  Though rules were always meant to be broken…

  When I realized Jake was ignoring me, I stayed away because I thought it was best to keep my distance. It had proved so hard, though. I found myself staring at him every time he was nearby, always sure to look away when I thought he might catch me. He seemed to be spending a lot of time alone, which I thought was weird.

  For some reason, it was like I couldn’t resist Jake. It was so strange. This whole thing started because of Kyle, but I was pretty sure I didn’t like him anymore.

  But Jake…oh crap, I was pretty sure I liked him.

  I opened the paper and smoothed my hand over the wrinkles, not letting myself read the note yet. I wanted to draw this moment out. Instead I studied his handwriting. It was scrawled across the page, all sharp slashes and angles. I liked it. His handwriting fit him.

  Finally unable to resist any longer, I started to r
ead.

  Annie,

  I’m sorry for being such a jerk and ignoring you. I hope you’ll meet me tomorrow night at the pool at 8 so I can make up for lost time. Maybe we could even talk, and not about Kyle, either. I still owe you those last few lessons. I’m going to get you swimming by the end, I swear.

  Yours,

  Jake

  It took everything within me not to clutch the note to my chest and sigh like a lovesick fool. I would definitely go meet him tomorrow night. What he didn’t know was that I would be at tonight’s hike, too, though I probably wouldn’t get a chance to talk to him.

  What did he mean by “Yours, Jake,” anyway? It sounded very…intimate. Boyfriend-ish even, though I was totally jumping to conclusions with that. I had no idea how to deal with that sort of thing.

  Though I wanted to.

  Frowning, I skimmed my fingers over the words he wrote just for me, tracing each letter, memorizing every word…

  “What’s it say?”

  I jerked my head up to find Bobbee leaning over the back of the empty chair that sat across from me, a curious smile curling her lips. I immediately folded the note into a square and clutched it in my palm. “Um, nothing really.”

  “Uh-huh.” She didn’t believe a word I said, but I didn’t need to share the note with her. It was private.

  It belonged to me.

  “Do you like him?” When I frowned at her, she continued, rolling her eyes. “Jake. Do you two have something going on or what?”

  “No,” I said vehemently, squeezing the note in my hand so tightly I could feel the sharp corners pressing into my palm. “Of course not. We’re just…”

  “Friends?” Bobbee supplied with raised brows. She let go of the chair and took a step back, her tone friendly but also carrying a warning. “You know Presley likes him. A lot.”