Daring the Bad Boy

by Monica Murphy

  “One more kiss,” he whispered just before his tongue swept inside my mouth. I wound my arms around his neck as he pressed closer, my body trapped between his and the tower. If he kept this up I’d give him one hundred more kisses. I never wanted to stop.

  This all felt too good to be true.

  …

  JAKE

  It was too good to be true.

  Yet it was true, Annie and I. We were a thing; we were a couple. A couple who had to spend all of their time together on the down low, but yeah. We were together.

  And I’d never been so happy.

  My good mood spread like a disease. Everyone made note of it, telling me how cheerful I was. Dane said I seemed to have knocked that chip off my shoulder. Brian was glad I wasn’t grumpy so much. Even Uncle Bob told me one morning as I entered the dining hall that he was happy to see my smiling face.

  I didn’t have the heart to tell him what was causing me to smile. He’d send me home the minute he found out I was with Annie.

  So I had to keep her a secret.

  She was game for keeping us on the down low. We spent those first heady days we were officially together constantly sneaking around. Sneaking glances. Sneaking touches. Sneaking kisses. It was exciting. Made our mini reunions that much more special, that much more thrilling. She’d smile at me from across the dining hall during breakfast, and I’d immediately break out into a sweat. She’d brush past me when the entire camp got together for the nightly activities, and I wanted to grab her.

  And when I’d pull her behind a building and kiss her until she was breathless, she’d stumble away from me, her hair a mess from my hands, her face flushed and lips swollen from our kisses and wearing a blissed-out smile. I’d think every single time, there goes my girl.

  It was crazy.

  It was awesome.

  We met for a couple of swim lessons after dark, but those were pointless. No learning how to swim involved. More like splashing each other, grabbing each other, kissing each other.

  We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. And I needed to slow down. She admitted she’d never had a boyfriend before. That our first kiss on the lifeguard tower was her actual first kiss. She was completely inexperienced. I didn’t want to push too hard, but I wanted her so damn bad, it was difficult not to just lunge for her and show her how I really felt.

  And right now, I was feeling a lot. So many overwhelming emotions I wasn’t sure what to do next. I was just winging this entire relationship and having fun.

  But the fun was going to be put on hold when I saw Annie approaching the lifeguard tower, her determined steps and the stubborn set of her jaw making all the hairs on my body stand on end.

  I was in trouble. I could feel it.

  “Can I come up there?” she asked, shading her eyes with her hand as she looked up at me.

  Glancing around, I saw there was no one paying us any attention, so I nodded.

  She climbed up the slats and settled on the bench right next to me. I leaned in to kiss her, but she placed a hand on my chest, stopping me. “We need to talk.”

  Shit. The dreaded we need to talk talk. “What’s up?”

  Annie looked away, the wind blowing hair across her face, and I wanted to reach out and brush it away. But I didn’t. “I’m tired of us always sneaking around. It makes me feel like you’re embarrassed about the two of us together or something.”

  “Aw, Annie, do you really believe that?”

  She looked at me, pain etched across her features, her eyes full of sadness. Full of doubt. “Yes. No. I don’t know. I thought I could handle this, but maybe I can’t.”

  Her words made me tense up. “You knew this was part of the deal. We aren’t supposed to be together.”

  “The summer’s almost over. Who cares if we’re together?”

  “My uncle will care.” My dad. I couldn’t disappoint either of them. I didn’t want to. I wanted to have the best of both worlds, but I hated that I was making Annie feel bad. Worse, that she was mad and hurt over all of this.

  “Maybe we could talk to him,” she suggested, her tone hopeful. “Maybe we could explain and he’d understand.”

  “He’d never understand,” I said with a firm shake of my head.

  Her face fell and she sighed. “This isn’t the way I imagined my summer would end up.”

  “Ah, come on. Don’t you like sneaking around?” I lowered my voice, leaning in close, trying to get a kiss, but she wasn’t having it. She pressed her hand against my shoulder and gave me a firm shove.

  I got the hint. Leaning back, I took a deep breath, giving her distance.

  “I did at first,” she admitted. “But now…I just want to be normal. I want to walk around and hold your hand. Let people know that you’re mine and I’m yours. Don’t you want to tell people that, too? Even your uncle?”

  Damn, this girl. She was making my heart hurt. “It’s complicated, you know this.” I wanted to say more. So much more, but my voice abandoned me.

  You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m falling in love with you.

  I couldn’t work up the nerve to say it.

  “You could sit with me tonight. It’s movie night,” she suggested.

  God, I hated denying her anything. “It’s not that easy.”

  “Why not?” The words exploded out of her. “I’ve been really patient, Jake. When you wouldn’t be seen with me during movie night last week, I was fine with it. When you want to be with me only after dark or making out behind buildings, whatever. I was fine with that, too. But it’s getting really old really fast. And you’re starting to make me feel bad. Like I’m not worthy of being seen in public with you.”

  “I definitely don’t feel that way about you. You know this,” I said, interrupting her so I could get my point across. “It’s just that…” My voice drifted and I frowned.

  “It’s just what?” she urged.

  “It’s my uncle. It’s the entire reason why I’m here. My dad sent me here because we told the judge that I would straighten up and fly right at my uncle’s camp. We promised her that I wouldn’t break the rules or break the law. I promised my dad that I would listen to my uncle and I wouldn’t disappoint them. I’m trying to do right here and not look like a complete fuckup.”

  Her face crumpled, and she flinched when I dropped the f-bomb. “So being with me would disappoint them? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Not at all.” I shook my head, my frustration making me snap at her. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m as frustrated as you are about this. But you know it’s against the rules for counselors to fraternize with campers.”

  “So?”

  “So I’m a junior counselor and you’re a camper.”

  “We’re only a year apart. Isn’t that rule in place so I wouldn’t, I don’t know, hook up with Dane?”

  I didn’t like hearing her even say that. “I guess so. And I really can’t stand the thought of you hooking up with Dane.”

  “That’s not the point,” she stressed, rolling her eyes. I could tell she was frustrated, too. “I don’t want to be your dirty little secret. I like you. You like me. Your uncle seems to like me, too. Why wouldn’t he approve of us being together?”

  “Because I broke the one rule he stressed to me over and over. He did not want me messing around with campers. He didn’t even really want me messing around with other counselors.” I glanced down. “And I don’t want to disappoint him.”

  She was quiet for a while, and so was I. I finally lifted my head to check out the lake, then glanced over at Annie.

  And she didn’t look pleased.

  “So we’re just messing around, then. I’m like your—fling with Lacey, just longer this time around. Is that what you’re saying?”

  I hated that she even brought up Lacey. That felt like forever ago. “No, Annie. That’s not what I’m saying.” I buried my head in my hands, tugging on my hair so it hurt. “You don’t get it.”

  “No, I re
ally don’t get it. And I don’t think you get me, either.” She stood and went over to the ledge, turning around so she could climb down the tower.

  I stood as well, watching her leave. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m leaving. It hurts, that you don’t want to tell your uncle, or anyone else for that matter, that we’re together. I know there are rules in place and you’re risking everything by spending time with me, but I just—” She hesitated for the moment, her gaze turbulent. “I just wish we could be together. For real.”

  Her words practically broke my heart. “I know, Annie. Shit, just…be patient with me, okay? I’ll talk to my uncle, I swear.”

  “You promise?” She dropped to the ground and stared up at me, her expression hopeful.

  “I promise,” I said solemnly, though there were no guarantees my uncle would approve.

  And that was my biggest fear.

  Chapter Nineteen

  ANNIE

  “He’s a jerk,” Caitie said.

  “Totally,” Kaycee added.

  “You should dump him,” Presley suggested, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “That would show him.”

  “Aw, I think maybe you should give him some more time? From everything you tell us, Annie, I think Jake’s really into you.” This was from Hailey, the hopeful romantic of the group.

  “Please.” Bobbee rolled her eyes. She was our realist. “Keep making him suffer. Or realize that this is just a summer fling and enjoy it while it lasts. Either way, don’t give him all the power.”

  “Why don’t you go talk to Fozzie?” Gwen suggested, the ever-so-logical one. The much-needed one in this cabin of crazy. “Tell him that you have real feelings for his nephew, and that you think Jake has feelings for you, too.”

  Okay, that wasn’t a bad idea.

  Gwen plopped down on the bed beside me and slung her arm around my shoulders. Everyone knew I was miserable after my talk with Jake. I was sitting on Kelsey’s bunk since she wasn’t around. I rarely saw her lately, and none of us had any idea what she was up to. She’d become the mystery girl. Everyone had all sorts of theories except for me.

  I’d been too busy enjoying my many secret rendezvous with Jake—until they weren’t fun anymore and I started to get a complex.

  “Do you really think Fozzie Bear would listen to me?” I asked Gwen.

  She shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t see why not. He seems reasonable.”

  “Unless he has that stupid megaphone in his hand. If he starts talking to you with that thing, you’re done for,” Caitie pointed out.

  Everyone in the cabin started to giggle. Even me, and I so needed to lighten my mood right now.

  “Let’s go sit outside and talk more about this,” Kaycee suggested, fanning herself. “It’s way too stuffy in here.”

  It had become unbearably hot these last few days, and I wondered if that was affecting my mood. I guess I could blame it on the heat, though the one who really deserved the blame was Jake.

  I knew he didn’t want his uncle to find out we were together, and I knew his reasoning behind it, too, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. I felt like he could never take our relationship seriously, if he couldn’t admit to anyone that we were together. And that hurt. Everything else about our relationship was perfect. Laughing with him, telling each other stories, comparing our likes and dislikes. Kissing him.

  Lots and lots of kissing…

  He was always so patient with me. And so sweet. I was the totally inept, inexperienced girlfriend and he never complained. Ever. He could. He probably should.

  But he never did.

  I was the one who finally had to put my foot down first. I was the one who asked questions and pushed him and put conditions on our relationship. And that probably wasn’t fair. Who was I to ask him to do all of this for me, when he had so much on the line at home?

  Maybe I was the one who was in the wrong.

  I followed everyone out onto the front porch, dumping a pile of wet towels onto the ground so I could sit in one of the chairs. The thin cushion was damp from the towels and I winced, feeling the water seep into my shorts.

  It sucked. Pretty much like everything else in my life at the moment.

  “Hannah is gonna get on us for not cleaning up after ourselves,” Hailey said.

  We all glanced around the cluttered front porch. There were swimsuits and towels everywhere. Garbage. Flip-flops scattered all over the floor. I was pretty sure I saw a lacy black bra lying discarded under the chair Presley sat in and a pile of candy wrappers under Caitie’s chair.

  Whoops. Those candy wrappers belonged to me.

  “We’ll do it later,” Presley said with a little groan. “It’s too hot to move.”

  “What am I going to do about Jake, you guys?” I nibbled on my thumbnail, bringing back that old bad habit with a vengeance. I was at a complete loss. I needed serious advice. “I’m so confused.”

  “You already know how I feel,” Bobbee said, and Caitie and Presley nodded their agreement.

  It was easy for Presley to agree. She had Kyle now. They were the most popular couple in camp. Not that I was jealous of her relationship with Kyle. I just wished I could walk around with my boyfriend without fear of him getting in trouble.

  “I don’t know if I want to break up with him. I really like him,” I said miserably. “But I think we’re at a standstill.”

  “You don’t want to sneak around, and he’s afraid to tell his uncle,” Gwen said. “I guess you have a choice. You can either talk to his uncle, or you can continue to sneak around and always feel like he’s hiding you for another reason. Eventually you’ll become paranoid, get angry, and then in a fit of rage, you’ll end it for good.”

  I blinked at her. “Sounds like you have it all planned out.”

  “No, I’m just observing your situation from the outside. I can see exactly that happening, though. Who wants to be treated like they’re a secret? It’s fun at first, but after a while, you start developing a complex,” Gwen explained.

  “That’s exactly it!” I practically started bouncing in my chair. Gwen understood me so well. “I’m more than halfway to the complex right now.”

  “Right, it’s understandable, your feelings. So. Can you stand the idea of being apart from him?” Gwen asked.

  Tears threatened at ending it with him. I just…I couldn’t even fathom it. “No,” I admitted.

  “Then talk to Fozzie. Plead your case.”

  “Should I do that now?” It was a Sunday, the last full Sunday we’d be at camp, which meant lots of free time and rare sightings of Fozzie Bear, since he spent most Sundays in his office.

  “It’s the perfect time,” Hailey said with an encouraging smile. “Go fight for love, Annie.”

  I stood, faltering at the idea of love. It was such a serious word, with so much meaning behind it—a life-altering, potentially devastating meaning. Could I be in love with Jake? We’d only known each other for such a short time. Yes, I liked him a lot. I cared about him even. I could see myself falling in love with him, but was I at that point now?

  I really had no idea.

  Determination filling me, I stood, slipped on my flip-flops, and took off, with everyone from the cabin cheering behind me. I headed along the trail, my gaze drawn to the lake and the lifeguard tower on the other side.

  I could see Jake sitting on top, his baseball cap on backward like usual. No shirt, just those red board shorts, and I could make out the width of his shoulders even from where I stood.

  Strong shoulders I’d leaned on. Shoulders I’d even dared to kiss. I’d come to depend on those shoulders, on that boy. That I was willing to fight for him by talking to his uncle surely proved that, right?

  But the closer I got to the main building—and Fozzie Bear’s office—the more nervous I felt. What if he wouldn’t listen to me? What if my admission got Jake in trouble? That was the last thing I wanted to do.

  Yet I couldn’t let this end without a fi
ght, either.

  I entered the building, nearly sagging with relief when I felt the cool, air-conditioned breeze wash over me. Fozzie’s secretary lifted her head from the magazine she’d been looking at, a welcoming smile on her face.

  “Can I help you?” she asked. I was fairly certain she never took a day off. Like, ever.

  “Um, can I talk to, uh, Mr. Fazio, please?” It took everything inside me to keep from blurting “Fozzie Bear.”

  She held up her index finger and picked up the phone, hitting a button while she waited for him to answer. “A camper is here to speak with you. Annie McFarland.” A pause. “Yes, I’ll send her in.” She hung up and our gazes met. “Go ahead. Just knock on his door before you enter.”

  Or what? Will I see something I could never unsee? Nerves eating at my stomach, I smiled at her. “Thank you.”

  I walked down the short hall, coming to a stop in front of the partially closed door with the sign ROBERT FAZIO on the front of it. Curling my hand into a fist, I tentatively knocked, and Fozzie’s booming voice ordered me to come in.

  I don’t know why the man bothered with that megaphone. He was pretty loud without it.

  “Annie McFarland. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?” He smiled at me, and I had to remind myself that he was a human being, just like me. I couldn’t be scared.

  “Um, I’d like to talk to you.” How did his secretary remember my name? There were hundreds of kids here, so I was impressed. And a little scared. Maybe there was a reason they knew who I was.

  And it had everything to do with Jake.

  He waved a hand at the empty chair sitting opposite his desk. “Sit. Relax. Enjoy the air-conditioning.” He grinned.

  My nervousness wouldn’t allow me to smile, so I practically fell into the chair, curling my hand into a fist so I wouldn’t start chewing on my thumbnail again. I needed to act like I had it together. But it was so hard.

  Fozzie leaned forward, peering at me. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “Jake.”

  His extra-thick eyebrows rose. He looked almost comical, not that I could laugh. “What about Jake?”