“Negatory,” I crunch on another M&M, “then they’ll need a dump truck to get me out of the snack shack by the time summer ends.”
“True.”
“True?” I huff. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
Syd shakes her head, then motions to another group of girls parading their stuff. “Damn. These girls are claiming their turf.”
I give them a warning glare over the top of my sunglasses. “We’re older and wiser, and not that desperate. We don’t need to flaunt what we got.”
“True.” Syd sits up. “You know, I’ve been thinking. What about Dirk?”
I choke on my M&M. “What about him?”
She hits me on the arm. “Oh, come on. I’ve seen how he looks at you.”
I raise my eyebrow. “Dirk? Uh, ‘you’re not mature enough to be a counselor’ Dirk?”
“I think he likes you.”
“I think he’s an asshat, and I’m done with guys for now.” My fingers flip past more pages of my gossip magazine. I don’t doubt he’d pounce if I showed interest, which is so messed up, but if he thought me too damaged to counsel kids, I’m too damaged to start a relationship with, too.
“I wouldn’t rule them all out. A fling helps.”
I sigh. Logan was my fling, and I’m a wreck over it. “You know Kat’s underage, too?”
“What?” Syd blows out a breath. “Bitch.”
I laugh, but Dirk’s double standard stings. “Tell me about it.”
“I don’t plan on being friendly. Besides, it’s only a week.”
Thank God for that.
I stare up at the fluffy clouds. If I had to endure this week without Syd, I’d never survive. Unfortunately I can only hide here at the beach for another hour, and then I have to meet her face to face.
~|~
My heart pounds as we enter the kitchen. Logan and I haven’t crossed paths all weekend, but I know the moment is coming when we will. I have to keep it together and act like he’s not driving me insane.
“Be cool.” Syd flashes me a smile as we look out over the sea of kids. She has no clue I tried to kiss him, which started this whole mess.
“Yeah.” My cheeks crinkle under my smile from getting too much sun.
My eyes drift to the door when it opens. Kat walks in in all her counselor glory, blue eyes twinkling and blonde hair trailing down her back. My stomach twists when her diamond catches the light. How pretentious to wear that here, of all places. Then again, I totally know I would. The fact I’m jealous of her looks, her boyfriend, and her job, screams I’m so pathetic.
I want to hate Logan for using me, but I can’t turn my feelings off.
“Dirk’s name should be Captain Asshat,” Syd whispers.
I bust up laughing. When I look up, Logan’s watching me with a blank expression, then his eyes dart away. The jolt zings all the way to my stomach; one because he caught me, but two because this messes up my plan to ignore him. Why does he do that anyway? Does he enjoy the torture? I hate he has this power over me.
“Ready girls?” Joe asks.
“Yup,” we say in unison.
I pull down the bill on my hat and push off the wall. Pretending everything is cool is my middle name. Syd and I watch the buffet, and help keep the condiment area picked up. There’s a mob forming at the dessert bar, which means we have a seasoned group of kids this week. First timers have no clue what’s expected and are conservative about the dessert area until they realize it’s a free for all at week’s end.
Logan’s saddled up with the older kids who have all but abandoned him, while Kat’s got the clingy younger ones who don’t leave her side. They’ve both got their hands full. Maybe it’s a good thing I couldn’t volunteer.
I run off to fetch more cheese and onions for the chili. When I return, Logan’s talking to Syd. He spots me approaching, and gives her a quick nod before taking off. The dagger twists, but I plaster on a neutral face. He’s not going to bother me; I won’t allow it anymore.
“What was that about?” I scoop out the cheese a little too forcefully.
“Oh, I’ll tell you later.”
My hand stops. “No, what?”
She presses her lips together. “They’re going to kidnap me tomorrow instead of you. They want you to man the snack shack.”
My face falls. “What?”
“Yeah… full week and all.”
“Full week? Why does that matter?”
Syd plays with her nails. “In the counselors’ meeting, it was mentioned that the kids complained the snack shack was closed too often.”
“What?” I huff and scan the room for Dirk. Hearing second hand that my work habits are the topic of conversation with the counselor staff makes me want to punch his lights out. “Why didn’t Dirk just tell me himself, or Logan for that matter?”
Syd shrugs. “’Cause Dirk’s busy, and Logan’s his hit man—well, a cowardly hit man.”
We both watch as Dirk limps up to the podium with a fake wooden leg attached to his knee, something new he’s sporting for his costume this week.
“He’s going to be legless for real after I’m done with him, Captain Asshat,” I mumble, hoping he’ll fall on his face.
“You and me both, sister.” Syd puts a hand on my shoulder and smiles wickedly. “I may not be available when the kidnapping comes, ya know?”
I roll my eyes and chuckle, but I don’t want Logan to think I’m so desperate that I’ll do whatever to force him to be around me.
While Dirk reads the announcements, we work to clean up as fast as possible and sneak out before the campers are let out. Logan’s guys frequently outburst, heckling Dirk’s accent, and yet I don’t feel bad for either of them. Actually, the tougher the group, the better.
“Let’s go for a swim,” Syd says as we exit the kitchen.
“What?” A shiver trails across my sunburn. “I don’t think we can, not with the night games.”
She raises a brow. “We can in the lake.”
My smile falls. I’ve watched way too many scary movies to swim at night, especially in a lake at camp. “I don’t think so.”
“Scared?” She laughs evilly. “I dare you to skinny dip.”
“Uh, no thanks.” I shake my head.
“That’s no fun.”
“You can thank my overactive imagination.”
“I have keys to the boat house. We can go for a pleasure cruise,” Syd says as she jangles them on the key ring. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”
“Fine.”
We sneak over to the boat house, and bust two kids making out on the dock. After I proceed to get my shoes wet while climbing inside the canoe, we row out to the middle of the lake. Laughter and camp hubbub bounces off the smooth water, and I study the lights of homes on the opposite side.
“I wonder if they hate the noise,” I ask.
“It’s got to be old folks. Who would want to live out here?”
“True.”
“You doing okay?” Syd asks.
A tear trickles down my cheek. This is torturing me—the jealousy, the longing, the rejection—and I don’t think I can keep it together any longer. “I’ll be fine.”
My sniffle gives me away.
“Oh, honey,” Syd says. “I’m here for you.”
I wring my hands, and turn to her. It’s time I trust someone and tell the truth about Gage. It’s time to be honest.
CHAPTER TWO
I stumble out of the bathroom after applying a few extra coats of mascara to hide my puffy eyelids, wondering where Syd went this early. We have ten minutes to spare before showing up for breakfast, not to mention coffee and me are in dire need of a love connection. Nightmares coupled with Syd talking in her sleep have left me beyond exhausted.
“Morning.” Syd removes her ear buds and passes me in the hall. A slight sheen covers her face. “Wait for me, will ya?”
I blink at her, barely registering she’d gotten up early to go run. “I need coffee. Like now.”
; “I’ll only be a second.”
“Just hurry.” After ten minutes, I pound on the door. “Come on. We’ll be late and Joe will have my hide.”
“Okay, okay.” She exits out of a plume of steam with the towel wrapped around her torso, and disappears into our room. Her sunburned shoulders from yesterday are now a golden brown. Mine unfortunately are starting to itch, meaning I’ll peel.
I take the stairs slowly, one by one. “I’m leaving.”
“No! Wait!”
She snags her hat and runs past me down the stairs. I’m out of breath when we arrive at the kitchen—late, of course—and I grab a cup of coffee before helping one of the cooks flip French toast, praying that Joe won’t notice. My time card will tell him differently later. The kitchen smells amazing, and for once food is appetizing.
Campers start to file in thirty minutes later—all the guys.
Syd lifts her chin to them. “Typical. My girls were up at the crack of dawn every morning fighting over the showers and the electrical sockets, until Friday when I had to pry their asses out of bed. You’d think this was a beauty pageant.”
I shake my head. We weren’t much different as campers ourselves, though we feigned that we were totally au naturel.
Kat saunters in fifteen minutes later completely made up and a little worse for wear, but still smiling. Logan hasn’t arrived yet, though I did see some of his guys milling about. It wasn’t like him to be late.
“She’ll be wearing a hat by week’s end, mark my words.” Syd gestures to Kat.
At the tail end of breakfast, Dirk stops to talk to Kat, then takes the podium for announcements.
“Mateys.” His brows crease. “I want to remind everyone of the rules. They’re here to keep you safe, not to ruin your fun. Unfortunately we had to take someone to the ER last night for a broken arm who was out after Lights Out. Depending on what happens, they might not be back to camp.”
The kids stop eating, and the room grows silent. I suck in a breath, and turn to Syd.
“Who’s camper do you think it was?” I mouth.
Syd shrugs. “If it was a camper.”
I do a quick head count. Logan is still missing and his guys aren’t as mouthy as they were yesterday.
“Could it be Logan?” I ask.
Then as if on cue, he walks inside alone. He glances at Kat, and they exchange disheartening looks before he takes a seat. My heart sinks watching their interaction, wanting to be the one he seeks solace in.
“Come on, let’s clean up,” I tell Syd, and we quietly get to work.
After breakfast, I return to Aspen and take a nap. Exhaustion from everything has overcome me. Once the lunch meal is over, I heft the money till and my cup of ice tea, and head for the snack shack early so I can stock the new inventory we just received. I’ve made up my mind to avoid Logan, too, since he’s also being an asshat.
“Here, let me help you.” Kat comes alongside me from nowhere and grabs my ice tea. She’s wearing an off the shoulder number with a bustier accentuating the cleavage I know God didn’t give her.
“Wow,” I say before I can help myself.
“Oh, this?” She laughs. “Logan and I were pirates for Halloween last year, and this outfit was just perfect for the camp theme, don’t you think?”
“Explains his blue striped pants.” I giggle softly, remembering how he blew out the crotch.
She tilts her head. “Blue stripped pants?”
“Oh… must have been a skit closet special.” I bite my lip. “Thanks for your help.”
“Don’t mention it.” She leans against the doorframe, looking around the place like there are secrets written on the walls. “Now this job must be cake. You really scored.”
I grit my teeth and restock the candy holders on the shelf and counter. Is she serious? “Yeah, it’s okay. Nice of you to be able to fill in for Kitty.”
“I feel so bad for her. We were besties at camp. Crazy how it worked out, huh? I didn’t think I could swing it, considering.” She stops and looks solemnly out the window for a second. “But since I’m friends with my boss’ family, they were cool with it.”
I try not to look surprised that she’s friends with people who own resorts. “What do you do there?”
“I work with the kids. The tips are amazing.”
Of, course they are. “Then you’ll have your work cut out for you this week.”
“Naw. My girls are super sweet.” She gestures to them as they are lying out by the pool. “Easier than the club kids. You know.” She rubs her fingertips together. “Money.”
“I wouldn’t know,” I wanted to say, but don’t. I nod instead, hoping she’s not really here to confront me on the biotch incident.
“Well, thanks again,” I say as a hint.
One week. That’s all I need to endure until I get Ms. Perfect and her diamond ring out of my life.
“Yeah…” She starts to leave, then turns. “Sorry about everything with your ex. What a douche canoe. I hope you told him where to stick it.”
My hands freeze for a second. I turn to her. “Logan told you?”
She chuckles, and then studies her engagement ring. “Of course. He tells me everything.”
Well, not everything, or this conversation would have gone down a lot differently. Though I should be touched by her sentiment, I feel sideswiped that Logan said something. That is my private business.
“I wanted to punch his lights out for hitting you.”
The air feels yanked from my lungs. “He didn’t hit me.”
“Oh,” She gives me a patronizing smile, like some kind of secret confirmation that she knows I’m lying. “Good thing he’s out of your life.” Her smile grows.
My heart pounds. I can’t tell if this conversation is a passive-aggressive warning, or if she’s just being sincere. Even still, I feel bad for my jealousy when all she’s been is nice while I covet her boyfriend. Was this how Allie felt when she tried to be my friend, but was falling for my boyfriend?
I gesture to Kat’s ring. “Congrats. You two make a great couple.”
“Oh, thanks.” She holds out her hand. “Though we’ve talked about getting married this whole time, he totally surprised me with his grandmother’s ring. We’re young, I know, but when you know, you know, right?”
“Yeah.” I swallow hard and slide the service window open for some fresh air. Anything to stop the salt she’s rubbing in my aching heart.
Logan saunters around the far end of the pool in his pirate vest and swim trunks, taking the long way as if to purposely avoid any close contact with me, frustrating me even further. He can deny his feelings all he wants, but we both know there’s something between us, and Kat can’t be his perfect soul mate.
Confessing to her that we almost kissed burns on my tongue, but I don’t dare say anything for fear it’ll backfire. I want Logan to choose me of his own accord, not from any manipulation on my part. But that will never happen—ever—and I have to come to grips with reality before I accidentally start a counterattack, or go insane.
“What happened with the kid who broke his arm? Is he back?”
“Oh, that.” Kat studies herself while she applies lip gloss and then fluffs her hair, which is going to be sopping wet in an hour. “He had to go home. Sad, isn’t it?”
“What happened?”
“Boys being boys.” She sighs, then starts to leave. “Oh, can I do an IOU for two Drumsticks?”
I stare at her a second, knowing exactly who the extra is for.
“Sure.” I open the freezer and stare at the last two wrappers peeking out of the box. With a quick flick of my wrist, I pull a bag of popsicles over the top before Kat can see what I’ve done. “Sorry. We’re sold out.”
“Really? Shoot.” She frowns. “How about some ice cream sandwiches, then.”
I hand them to her with a smug smile. It’s childish, yes, but Logan will have to talk to me before he gets his cravings fulfilled. Oh, how I wish his cravings involved my lip
s.
Kat leaves just as things pick up at the snack shack, and I blow out a relieved sigh.
“Miss me?” Syd walks in a few minutes later with my pirate tank top on, and a pair of frayed shorts similar to mine.
“Hey, isn’t that…?”
“I know. Sorry. I texted you to ask.”
I pull out my phone and note it’s off. I flick the switch to turn it on. “What happened to the dress?”
“They might have roped me in to do this lame skit, but I’m not playing shipwreck in that, let me tell you.”
“Smart woman.” I nod, then gesture to Kat. “She came by earlier.”
“Really…” Syd pulls up a stool. I’m so happy she’s with me. “She has no clue what’s about to happen.”
I giggle. “I know.”
Syd gives me the evil eye, and pulls out a Super Soaker from her backpack. “I’m taking her down.”
“You’re my hero.”
Syd gives me a high five, and it’s like high school all over again, only we’re in charge and we know how to fight dirty.
CHAPTER THREE
That night, I wait like a fool on a lounge chair in front of the snack shack for the evening meeting to get out, staring at the stars. I’ve asked Dirk if I can participate in the night game, and a small hope continues to flicker that Logan will hide in the snack shack like before, that he’ll tell me he misses me, and apologize. It’s sick, but I can’t help myself. I just want it to be like before, when we were friends.
“Girl.” Syd appears before me with a hand on her hip. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Why is your phone off again?”
“Gage keeps texting me,” I lie. All her texts came through loud and clear, I just didn’t want her to ruin my sick self-deprecating plans.
“Come on. Let’s go to town.”
I sigh, but don’t stand up. “I can’t. I’m in the game.”
“What? You’re a hot mess, you know that?” She pulls up a chair and plops down next to me. “He’s not going to do anything, not with Kat watching. You need to look like you’re having the time of your life without him.”
Truly Madly Deeply: Volumes 1-4 Page 17