by Dawn Klehr
The lake was calm, almost motionless, which for some unknown reason had her out of sorts. It was too quiet, too peaceful, and it was jarring after the raging storm she’d had brewing in her head all night. For most of it, she’d been thinking about Justice. And not just the kiss, though that was the main feature. Who was she kidding?
Forget smoking or surfing porn, obsessing over Justice was becoming a bad habit, and she was sure it would be the death of her.
He tried to talk to her during meals, at the bonfire, at the beach, you name it. And he almost looked hurt when she didn’t return the same enthusiasm. She didn’t like staying away from him. She really didn’t—especially after what he told her about being a virgin. Holy crap, that took guts. And he totally owned it. He could teach her a few things about bravery.
Then again…he was responsible for hurting her dad. He was the enemy, wasn’t he? It was becoming harder and harder to tell. But just thinking about it made her heart ache. And if that wasn’t enough to put her in a mood, she was also feeling homesick. She wondered what her pops was up to and wanted to know how the restaurant was coming along, and if he was eating…and showering. Connor promised to mail her updates, but they hadn’t even been at camp for a full week yet, and he was probably still at his grandparent’s house. So she made a mental note to send her dad a letter the next day.
The sun was finally peaking up over the water, the annoying wrens welcoming it with a song. Sometimes nature really got on her nerves. She was too tired to appreciate the beauty of the moment. Ugh, this was an absolutely ridiculous time to be out doing anything when she had a free pass to sleep in and dream about the Hemsworth brothers. But it made no sense to roll around in her bunk any longer.
And speaking of the devil…across the front lawn was her source of insomnia looking all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. She couldn’t escape him. He was jogging with Eli—yep, Justice’s name for Elijah had totally caught on.
The two of them seemed to be moving pretty fast from the guys’ cabins. Though as they got closer, she could see they were doing sprints, and it made her even more tired watching them.
Once they reached the spot directly in front of her cabin, they dropped to the ground for sit-ups. Eli got into position on his back, and Justice held his feet. Geez, she needed to get out of there ASAP. Watching Justice—all sweaty and bulging muscles—was too much to take.
She jumped off the deck and scurried toward the cafeteria, thinking she might be able to make some coffee before the breakfast crew arrived. She tried not to look at the guys as she made her way to pass, but she wasn’t successful. In fact, she noticed that Eli had a rather poor showing with his exercises. Rebel was sure she had him beat in the sit-up department, and that was saying something.
Eli’s performance didn’t seem to faze Justice. He just smiled at him and held up a hand, wiggling his five fingers. Eli did five more sit-ups before collapsing.
“Quit staring,” Justice called over to her.
Busted.
“I’m not staring,” she said as she approached. Ugh, she had to go by them to get to the cafeteria. There was no other option.
“You absolutely were staring, and I think I know why.” He wiggled his eyebrows. Eli paid them no attention and went back to his sit-ups, moving even slower this time.
She wasn’t sure what Justice was getting at, and she didn’t care to stick around and find out. He had that look in his eyes that she’d come to recognize. Yeah, he was totally ready to mess with her. Worse? None of her usual tricks worked on him. He didn’t mind confrontation, or being ignored, and her dirty looks and insults didn’t bother him in the least. In fact, he seemed to like it.
“It’s okay. I understand,” he went on. Apparently he also didn’t care if she wanted to listen or not. “But you should know it’s not my fault I’m out here running around without any underwear on.”
What was that now?
It took her a second to understand what he meant. Oh crap, the prank. She hadn’t even thought about what would happen when he figured out someone was messing with his boxers. She looked at his area in question—like looked, looked. Huge mistake.
Stupid, stupid girl.
“Mmm-hmm.” He chuckled, and she could feel her entire body turn scarlet. “That’s exactly what you were doing.”
“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, trying to regain her composure.
Eli flipped over and did some sad-looking push-ups, pretending not to hear the conversation about Justice and his hanging-free situation.
“I’m talking about the Icy Hot in my boxers, funny girl,” Justice said.
“Ooooh.” She played dumb. “You really need to be careful with that stuff. I heard it can cause a rash.”
She smiled thinking about what she told the other girls the first day of camp about him. Funny how a few days could completely complicate things—like her revenge plan.
“No worries, I didn’t take the bait. You might want to use something a little subtler next time. My drawer smelled like the locker room after the first week of practice. Icy Hot is a staple during tryouts. But you did trash my underwear for the week, so kudos. Looks like I’ll have to go commando until laundry day.” He winked.
She rolled her eyes, taking note to come up with a better prank next time. He was enjoying this one far too much.
They continued with their banter until Eli made it to about twelve lowly up-downs. “So how do you guys know each other so well, anyway?” he asked.
“Who says we do?” Justice asked.
“The fact that you’ve been talking about your junk for the past ten minutes is a pretty clear indicator,” Eli said.
“Our dads—” Rebel began before Justice cut her off.
“Are friends,” Justice finished, his playful attitude making a one-eighty. “My family used to go to the Harts’ for pizza parties a lot.”
And…they were back to where they started.
She gave him the stink eye, but he made no move to change his story. Yes, Justice had a knack for pissing her off, but more than that, she was beginning to feel sorry for him. He was so ill-equipped to handle the most basic questions about his dad, it was scary.
If he was going to make it through his last year of high school, not to mention college or the NFL or any other place where he was going to be confronted about his family, he’d better toughen the eff up and learn to take it without lying or putting someone in the hospital. But from the sound of it, he had a long way to go.
And that wasn’t her problem. Amazing kiss or not, she wouldn’t waste her time on some guy who couldn’t stand up for himself.
Chapter Fifteen
Justice
The next morning, Justice slowed his running pace as he neared Rebel’s cabin, waiting for her to make an appearance. He’d come up with all kinds of topics, insults, and dirty jokes he could throw at her. Yep, he was preparing to fight with Rebel—anything to make their time together last longer. When she didn’t show, it left him with all sorts of feelings he didn’t want to name.
Mostly, disappointment.
The following day, as he and Eli went for their run, Rebel stayed inside her cabin again. She was hardly around at camp anymore, and as much as he hated it, he was starting to miss her—the sound of her voice when she took jabs at him, the look in her eyes after she pulled a prank, the way she rattled off stupid statistics about death when she didn’t want to do something. It was getting ridiculous.
When she didn’t show in the front lawn that night, he worried. But as his brain mapped out all the possible plays and scenarios of her move, his concern turned to irritation and before long, he was pissed. She was avoiding him; he was sure of it…and that was pretty weak.
If the kiss was unwanted, or if it sucked, she could at least have the decency to tell him face to face instead of playing games. And considering he was already up and stomping off toward her cabin, he was ready to tell her exactly that.
B
ut as he approached, Rebel appeared in the window. On instinct, he ducked behind the deck just as she opened the door. She caught it on her way out, easing it shut so it wouldn’t make the crashing sound it usually did as people came and went. Then she took off down the road.
Yes, Rebel Hart was a slick one, he had to give her that. She planted the seed with everyone that she was in for the night and the counselors were too busy getting the little kids to watch the movie to notice what was going on at the north side of the camp.
Namely, Rebel sneaking out after curfew.
His mouth went dry as he watched her. Where the hell was she going?
His imagination went to places he wished it wouldn’t. Like maybe she had a boyfriend at the other camp or was hooking up with some local in town. His face burned at the thought for reasons he didn’t want to consider, and he decided right then and there, it wasn’t happening.
What was the female version of cockblocking?
Whatever it was, he would be doing it. There was no way he was about to stand by and look on as some idiot, who didn’t deserve her, took advantage.
He kept his distance behind her as she walked the path, but not so far that he couldn’t catch up in seconds. His stats on speed were well-documented on the team, and he could gauge his time to reach her, if need be, almost to the second. It wasn’t an issue.
She began to slow. He followed suit, determined not to be caught if his hunch was off. God, he hated the idea of her knowing that he was following her. She’d look at him, in that all-knowing way of hers that he couldn’t stand, and purse those plump lips while her eyes danced, and ask why he was following her. She’d assume it was because he’d been watching her, that he was jealous or obsessed with her or something.
Then she’d gloat.
He simply had to make sure he didn’t get caught. Unless he absolutely couldn’t help it. Point was, she was not going off with some guy. Not after what happened between them at the lake.
Suddenly, Rebel stopped walking and hid behind a tree. Moments later, a guy on a bike came barreling around the corner.
Shit, I knew it.
She captured him with her flashlight, and Justice quickly assessed him—five seven or eight, with about one hundred and forty pounds on his mid-size frame. Okay, so that wouldn’t be a problem. Justice’s muscles seized as they did when he said hike during a game. He was ready to run.
The guy slowed to a stop and handed Rebel a bag. She, in turn, passed over a wad of money, said a few words, and the guy took off—almost as quickly as he came in.
Justice’s stomach turned.
It wasn’t a hookup after all.
Shit, no, this was much, much worse.
Chapter Sixteen
Tip #15
“A survivalist uses all resources at her disposal.”
Rebel
Before Rebel headed back to camp, she stopped to rub her legs. She was going to have to treat them when she got to the cabin because they were beginning to burn.
Kenny had been in such a hurry when he arrived at their designated spot, he’d skidded to a stop, kicking up gravel that pinged her shins in the process. It felt like she might have some of those rocks embedded in her skin.
“Sorry about that,” Kenny had said. “It’s been a crazy night.”
“Oh yeah?” She’d asked him, pulling out a pile of cash. “Lots of orders tonight?”
“You have no idea. Our customers’ appetite for this stuff is insatiable.”
“Well, you do have good stuff.”
She’d winked and handed him the money, as he’d passed over the goods.
The two made their exchange, and though she’d been able to hold it together while she talked to him, now that he was gone, her mouth was literally watering.
She’d met Kenny online a few years back when she was preparing for camp. Though she loved everything about Pine Ridge as a kid, she’d come to find a few ways to make the month a little more bearable during recent years. Kenny had since become essential to her overall happiness and general well-being.
Now with everything going on with Justice, she needed this more than ever. Plus, being out and away from camp helped clear her head. Yet even with each step away from everyone (or him specifically) her bones felt all melty—as if she were floating more than walking. It’d been two days, and she couldn’t get that dang kiss out of her mind.
God, why’d he have to come to her camp this year? Why?
Unable to last another moment, she reached her hand into the bag. But when she did, a large shadow flew across her line of sight…taking her bag of goods with it.
“What the—?” she yelled. Her heart settled in her throat, and her entire body shook, but she refused to show any fear. She searched the ground for anything that could be used as a weapon.
“Shhh,” the shadow hissed, “You’re going to get us both in trouble.”
She instantly recognized the voice and stopped her weapons search. She really needed to lay off The Walking Dead binge sessions.
“What are you doing out here, Justice?” She raised her voice again, before realizing someone at camp might hear her. Voices out here could carry, but she was seething. She liked her jump scares in movies, not in real life She was already on edge as it was. And wasn’t it just like him to show up and mess everything up again? She was out here trying to get away from him and all that had happened earlier. She didn’t need another reminder.
“I’m watching you meet up with some dude, that’s what I’m doing out here, Rebel,” he spat.
“What are you talking about?”
“You tell me,” he said, shining his flashlight. “Or better yet, why don’t I just look in the bag.” He opened it and pulled out her tinfoil-wrapped feel-good remedy.
Oh hell no.
“Give it back,” she said, swiping for it, before Justice raised it over his head. “I’m serious, you idiot. Give me back my sandwich.”
“Right,” he said. “Sandwich. Nice cover.”
“Are you mentally ill?” She took a step back, trying to understand what was going on with him.
“No, are you?” He brought the sandwich to his nose and sniffed.
“Stop contaminating my food,” she said, succeeding this time when she batted at his hand. She couldn’t take it any longer, so she unwrapped the veggie burger and sank her teeth right into it.
It was better than she remembered.
“Fine,” he huffed. “Very good cover.” He pulled out the rest of her meal, opening up the containers and sniffing each one.
“Where’d the rando put it?” In the dim light, she could see his eyes searching hers, questioning.
“He’s not a rando,” she told him, wiping the crumbs off her face. “He’s my supplier.”
“Yeah, I know,” he said. “So where are the supplies?”
“I’m eating them, you moron. Seriously, what’s wrong with you?”
“It’s not me we need to be concerned about. I didn’t think you were into any shit. I know you’re a little weird, but I thought you were like that…naturally.”
She laughed then. She continued laughing until her stomach hurt. Dang, he was seriously ruining her meal. “Oh my God. I’m not into anything…except food. That was Kenny. His parents run a restaurant in town. The only place where I can get quinoa and veggie burgers and sweet potato fries.”
“You’re telling me he just brings you food?” he scoffed.
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you. I have a very sophisticated palate, and franks and beans don’t cut it.” She shrugged. “Sorry.”
He inspected her bag again, opening the containers of food, snagging a fry for himself, then put a hand to his forehead and blew out a long breath. “Jesus, Rebel. You really freaked me out. At first I thought it was a hookup…”
That admission brought on another wave of laughter. The nervous kind. He’d been looking out for her, which obviously meant he’d been thinking about her, which meant… Oh, who knew what
it meant? What she did know was that he was sure making it difficult to be enemies.
“Come on, detective,” she said with a giggle. “Let’s get back before we really do get into trouble.”
They walked in silence. She tried offering Justice some of her food, but he declined. The quiet made her anxious. She liked it better when they were fighting. Things were easier that way. It was also better to focus on his misery, rather than her own unwanted thoughts. So she said the first thing that came to her mind.
“Jelly,” she whispered after she finished stuffing her face.
“What?” he stopped.
“You’re jelly,” she said again. Though she hated when people used that phrase, particularly anyone over the age of eighteen, it was the perfect word to use to jab him in that moment.
“Pfft.”
“Yep,” she continued. “All worried that I was sneaking out to meet some guy. Kind of odd for someone who didn’t give me two seconds of time at school.”
Crap! That was not the direction she wanted to take their conversation, but she seemed to have no control over her words where Justice was concerned. He’d been so open with her that it was hard to keep her own walls up around him. Plus, she had so many unresolved feelings from last year.
“If you would’ve given me the chance to talk earlier—”
She moved to interrupt, trying to take it back—mostly because she was scared of what she might hear. But he wouldn’t let her this time and actually put his hand over her mouth.
“As I was saying.” He removed his hand, holding up a finger in warning. “I was starting to have feelings for you then.”
“Then?” she choked out, feeling every fiber in her entire body short circuit. It was the complete opposite answer of what she expected him to say.
“That day, when you told me about Ryan,” he continued, bending his head so far to the side that his neck cracked. “That entire time period, actually. Once we started coming over to your place, I was thinking things about you that I had no business thinking.”