by K Leigh
“I’ll try not to offend his royal highness, then,” I promise, my own gaze gravitating toward the subject of our conversation. “Although, I truly don’t think he noticed.”
“He did.” Seth elbows me. “He asked about you earlier.” He turns away without another word, heading back to the Wasps.
“How’s Seth?” The first words out of Kate’s mouth when I rejoin the group make me wonder if she had sensed the tension at the table. “I miss him.”
“You two are sickening.” I shake my head in mock disgust. “And it’s hard to take you seriously with food stuck to your face.” Reaching up, I grab the culprit and flick it off. We both watch it arc magnificently through the air, landing perfectly in Matt’s hair.
Quickly covering Kate’s mouth to hide her loud gasp, I pinch my own lips in an attempt not to laugh.
He smooths his hair down as if the wind had ruffled it, unaware of the true cause. White streaks intertwine with the strands and Seth chooses that moment to glance at Kate and me. His eyes widen in horror as he takes in our shocked faces and follows our gazes to Matt’s hair.
“Hey, dude, you’ve got something gross in your hair,” Amanda yells over the chatter, oblivious to the fact I’m slicing my hand across my neck to tell her to cut it out.
Matt’s head spins around to find the voice, and he watches Kate and I hurry to compose ourselves. His bemused expression only makes the situation worse. He spreads his fingers out and continues combing them through his hair, the digits moving stiffly through the marshmallow gunk.
“I apparently have it all over me.” Matt flashes a wry smile around at us. “It’ll wash out. I’ll be fine.”
Matt’s calm response soothes Seth’s nerves, and he visibly relaxes and returns to his dessert. Personally, I’m surprised the situation hadn’t caused a larger scene. Connor would’ve flipped his lid if something like that had happened to him.
As I return to crafting my s’more, the thought crosses my mind that maybe we don’t need to tiptoe around Matt like I had thought. He hasn’t shown any signs of running to tattle, and—except for his sarcastic humor—has been nice for the most part.
The cozy fire and delicious food, combined with being reunited with my best friend at my favorite place, has me pushing the rest of my scattered thoughts away as we begin preparing the kids for Charades.
10
Lia
“Ready for breakfast, princess?” My dad sneaks up on me while I’m flipping through Natalie’s journal. I rush to tuck it into the worn copy of The Mists of Avalon on my bedside table, attempting to squeeze the book onto my shelf without him noticing there’s something stashed inside it.
Luckily, he’s pretty oblivious at the moment, focused on his rumbling stomach. If there’s one thing that can distract my dad, it’s hunger. Saturday mornings have always been father-daughter days. For as long as I can remember, Dad and I would dress up and sneak out of the house, trying not to wake my mom. It was always her day to sleep late.
“I just need to comb my hair and I’ll be ready.” Grabbing my brush from my vanity, I swipe it through my hair a few times before tossing it back down and grabbing my purse from the back of my door.
We chatter about our week on the drive. Dad’s booked three more weddings for the fall, and I describe our loft shoots. Before we know it, he’s pulling into the parking lot.
Our usual booth at the Branch Key Stop & Go was waiting on us, and as my dad eyes a biscuit the size of his face with an expression of utter adoration, it takes all of my self-control not to burst out laughing.
“Dad, it’s just a biscuit,” I joke, cutting into my own breakfast, a plate of French toast and bacon. The syrup hits my tongue and I savor the flavors bursting in my mouth. No one makes breakfast like this place. There’s a sign above the counter that reads: You know you’re in the south when the town's best restaurant is in a gas station. I don’t know how they do it up north, but I do know this is the best place to eat in Branch Key.
“We’ve got a crazy summer ahead of us.” He blows on his cup of coffee before sipping it slowly.
“Lots of weddings.” Dabbing my face with my napkin, I sip my milk.
“Your mom said you haven’t made any other plans.”
“She did, did she?” The clinking of my glass against my plate startles me, but I lock my eyes on my dad, who is suddenly enthralled in the crossword puzzle.
His ability to solve the puzzles so quickly has always amazed me, and the fact that he does them in pen is even more impressive.
“Natalie mentioned you seemed interested in camp.” He marks off another clue, still avoiding my gaze.
“Winegar women are so chatty,” I muse.
“You’re one too, princess. They’re just worried about you. I am too. You need to hang out with people your own age, not spend all your time with us old farts.”
He’s not wrong, but I would feel guilty abandoning them all summer before I move away. My family doesn’t know, but I’ve been applying to schools a bit further from home then they expected me to. I’ve been accepted at most of them, and I’ll be attending one of them in the fall. I haven’t told them any details. So, I feel like I need to spend the whole summer with them.
“You’re not old, Daddy. And I’m supposed to go to a movie with the debate team later this week. Does that make you feel better?” The debate team I was on in high school has a group text to make plans. I rarely join in, and I honestly hadn’t planned to go to the movie before now, but it was the perfect plan to get him off my back.
“That’s great.” He dips his head, visibly pleased with himself, as he grabs his coffee cup for another sip. I’m sure he’ll repeat this conversation with my mother later.
I glance around for Sam, our normal waitress. As if she senses my distress, she catches my eye and makes her way toward us with a smile. Her bright blonde curls are piled on top of her head in a messy bun, her pearly whites shining bright.
“How’s my favorite duo doing? Need a refill?” If possible, Sam’s bright cherry lips spread even wider when she looks at my dad. Sam is always recognizable, with her vibrant lips and husky smoker’s laugh. Everyone wants her to be their waitress. If Sam has your table, your cup’s never empty and you always have napkins. She may be old enough to be my grandmother, but she’s always had a thing for my dad. He humors her affections, as does my Mom.
“I’d love some more coffee, darlin’.” Her cheeks flush at his remark and she practically preens as she hurries to grab the pot from the counter.
When she returns and fills his cup, he makes conversation. “How’s everything going? How are your kids?”
“Not bad, not bad. I’m having another grandbaby. My daughter is eight weeks along.”
“Congrats on the news! How many does that make now?”
“Four. One more and they’ll have their own basketball team.” She puts her hand on her hip. “Been busy this weekend? I know y’all are gearing up for the wedding season.”
Dad nods, motioning toward me. “Can’t even get this girl to go to summer camp because she wants to take pictures of weddings instead.”
“Now, Teddy. Girls love weddings. Lia’s just getting ideas so hers will be perfect someday.”
My dad’s face pales at the thought. “I’m not ready for that kind of talk.”
“Oh, it’ll be fine.” Sam claps him on the back. “Let me get your check. I’ll bring you a biscuit to go.”
“Thank you, Sam,” I call after her. “Excuse me, Daddy. I’m running to the restroom.”
Sliding out of the booth, I make my way to the bathroom. Looking around to make sure I’m alone, I brace myself on the sink and look in the mirror. My flushed cheeks shine in the dim lights, and my eyes are wider than usual. Using my hands, I splash cold water on my face.
It’s like everyone has an idea of what I should be doing but me. Settling down here—and soon—is the last thing on my mind. Heck, I don’t know that I ever want to get married. I suppose th
at’s what happens in our family, though. Natalie and Dad stayed here; their whole lives have been in Branch Key.
Well, I thought they were. Natalie had a bit of a life at camp, apparently.
Giving my reflection another once over, I smooth my shirt, take a deep breath, and head back to our table. My dad looks up from his plate, looking over me with a concerned gleam in his eyes
“Everything all right?” he asks.
“Everything’s great, Dad.” I grab my purse while Dad leaves the money for the bill and we make our way to the car.
But really, am I great?
11
Natalie
Past
The first full day of camp has always been the hardest…
I silence my alarm as soon as it goes off. During my first summer as a Shady Grove staff member, I learned my lesson about hot water. If you don’t get to the showers early, you’ll get an ice-cold wake-up call.
I also kind of hate the communal showers, anyway. So getting up before the bugle sounds eliminates the issue of having to shower at the same time as my cabin mates.
Sometimes, I get up early enough to hike before my shower, but this first morning, I’m not that enthusiastic.
Stretching my arms over my head, I’m enveloped in a mixed aroma of s’mores and fire, a sweet, smoky reminder of the night before. I never got a chance to ask Kate about Seth’s concerns over impressing Matt. As the night went on, Seth had become more and more relaxed, and he and Matt were hanging out like old friends, cracking jokes with the kids and pelting Kate and me with marshmallows.
The sun peeks at me over the lake, shining through the bathroom window, and I pause for a moment to appreciate the view. I suddenly wish I had gotten up earlier to take pictures of the sunrise.
Summer camp is my number one escape, but photography has become a close second. My pictures may be taken with cheap disposable cameras, but they still make me happy. They may not be top notch, but they capture the moment.
As I close the door behind me, the squeaking of a faucet turning stops me in my tracks. Someone beat me to the bathroom.
I hadn’t heard anyone up before me. They must have taken care to be quiet. Slipping on my shower shoes, I drop my clean clothes for the day on the counter and hang my towel on the hook. Judging by my surroundings, my early-bird companion failed to bring anything to wear, because there are no other clothes in the area. A towel is hanging on their hook, at least.
After a moment’s hesitation, I decide that ignoring them is my best bet. Maybe I can even finish up before them.
I double-check that my door is locked before turning the water on, making it as hot as possible. Closing my eyes, I resist the urge to groan as the pressure of the water hits my sore muscles. Camp is always great, but the mattresses? Not so much.
Rinsing the remnants of last night’s fire from my hair leaves me feeling awake and refreshed, but scrubbing my skin free of the smoky smell is bittersweet. Every summer, there are only two bonfires. The first night with the campers, and the last night with just the staff. It wouldn’t be long before I’d be washing away the entire summer in my shower at home.
The last of the suds have just slid down my legs when the squeaking of the faucet shutting off in the next stall interrupts my reverie. I had managed to forget I wasn’t alone for a moment.
I consider hurrying to finish and escaping back to my room with my clothes, but the risk of being seen seems a little high. I’m not sure I could even finish dressing before they come out. But if I waited, the water would turn cold. I’d already pushed my luck with the temperature as it was.
Finally, I decide I’ll hurry and grab my clothes and sneak out before my neighbor finishes up.
I spin the water off and shove my shampoo and body wash back into my toiletry bag. Grabbing my towel off the hook, I wrap it around me as tight as possible. After squeezing the water out of my hair, I practically run out of the stall, and find myself standing right beside Matt, who is—of course—texting.
His phone is tucked snugly in a freezer bag, towel hanging from his hips. As he texts, the muscles in his forearms flex while water droplets glisten along his skin. He definitely works out.
He glances up at me for a split second before looking back at his phone, then snapping his head back up to me. His eyes trail over my face and down to my shoulders quickly, and I hope the sharp feeling of lust I had been feeling isn’t plain on my face.
“Natalie,” he greets, the smirk tugging at his top lip tells me he must have caught on.
“Matt.” Pulling my towel tighter around me, I accidentally drop my toiletry bag on the floor.
“I got up early to take pictures.” Matt holds up his phone, and it’s all I can do not to gasp as his towel slides a bit lower. “The sunrise here is perfect. I’d forgotten how beautiful it could be. Next time, I’ll take my camera, too.”
“It is beautiful. I normally get up in time,” I reply, crossing my arms tighter. My clothes beckon me from the bench, but there’s no way I’d be able to get dressed in front of him.
He shrugs, shooting me a sheepish grin. “I’ve never been here for camp before, but the board members’ families stay here occasionally for events. I always got up early then.” He takes a deep breath and it seems almost…nervous. “I haven’t been here in years. I wasn’t sure how everyone would react to a board member’s kid being on staff.”
“Well, here, everyone will be nice to your face,” I reassure him. “That’s how we’re raised. It’s what they say behind your back that you have to worry about.”
“Noted.” He nods. “I better get going. I didn’t think anyone would be joining me, so I don’t have any clothes and I’m sure you’d like to get into yours.” His eyes leave a burning trail down my neck before dropping to where my towel rests on my knees. “See you later, Natalie.”
“Bye,” I call after him, my mind reeling. How could someone simultaneously infuriate me and entice me?
Once the bathroom door closes, I get dressed faster than I ever have and collect my belongings, ready to escape. I pause after a few steps, unable to resist the urge to glance into Matt’s stall. The scent of his soap still lingers, its woodsy smell stoking the burning desire coiling in my belly. He’d left the bottle on the shelf.
I could just leave it. I’m sure he’ll remember at some point. Or, he can grab it tomorrow. If I return it, I’ll be faced with the task of talking to him again, which would no doubt lead to more irritation—and arousal. I’m almost to the door before I double back and grab his stuff. It can’t hurt to do a good deed.
But when I leave the bathroom, my head down and looking over the label of his body wash, I bounce off the hardest surface I’ve ever come into contact with.
Matt’s hands wrap around my arms in an attempt to steady me, and I pray harder than I’ve ever prayed for anything that his towel remains snug and tight around his waist. My arms tingle where his fingertips rest on my skin, and I’m beyond thankful I had time to get dressed before this interaction.
“You forgot your—” I start right as he says, “I was coming back for that.”
When his hands leave me, my arms feel cold in place of his touch, but I tell myself to ignore it. Shoving his body wash at him, I duck around his tall frame and run straight into my room, locking the door behind me.
As soon as the hallway is clear, I rush to Kate’s cabin and she greets me with sleepy eyes. She perks up when she realizes how nervous I was. “Natalie, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I’m fine,” I reassure her with a smile. “Just ready to get the day started.
The Ladybugs’ cabin reeks of the sunblock the girls were smoothing onto their arms and legs. I’m glad to see most have their shoes on by now. Checking the clock on my phone, I announce that there’s fifteen minutes until the bugle. I can’t believe Kate has her cabin up this early.
If Matt plans to make his morning shower a normal thing, I’m going to have to get up even earli
er to beat him to the punch. Remembering his comment about the sunrise, I have an aching to see the pictures he took. I wonder if he was able to catch the moment the sun peeks over the lake. That’s always my favorite.
He and I may be complete opposites in most aspects, but we have one common interest, and it makes him that much more intriguing to me.
“I’m going down to the kitchen, Kate,” I tell her. “I’ll catch you later.”
“Have fun! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.
“That gives me a lot of wiggle room, girl.”
12
Natalie
Past
Today was so liberating…
The first morning of camp flies by for the kitchen staff. From what I had understood, Matt should have been helping with prep, but morning turned into afternoon and he still hadn’t appeared. During meals, the counselors sit together, unless their kids start misbehaving and they need to go interfere. Peter approved for me to take my lunch when Kate’s cabin eats, so that gives me time to hang out with her.
When I reach the table where she’s saved my seat, Matt and Seth are already there and fumbling through a stack of mail.
“First day and you’ve already got three letters, Nat.” Seth passes them to me, talking around a mouthful of potato salad.
“Mom, Teddy, and Connor.” I flip through them, dreading the last one. “They had to have written them before I even left home, if they’re already here.”
Matt speaks up then. “Maybe they wanted to make sure you knew that they missed you.”
“Maybe.” I skim the first letter. My parents wrote the typical “Happy first day of camp, love and miss you!” spiel.