Camp Boyfriend

by Rock, J. K.

  “Congratulations, Lauren!” A meaty hand clapped me on the shoulder, and I turned to see an older gentleman who looked vaguely familiar in a dark blue suit with an American flag pinned to the lapel.

  A distant uncle? A friend of my father’s?

  “Thank you,” I said automatically, wondering if he’d somehow mistaken me for the bride. Since I was a brunette wearing lavender instead of a blonde in white, that didn’t seem too likely.

  “Aren’t you going to ask me what for?” he teased, a big grin on his face, his polished white teeth standing out against very tanned skin.

  Like a politician’s, I thought.

  That’s when it hit me how I knew this guy. From TV and the paper. He was our local congressman, a friend of my grandfather’s.

  “Ohmigod.” I let the comment slip out, unguarded. “You’re Representative Fawkes. Thank you so much for the letter of recommendation for the Aerospace program. I just sent you a thank-you note—”

  “You’re welcome.” He took a glass of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray and gave the man orders to start sending over the folks with the hors d’oeuvres. Then Representative Fawkes leaned closer to me. “But I’m not congratulating you on applying, young lady.”

  My head reeled. My knees felt weak. Could he be saying what I thought he was saying?

  “Excuse me?”

  “I talked to the folks over at the Aerospace Scholars program just this morning.” He took a sip of his champagne and I wondered if he was enjoying the suspense because it was definitely killing me. Then, with all the drama of a man who knew a thing or two about sound bites, he whispered, “You’re in.”

  I couldn’t hold in the scream even though I bit my lip. It came out as more of a screech. I launched myself in his arms and hugged him, almost spilling his drink.

  “Thank you!” I couldn’t wait to tell my dad. “Thank you so much.”

  “It wasn’t my hard work that got you in,” he reminded me. “We need strong women to lead us into the future.” He patted me on the shoulder, still grinning, while he intercepted a waitress with a tray full of bacon-wrapped shrimp. “Make good use of this opportunity.”

  “I will,” I promised, wishing I could share this news with Siobhan after the way she’d encouraged me to apply.

  For that matter, Seth deserved some credit for reminding me to follow my dreams. Matt, too, would be so proud of me…

  The ache in my chest returned with new bittersweetness. I wouldn’t be seeing any of them next summer, since the Aerospace Program would be my priority. I wouldn’t be going back to camp. I wondered if this hurt inside would go away by then.

  Funny how some dreams came true at the same time old ones faded away.

  “May I have your attention please?” The DJ’s voice came over the sound system just as the lights dimmed in the country club. “Ladies and gentlemen, I have some very special introductions to make.”

  Knowing my sister must have arrived, I hurried to the back of the room to get ready for the DJ’s introduction of the bridal party. Kellianne and Andrew got to make their big entrance as husband and wife, and then they’d dance. Then, finally, we could all relax and eat.

  Hopefully that would help ease the butterflies that had come out of nowhere. I shouldn’t have been nervous, but it had been such a roller coaster for the past few weeks. I saw my mom and dad gathered with the bridal party as the first bridesmaid and groomsman were called to the dance floor, but I didn’t say anything about my big news. This was Kellianne’s time.

  “Where’s Kellianne?” I asked my mom, peering around the entrance to the restaurant.

  “With Andrew,” she said vaguely, a big smile pinned to her face, as if that could erase the hint of worry in her eyes. “Around the corner, I think.”

  My stomach cramped. They couldn’t seriously be having a disagreement two hours into their married life. Guilt swamped me for not hashing things out with Kellianne last night when she’d expressed some worries.

  While the next bridesmaids were announced, I hurried toward the alcove my mom had indicated, a little lounge near the bathrooms. I hadn’t rounded the corner yet when I heard Andrew’s thick southern accent speaking softly.

  “Honey, you know I just want you to be happy. You should take that job if you want it.”

  And my sister’s voice answering him. “But what about your mom? You know she can’t wait for a grandbaby.”

  “We’ll just keep reminding her she’s too young to be a grandma, okay?” He chuckled over that and something else he said—too low to overhear—made Kellianne laugh.

  My heart melted as Andrew Buford III’s stock soared in my book.

  “Maid of honor, Ms. Lauren Carlson,” the DJ’s voice suddenly boomed through the sound system as I was being announced “and best man Mr.—”

  Crap.

  I sprinted to the best man’s side and looped my hand through his arm for our entrance, but not before I gave my mother a thumbs-up so she would know everything was okay with Kellianne. Seeing my sister’s happily-ever-after come together so well made it a little easier to feel okay about not getting one for me. At least I had the Aerospace program.

  I took my place off to one side of the dance floor with the other wedding attendants. We were supposed to wait there while Andrew and Kellianne took their first quick turn around the dance floor. Apparently it was a tradition in the Buford family to do this lone dance before dinner—an unorthodox practice that my mother had tried politely arguing about, but this was one arena where Andrew’s family got some say.

  “And for the bride and groom’s first dance,” the DJ announced as a spotlight hovered on Andrew and Kellianne. “We have a special guest to serenade them with an original song.”

  Special guest?

  I hadn’t heard a word about this, and wondered if the Bufords had tried springing more last-minute surprises. But my mother’s face showed no hint of aggravation. In fact, she smiled at me. As did the bride.

  Why where they looking at me?

  Then the DJ continued, “Please welcome Matt Butler to sing to the new Mr. and Mrs. Buford!”

  I didn’t fully comprehend that introduction until I heard the gorgeous strains of a melody I knew well even though I’d only heard it a few times before. It felt like I was in a dream as I eased away from the best man to see the source of the music.

  In the shadows of the stage, off to one side, Matt sat at the piano, dressed flawlessly in a black tuxedo, his broad shoulders leaning forward over the keys.

  “When the cold/ freezes you body and soul…”

  His green eyes met mine in the slow, spinning squares of light filtered over the dance floor. While the rest of the room watched Andrew and Kellianne, Matt and I only had eyes for each other.

  He came for me.

  I knew he would never be sitting here, singing in public for probably the first time in his life outside of camp, just because Kellianne wanted him to. No. If Matt was here, at this wedding that I’d asked him to attend with me, it was because he wanted to be here for me.

  As my date. And—I hoped—my boyfriend.

  “When the sun falls/and the stars emerge,” he sang, lifting his voice with lyrics that had never been about Hannah. I understood now that Come Back and Be My Love was about me.

  Us.

  The tears that had threatened earlier were falling now, and I didn’t even care. It was dark anyhow, and the only one who saw was Matt. Frankly, he deserved to see how much I cared. After he’d waited all summer for me to figure out what I wanted. After he’d eventually forgiven and even understood about me and Seth.

  After he’d reached deep inside to write the most beautiful song I’d ever heard… Yeah, Matt Butler had earned the right to know how much his love touched me. How much I loved him back.

  The notes swirled around me like the rose-colored lights, the music reaching out like a hug across the space between us.

  “The future’s certain/since you’ve opened my eyes/So wo
n’t you be my love?/Come back and be my love.” The final chords of the song died away, and Matt straightened back from the keys, his eyes still on me.

  The room erupted in thunderous applause for the couple in the spotlight while I sought the man behind the music.

  “Matt.” I put shaking hands on the piano as he rose from the bench. “That was amazing.”

  The spotlight flashed over to him for a minute and the applause rose again. He took a bow, that dazzling smile of his winning over anyone in the crowd who wasn’t already in love with him. No matter that Matt had found his inner geek, he was still seriously hot. Nerd cool and geek chic. It was a sexy combination.

  I was glad I saw a lot more than that in him, though.

  “Sorry I’m late.” He turned toward me after taking the bow, his hand reaching out for mine. A half-grin kicked up one side of his face. “I thought I’d make an entrance.”

  “You definitely accomplished that.” I took his hand while everyone else started taking their seats for the meal.

  “Hey.” He frowned and put his arm around me. “You’re shaking like a leaf. Everything okay?”

  “I thought you weren’t coming,” I confessed, tilting my head onto his shoulder. He felt so solid. So real.

  “I wouldn’t miss it, Lauren. You worked so hard on this wedding all summer, even when you were supposed to be having fun with your friends.” He squeezed me and guided me toward a door that led outdoors where a few patio tables were set up for anyone wanting to catch some fresh air despite the heat. “Come on, we can take a minute to talk while they get seated.”

  Looking back over my shoulder, I saw he was right. People who’d missed Kellianne and Andrew in the receiving line were swarming them now. Mom and Dad were talking to old friends. Dinner would be a while.

  Following him outside, we could see Turtle Creek in the valley below the country club. Torches were already lit even though it wasn’t dark outside yet. A white canvas tent was set up with fans for outdoor dancing later.

  “When I didn’t hear from you after camp, I thought maybe Hannah had finally convinced you…”

  “No.” He shook his head. “Lauren, I’m crazy about you. I wouldn’t have been hanging out with Hannah at all except that she was always there any time I turned around this summer.” He shrugged. “She’s going through some tough stuff at home and I related, but when she started to think it meant more than friendship…”

  “You don’t have to explain it to me.” I didn’t want to be the kind of couple that needed to question each other’s every conversation with someone of the opposite sex. “You trusted me plenty of times. I trust you, too.”

  He smiled. “That feels really good. But I have a confession to make before you trust me too much.”

  My heart fell. “What?”

  “I talked to Seth on the bus to the airport after camp.”

  “You’re kidding.” I couldn’t picture the two of them doing more than snarling at each other.

  “No. And I’ll admit I asked him—you know—what his intentions were toward you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “So you only trust me now that you believe Seth and I are really through?”

  “Hell, no. Lauren, that guy will always be a little in love with you, and I’m going to have to live with that. But hearing him talk about you reminded me that I’d be a jerk to let stupid jealousy keep us apart.”

  My eyes burned all over again. Because even though it was Matt that I loved, I had Seth to thank for pushing us together. Seth, who would always have a place in my heart too. But now I understood that it was as my friend.

  “Seth and I were friends for a long time, and I hope someday we’ll be friends again.” Twilight was falling now, the sky turning purple in the west as a few fireflies lit the bushes nearby.

  Photouris pyralis, I happened to know, thanks to a friend.

  “I get that.” Matt nodded. “That’s cool with me.”

  “So how did you end up singing at the wedding?” I asked, wanting to get back to us. Matt was my future after all, and I couldn’t wait to start it.

  “I called your sister a few days ago to pitch my case.” He turned me toward him so that we stood eye to eye. “I had to submit a demo tape first.”

  “Of course.” I laughed. “I can’t believe she kept it a secret.”

  “It was her idea to make it a surprise.” He put his hands on my hips and drew me closer.

  My heartbeat sped at his nearness. He smelled so good.

  “I can’t believe that I worked so hard to make friends this year—both in school and at camp—and it turned out the person who had my back the most in the end is probably my sister.”

  “She even got me a fitting for a tux at the last minute so I could look almost good enough to hang out with you.” He smoothed his palm to my back where a hundred little buttons held my dress in place. “You look incredible.”

  “So do you,” I whispered hoarsely, already imagining the night that I let him lead me into the privacy of the trees down by Turtle Creek, where couples went to be alone under the stars…

  Speaking of stars.

  “Guess what?” I blurted just before he kissed me.

  “Mmm?” he asked, his mouth already brushing mine gently.

  He had distracted me so thoroughly it took me a minute to remember what I was going to say.

  “I got accepted into the Aerospace Scholars program.” I still couldn’t believe it. The news felt all the more special now that I had someone to share it with.

  “That’s fantastic.” He hugged me hard. “I’m so proud of you.”

  Laughter filtered out through the bank of windows from the party inside, reminding me we should probably get back indoors before someone missed us.

  “Thank you.” I was pretty proud of me too. “I’m really excited.” I could hear the DJ’s voice inside, calling people to their tables to be seated now. “But we’d better go in.”

  “On one condition.” He held me there, a teasing light in his eyes. “If you’re going to be an astronomer, you have to promise you’ll take me stargazing one of these nights.”

  “Stargazing?” It sounded a little old fashioned. Possibly a little geeky. And just right for us.

  I looked skyward just in time to see the first stars come out. Cicadas chirped in the tall grass as the night songs started early.

  “Only if you sing to me some more.” I wanted to know the musician much better than I’d gotten to know the football player.

  “Deal,” he whispered, just as his mouth came down to mine.

  And, wedding or no wedding, I decided this kiss deserved all the time in the world.

  Acknowledgements

  Joanne and Karen would like to thank their editor, Patricia Riley, for caring as passionately about this book and the characters as they have. Special thanks to Kate Kaynak for giving Camp Boyfriend the exciting honor of being the first book in the Spencer Hill Contemporary line. We are grateful to Danielle Ellison for putting her special stamp on the story, our publicist Cindy Thomas who made sure people found out about the book, the multi-talented Jenn Rush for the fantastic cover art, the West brothers for their fun and funny YouTube show, “This Week in YA” that featured Camp Boyfriend, along with the many other Spencer Hill Press staffers who helped fine-tune our story including Britta, Christina, John, Lauren, Rich, Shira, and Taryn. Finally, we would like to send the very warmest thank you to our agent, Barbara Collins Rosenberg for encouraging us in our quest to write a story about summer camp.

  From Joanne:

  To Dean—thank you for believing in my dreams and encouraging me to pursue them. Huge thanks to my critique partner, Catherine Mann, who is ready to brainstorm no matter what time her phone rings. Much love to my parents for sending me to summer camp, hugs to my cousins, Karen Pickup, Susan Newkirk and Michele Murray for sharing those memorable summers with me, and a special shout-out to my three sons, Maxim, Camden and Taylor Rock, who know that “I’m on deadline” means they�
�ll be making their own dinners for a week. Finally, this book would not be possible without the talent, enthusiasm and creativity of my sister-in-law, Karen, who inspired me to write a YA novel with her deep respect for the genre. It turned out to be very easy to merge two voices that have talked as long and often as we have over the years! Thank you to the Rock family for bringing us together, for throwing the best parties, and for giving me the best in-laws any girl could ever ask for.

  From Karen:

  To Greg—the ‘Rock’ in my world. Thank you for your unfailing support, encouragement, faith and love. There is no greater gift than knowing that I get to spend the rest of my life with you. A big mom hug to my tell-it-like-it-is daughter Danielle who brought out the best in me and my writing with her patient, honest, and tough critiques. I love you both so much. Thank you as well to my wonderful in-laws, my father, and sister, Jeanne for being such a caring family to me. Much appreciation as well to my wonderful SCBWI writers group Marjorie Light, Kate Messner, Jaramy Connors, Amy Guglielmo, Lucy Cooney, and Jacqueline Tourville whose talent and positivity have been a great source of inspiration, and to my Friday Night Book Club members Jennifer Giumbruno, Elizabeth Gibbs, Michelle Oullette, and Elaine Ostry who keep me laughing and reading great literature every month. Thanks as well to my co-teacher and friend extraordinaire Penny Manor, and my fellow English teachers Andrew Ducharme, Nancy Strack, Michelle Walpole, Sue Wilson, Erica Buskey and our incredible librarian Russell Puschak and his amazing assistant Carol Passno-I absolutely do not know how I would get through a day without you. Finally, I am most grateful to my wonderful sister-in-law and dearest friend, Joanne Rock. It’s hard to believe that we came away from a Burlington shopping trip one year with the greatest prize of all- our writing partnership. To steal a line from one of my favorite books, Freak the Mighty, “I never had a (writer’s) brain, until (Joanne) came along and let me borrow hers for a while”. If it wasn’t for Joanne, I never would have had the courage to share my writing with others. Because of her faith in me, I believe in myself and, most of all, the wonderful stories we have to share.