Falling In Fast
Bridgeport Lake Summer Series Book One
Danielle Arie
Contents
FALLING IN FAST
DISCLAIMER
STAY IN TOUCH
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THIRTY-FOUR
THIRTY-FIVE
EPILOGUE
ONE
Acknowledgments
FALLING IN FAST
BRIDGEPORT LAKE SUMMER CAMP-BOOK ONE
Two Hearts. Three Weeks. One Unexpected Romance.
Cover design by Parker Premades
Editor, Kelley Lynn of CookieLynn Publishing
Copyright Information
Falling In Fast © 2019 Danielle Arie. All Rights Reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
DISCLAIMER
The events, characters, firms, and settings depicted in this novel are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The views held inside this novel are a reflection of the author and not that of any collaborative party.
To my God and Creator, my Rock and Redeemer. My Refuge and Strength. My ever-present help in time of need. May my work be to You a pleasing aroma, a testimony of my faith, and a reflection of the work You’ve done in me.
STAY IN TOUCH
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ONE
-Emery-
All my friends had their lives annoyingly figured out by the end of senior year. None of them were left guessing at their plans for college in the fall. I was in the same boat as them, sporting my new school colors, talking dorm-decor, and shedding a million goodbye tears. But that was before my jerk-boyfriend decided to make out with Carly Graves at a random party. I saw the video on social five days before graduation. So, did the rest of the school. Yeah. That kind of insanity makes a person rethink everything.
I had to get out of there.
I gritted my way through graduation, deleted all of Nick’s apology texts, and applied to work the summer at Bridgeport Lake Christian Camp. My acceptance call came the second day of summer.
Bridgeport wanted me and it was hundreds of miles away from everything that reminded me of him.
That was all I needed to know . . .
Something about the familiar, thick scent of mountain sequoias settled my nerves as I adjusted my duffle bag on my shoulder and glanced around the campus. Everything in sight took me straight back to summer life as a camper the previous four years. Swimming. Campfires. Ropes courses. Massive hundred-player games.
Life unplugged.
Bridgeport.
I scanned the shimmering lake to my right. The ancient boulder in the center stared back at me like it knew all the secrets of summer.
I thought it would be eerie, getting here two weeks before campers were set to come. It was beyond peaceful. Like, my own private oasis. Well, except for a few stray staffers walking around. But I was about to be one of them and that thought drowned out all the rest. Yeah. This was exactly what I needed to get my mind off of Nick. The surface of the familiar paved road glinted in the mid-morning sun. I headed toward the main office, tucked quietly inside a grove of trees, and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Can I help you?” A peppy redhead in a ponytail stood behind the front counter, twisting the pen cap in her fingers.
“I’m here for staff orientation,” I said, offering a timid smile.
Her eyes widened, her blue eyes practically sparking as she nodded. “Welcome aboard. What’s your name?”
“Emery Hudson.”
“I’m June. I’m here year-round.” She pulled a box of manila envelopes from beneath the counter, flipped through the stack, and stopped with a nod. “Here it is.” She took out an envelope and opened the flap, retrieving a key from inside. “You’re in room 210 in Blackthorn Hall. The women’s lodge.” She pulled out a camp-official lanyard, complete with the Bridgeport sequoia emblem with my name on it. “You’re supposed to wear this around campus at all times.” She handed it over.
“Thanks.” I slipped it over my head, hedging a smile. I’d envisioned wearing one of these things a million times as a camper. My fingers buzzed with excitement as the reality of finally being on staff hit home. June set three sealed plastic bags on top of the counter and patted it. “Your staff tees and instructions for dress code are in your handbook.”
“Got it.”
She glanced at the clock turning quickly to 11:30. “Lunch is at twelve in the cafeteria. Pastor Gregg plans to meet with everyone there to kind of give us a feel for this summer’s vision.”
“Awesome.” I took the keys.
“I’m in room 205 if you need anything,” she added with another bright smile.
“Thanks,” I said, toying with the hair-tie on my wrist as I dipped my head. “I’ll just head over then.”
She winked. “See you at lunch.”
“See you.”
The sun warmed my scalp as I headed back out and traveled the paved roadway up the slight incline through the trees until it flattened out again. I passed the camp pool and the pond. A million birds sang in chorus in the trees overhead as I took a sharp left in front of the basketball courts. A group of guys were in the middle of some kind of scrimmage. If I was brave, I’d drop my bags and join them. I cleared my throat instead and hurried my pace as their game switched hoops and they headed in my direction.
“Heads up!” someone shouted. I turned just in time to see the ball careening toward my head. It hit me with a solid ping and bounced back to the ground, the earth swaying beneath me for a second. I bent forward, pressing my palms to my knees to find equilibrium. A piercing sound rang through my ears.
Nice.
A set of footsteps came crunching over the gravel toward me. “Whoa. Sorry. You all right?” It was a deep voice. The rumbling kind. The kind of voice the bad boys had in high school.
A voice like Nick’s.
But there weren’t any bad boys here . . . part of staff requirements was a faith statement. You had to attend church. You had to have a letter from your pastor. Unless they were frauds, they wouldn’t be like Nick.
Pressing my palm to my head helped the dizziness a little, but my cheeks were on fire. “Yep. Fine. Thanks.” I stood, trying not to wince, but it stung. My head, and my pride.
“You sure? Here.” He stepped toward me, a head taller than me, and I was 5’10”. He motioned for my bag. “Let me help you with that. I’m Tucker by the way. Tucker Garcia. The guys just call me Tuck.”
“Really. I’m fine. Thanks.” I cleared my throat as I readjusted my duffle and glanced up at him for a second
. But for the love of everything right in the world, that was a mistake. He looked like one of those guys from the sports ads, all defined and sweaty, his muscle shirt hanging just slightly over the edge of his broad, tan shoulders. He had a chiseled jaw, deep brown eyes framed by long lashes, dark brows, and jet-black hair, cut like someone from the military.
He probably thought I looked ridiculous in my worn-out PE shirt from sophomore year. I’d completed the whole slob-look with a pair of basketball shorts, and flip-flops to top it off. He had no idea I’d dressed for comfort for the three-hour drive up here. I planned on changing in my room before meeting anyone. Of course, I had to meet a gorgeous jock right off the bat.
The corners of his dark eyes crinkled with his grin. “Nice try . . . Emery,” he said, squinting at my lanyard. “Hand it over.”
A quick glance at the court told me the rest of the guys were already back to their scrimmage, not one of them seeming to miss their friend Tuck for a second.
He lifted his brows, hand still extended.
I sighed, handing it to him. “I take it you’re a little stubborn.”
“Your observation skills are impeccable.” He slung the duffle over his shoulder and motioned toward the path. “Women’s lodge, right?”
-Tucker-
I don’t think I’d ever felt like a worse idiot. I didn’t see her coming until my no-look pass was on its way to Mal. Usually, he would’ve caught it, but he was too busy gawking at the new girl. Honestly, I couldn’t blame him.
I walked her to her lodge in a dumb attempt at an apology, finding out it was her first summer on-staff. She came from a suburban town three hours away. Had three older brothers. No mention of a boyfriend. Not that I needed to know . . .
We stopped outside the double doors and I handed her the bag.
She gave me an awesome grin, ducking her head as she took the strap. “Thanks.”
“Hey, don’t thank me when it was my pass that got loose.”
She lifted a shoulder, squinting into the sunlight behind me, the sun doing all kinds of crazy things to her gorgeous blue eyes. “Wasn’t the first time I’ve been hit by a wild pass.”
“No?” I scratched the back of my neck trying not to notice her blonde hair, or cute dimples, but dang, how could I not? “You play ball?”
“A little,” she said, pointing toward the door. “Anyway, I should probably get in there. I need to go figure out my life for a second.”
“Good luck with that.” I couldn’t help my grin. “What department are you working this summer?”
“Maintenance.”
What?
A girl like her wouldn’t come to Bridgeport to trim lawns and plunge toilets. There was no way. When June told me I had a new recruit coming this week, I just assumed it was another guy. I should have double checked the application she sent me. But, still.
My grin widened. “Are you playing around?”
“Why? Are you a chauvinist or something?”
“Hey, don’t go labeling me already.” I lifted my hands, spreading my fingers in surrender. “I just . . . you seem like . . . Uh . . . like a girly girl.”
Her face soured.
Smooth, Tuck.
“Like what?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I would’ve pegged you more for the coffee shop type. Lifeguarding maybe?” That spot on the back of my neck tightened. “Or, the Boathouse.”
“Right.” She narrowed her gaze. “And what about you? You must be heading up Games, right?”
“Games?” Was she serious? I ducked my head, cracking my knuckles before crossing my arms. “Why would you peg me for Games?”
“You just seem like the kind of guy with an affinity for bullhorns.”
“Affinity for bullhorns?”
“You know, the kind who likes to hear his own voice blasting across camp.”
“What?” I scoffed. Did I come off like a jerk? “Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know.” Something strange flashed through her eyes before she shook her head. “Never mind. Thanks for carrying my bag. I should get in there.” She turned to leave.
“I’m the Maintenance lead,” I said, to her back. “I usually train new crew members. We’ll be working together a lot if you’re really on my team.”
She paused and then nodded, continuing into the building, glancing over her shoulder once before she disappeared.
Interesting.
I walked back to the courts, waiting on the sidelines since the game was almost over. Mal headed toward me, wiggling his thick brows as he adjusted the sweatband at the base of his short afro. “Already moving in on the new girl?”
“The ball hit her hard, Mal.” I rolled my eyes and walked with him toward our lodge. “And I’m not in it for a girl this summer. I came back to clear my head before fall hits.” Summer just started, and I hated thinking about the changes coming when it was over. It was all I could do to get through the last month to make it here. If there was a way to stay forever, I might give it a try.
“Thought you were trying to get Lauren back this summer, Tuck. New Chick change your mind?”
My chest tightened, the spark in Lauren’s caramel eyes coming back to mind. I thought we’d be able to keep up the communication after summer last year, but she went back to college, and I went back home. Everything kind of fizzled out, and then . . . “She has a new boyfriend.”
“She what?” His eyes bulged. “I thought she broke up with you to focus on school.”
I lifted a shoulder, nodding as I remembered her awesome breakup text. “Yup. Some Junior at USC. Apparently, his Mom’s a designer for some big fashion line, or something. I don’t know. The last picture she posted, they were in his ‘Vette.”
“Oh. I get it. So, your broke butt wasn’t good enough for her.”
“I don’t think that’s it, man.” I sighed. “I think she’s just . . . she’s insecure. She shut me out before giving me a chance to hear her out.”
I wanted to be able to do nice things for Lauren. I wanted to take a trip to see her, and I’d saved enough to pay for the gas when my dad bummed out on my family last fall. I dropped out of Community and forgot my dream of getting into the Fire Academy so I could help my mom make rent. At least Bridgeport had room and board. She’d be able to keep food on the table for my brothers without having to worry about feeding me, too. Whatever I made, I could send to help cover bills. I clenched my fists, hating the fact that I had to leave them alone to be here at all.
I tried not to hate my dad for making the choice he did, but how could I not? What kind of man ditches his family like that?
“Well, forget Lauren, man,” Mal said, slapping my shoulder. “New Chick looks promising, and besides, girls, or no girls, I’m not about to let you fade out.”
“Ha. Like you could stop me.”
Mal headed toward the coffee shop and I went up to the guys’ lodge to change, ignoring the cute dimples that kept coming back to mind. Yeah, New Chick was hot. But I had to be there for my mom and my brothers this summer. New Chick would have no problem finding another guy.
TWO
-Emery-
Dang stupid, cute boys with their sideways grins and tempting physiques. Tucker . . . of course he had to have a cute name to go with the rest of the package. A small grunt escaped my lips as I took my hair out of its bun, and changed into one of the staff t-shirts and a pair of long, jean shorts. I dug through my bag for my Chuck Taylors and traded my flip flops out. Lunch was due to start in ten minutes, and I wanted to get down there ahead of time, but my reflection caught me in the mirror on my way for the door. I hadn’t even done my makeup this morning. I got up at the crack of dawn to have breakfast with Mom and Dad. Mom had to get some sleep after her night shift and Dad had to get to work. It was early, but it was worth it. I figured I’d have plenty of time to do my makeup on the way if I wanted to. But then, Nick called.
I didn’t answer it, and I thought about deleting his message, but it was
two minutes long, and I was approaching the point of no cell service, and there was no reception at camp. I didn’t know when I’d get a chance to listen again. I pressed the play button on impulse. Nick spent the entire two minutes apologizing, saying how dumb he was to drink at the party, how I was the girl for him, and he’d known it since we’d met. How he didn’t even like Carly Graves.
Sick.
I clamped my jaw and drew a cleansing breath, studying my reflection in the mirror in my bare new room.
Good. All signs of my meltdown were gone.
I brushed my fingers through my hair, swept my lashes with a light coat of mascara, ran chap stick across my lips, and called it done. I wasn’t here to impress. I was here to clear my mind and devise a plan for the next phase of my life. It didn’t matter if I looked like poop.
My roommate’s bed sat empty opposite the room from mine, no traces of her having been inside the room yet. I shrugged and headed for the door, a gentle knock sounding on it as I turned the handle. I opened it up, a tall, tan, raven-haired barbie doll standing on the other side. Her lips quirked up in a grin, her dimples sinking in beside her mouth.
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