“You two met at orientation, yeah?” Chloe motioned between Clint and me, chipper as ever and completely unaware of our silent standoff.
“Yep,” I replied, with a jerk of my chin. I couldn’t bring myself to offer a proper hello. The idea of them dating shouldn’t have bugged me, but it did.
Clint cleared his throat. “Well, ladies—and Garland.” It was a clear jab at Matt, who responded with a crude gesture. I couldn’t tell if he was joking. “I have important management stuff to do. See you later.” He slapped Chloe’s butt, then walked away. The dude was a total dillweed, and playing nice with him was going to be hard.
As we finished eating, Chloe prepped us for the after-dinner activity. She bounced when she spoke, and her hands flailed everywhere. The infectious energy eventually put me back in a good mood, at which point I decided not to hold her horrible taste in men against her.
“Wakey-wakey,” Chloe sang through the window. “Everyone decent?”
“No, we’re both naked,” Matt lied gruffly.
“Oh, good. I’m coming in.”
She charged through the door, and he pulled his blanket over his head, yelling, “Go away, devil woman!”
Chloe set her hands on her hips. “Get up, Matty. It’s almost seven.” She waited for him to move. When he didn’t, she yanked his covers off. He gave her the look of death.
“Seriously?” He huddled into a ball.
“Yes, seriously. The kids will be here in an hour, and it’ll take you at least that long to make yourself presentable.” I got up before she went full mom on me, too. Then I remembered I was shirtless. It didn’t faze her one bit. Her eyes roamed over my chest and stomach as she waggled her thumb toward me and added, “You just weren’t blessed with this one’s rugged good looks and sculpted body. Sorry, kiddo.”
Chloe’s pursed lips left me wondering if the compliment was sincere or designed solely to get under Matt’s skin. Either way, I was surprised by her bluntness, though at this point, I shouldn’t have been. So far, she always said what she was thinking. I bet she put her foot in her mouth a lot. But today, her lack of filter was a welcome boost to my ego.
Matt pointed toward the door. “If you want me to get up, you have to get out.”
“Fine.” She huffed. “I’ll be back in ten minutes. If you’re not in the shower, I’ll throw you in myself.”
After Chloe walked out, Matt grabbed his covers and laid back down. “I don’t think she was messing around,” I warned him.
He laughed, his expression verging on maniacal. “Oh, I know she wasn’t. But even my real mother doesn’t get to bust in and pull me out of bed in the morning. I’m throwing the gauntlet down.”
I shook my head and grabbed my shower stuff. Those two had an interesting relationship. “I guess I’ll get in first.”
“Make it fast,” Matt said, glancing at the clock. “She won’t care that you’re already in there. She’ll drag me in on top of you.”
I locked both doors and jumped under the water without waiting for it to warm up. As I was rinsing off, I heard a yelp from the room. “You’re early! I still have two minutes!” Shuffling sounds commenced, followed by a few thuds. I dried myself quickly and wrapped my towel around my waist. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I found Chloe yanking on Matt’s legs. Most of his body was hovering over the floor, and he was gripping the bedpost for dear life.
“Need help?” I asked. They both answered yes at the same time. Chloe looked back at me, and Matt took advantage of the distraction. He lashed out with his foot, causing her to fall flat on her butt. Then he scurried off the bed and ran into the bathroom. She bolted after him, but he locked the door before she could turn the handle.
“I win!” She crowed loudly.
“You wish!” Matt yelled back. The water turned on.
With Matt in the shower, I assumed Chloe would leave. Instead, she hopped on my bed and sat cross-legged. I grabbed some clothes out of my drawer, hinting at the need for privacy, but she didn’t budge. Finally, I gave up and walked into the closet. “Are mornings always this crazy?” I asked while slipping my shirt on.
“Nah, just today. I’m kind of anxious. And Matt never gets out of bed on time, so I figured I’d help. We don’t want a repeat of last year when he slept through breakfast, then complained about being hungry until lunch. It was so annoying I wanted to punch him.”
“Seems like you guys know each other pretty well.”
“Yeah. He and Shelly and I go way back.” I couldn’t see her, but I could imagine the face she was making. Chloe was so animated that her expressions came out in her voice.
I buttoned my shorts and walked out of the closet, drying my hair. “You were a camper?”
Her chin bobbed up and down. “All four years. It’s pretty common for kids to come back as staff. Actually, this year is kind of an anomaly, with Shelly being the only camper moving up. I did it last year. Matt did it two years ago.”
“And Clint was the year before that?”
“How’d you know?” She looked surprised.
“Shelly told me.” I hung my towel on a hook by the sink and leaned against the wall with my hands in my pockets. There was this nagging feeling in my gut. I didn’t want to care, but I couldn’t help asking, “Have you guys been dating long?” Chloe cocked her head to the side and raised one brow. I carefully replayed my words, grinning like an idiot. “You and Clint, I mean. Not you and Shelly.”
She chuckled softly, and her face grew pensive. “Technically, I don’t think we’re dating.”
My eyebrows hitched. “That’s how you kiss guys you aren’t dating?” Even though I was teasing, Chloe blushed, revealing that she could indeed get embarrassed. I felt kind of bad, but she was even cuter when she was flustered, so I selfishly withheld an apology.
She stuck her tongue out and wrinkled her nose, casting her eyes to the bed. “It’s complicated.”
I pulled a chair from the table and spun it around. As I straddled the seat, I draped my arms over the back. “Well, uncomplicate it.” I was being pushy, so I figured she’d tell me to pound sand. But this strange calmness washed over her. She fiddled with the edge of my blanket before looking up at me.
“Clint is a terrible flirt, and all the girls like him.”
“You don’t say?” I quipped.
Her jaw clamped down, and her nostrils flared. She was fighting a smile. “That’s generally a turnoff for me, so I’m not sure how we became a thing. It just happened. And it was fun while it lasted, but I knew being exclusive wasn’t practical. We live too far apart. He came to visit me a few times last fall. We talked on the phone a lot. Then things sort of fizzled out.” She paused, her lips twisting. “Until a month ago, when he started texting me again.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Sounds like he’s looking for a summer fling.”
“Maybe.” She shrugged.
“Come on.” My head lolled to the side. “I know you aren’t that naïve.”
She laughed. “Okay, fine, you’re probably right. But I definitely hadn’t expected him to kiss me…at dinner…in front of the whole world. I’ve been here for twenty-four hours, so he’s had ample opportunity. That’s Clint for you, though—always making a scene.”
“He kissed you at dinner because he’s staking a claim,” I said flatly. That fact alone was enough to make my competitive side surface. I’d challenge him so fast…if I was interested in Chloe that way. Which I wasn’t. Because she was my “mom.” And I didn’t want girl drama.
The shower turned off, and Chloe hopped up from the bed. “Well, I’m not gonna go fishing for a commitment. I’ll consider it if and when he says he wants us to be an us. Until then, I’m keeping my options open. He’s not stealing anymore kisses from me, either.”
I balled my fists and held them up playfully. “Don’t worry. If he tries again, I’ll show him what’s what.”
“Such a sweet son.” She ruffled my hair and patted the top of my head.
Matt o
pened the bathroom door. A faint plume of steam trailed him as he stepped into the bedroom. He was completely covered, but one look at Chloe sent him leaping into the closet. “Geez, woman! Why are you still here? Can’t a guy get ready in peace?”
“Someone has to ensure you make it to breakfast. You’re a beast when you’re hungry.”
He stuck his head around the corner. “Luckily, I have a responsible brother who can help with that. Now scram.”
Chloe threw her hands in the air and headed for the porch. Laughing, she called over her shoulder. “He’s all yours.”
“Thanks.” I snorted.
By nine o’clock, Singing Oak might as well have been called Singing Zoo. There were 125 high school kids roaming around the grass in the quad, reuniting with old friends. Piles of luggage were stacked everywhere. It looked like a disaster area, but Vivian wasn’t rattled in the least. She pulled out her bullhorn and summoned everyone to the flagpole. Impressively, the kids responded right away.
“Welcome back! Are you guys ready to start your summer of stars?” There was a loud roar of cheering and applause. Vivian grinned. “We have four tables set up in front of the rec center. Find the one that corresponds with the first letter of your last name. That’s where you’ll pick up your cabin assignments. You have the next hour to meet your new family and get settled. Orientation starts at ten o’clock in the lodge. Don’t be late.”
As a first-year staff member, I didn’t have a specific assignment today. My only job was to observe and learn. It’s a good thing, too, because all the chaos was slightly overwhelming. Now I understood why Chloe was anxious this morning.
The kids were broken up into their respective arts focus, with groups of twenty-five. Since there were five leaders per concentration, each of us was in charge of overseeing one camper cabin. My assignment was a group of freshman and sophomore boys. I introduced myself, and we shot the breeze for a while. I left after thirty minutes, decidedly dumber than I’d been when I entered. If I was that ridiculous at fourteen, someone should have smacked the stupid out of me. One thing was for sure: There would be no lack of entertainment this summer.
“How’s it going?” Chloe asked when she took the seat next to me at lunch.
“I need a nap,” I replied, only half-joking.
She chuckled. “It gets easier once everyone is on schedule.”
I took a bite of a triple-stacked ham-and-cheese sandwich. “I love how the system is set up. A mass production is genius. The writers do the script, the musicians score it, artists are on sets, dancers choreograph, actors perform. It’s a great way to involve everyone.”
“Mm-hm,” Chloe agreed as she chugged her bottle of water. “And it’s the best way to ensure a quality experience. Nobody wants to be the group that sucked it up.”
“Tell me about it.” I sighed. “I’m feeling the pressure already.”
She screwed the cap back on her bottle and set it on the table. Then she sidled up next to me, slipped her arm around my shoulders, and squeezed. “Don’t stress yet. You can’t do much until the script is finished. Only the writers have to jump in right away. For the first few weeks, you get to work on helping your actors perfect their craft. That’s the fun, easy part. Plus, your team lead has been doing this for a long time, so you’re in good hands.”
I nodded. There was a response formed and waiting on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t get the words to leave my mouth. Chloe’s flowery body spray was intoxicating. After a few seconds, I managed my reply. “Yeah, Josie seems pretty on top of things. When we met yesterday, she basically had the summer all mapped out.”
Chloe slowly dragged her hand across my back and gave it a few pats. The gesture was friendly, but my brain forgot to mention that to my nerves. They tingled under her fingers, and heat spread from the spots she’d touched, a clear indicator of my dating dry spell.
Marissa sat down on my other side with a plate of veggies and the insides of a sandwich, but no bread. “You holding up okay?” she asked, biting into a carrot. “I was a basket case on my first day. It’s a lot to take in.”
“I’m hanging in there.”
“You’re sharp. I bet you’ll be fine by tomorrow.” She smiled and popped a cucumber into her mouth.
Marissa and Chloe had both expressed their concern. But Marissa’s reaction had felt platonic, where Chloe’s was more affectionate. I wondered if she was like that with everyone or if she was being extra sensitive with me because I was the new guy. Then I decided I shouldn’t be wondering about it at all. I was here to work, and she had a pseudo boyfriend.
Matt and Shelly joined us. As we ate, we talked about our after dinner plans. “I’m going swimming,” Matt said.
“That sounds fun,” Shelly replied. “Maybe I’ll join you.” Her head swung toward Marissa. “Want to come?”
“No thanks. I think I’m going to hit the hammocks with my sketchbook. It’s supposed to be warm this evening.”
“Ooh, that sounds good, too.” Shelly looked torn when she turned to me. “What are you going to do?”
“I wasn’t joking when I said I needed a nap.”
Shelly pouted. “You can’t spend your first real night napping.”
“He can’t go swimming, either,” Chloe interjected. “He’s otherwise engaged.”
My head whipped toward her. “I am?”
“You are.” She grinned and slapped my back. “I signed us up for sweep.”
“Sweep?” I choked, then quickly cleared my throat. She was touching me again, and it was doing funny things to my insides. “That doesn’t sound like much fun.”
Matt had just finished a juicy peach and was licking his fingers clean. “Depends on who you’re sweeping with.” He raised his eyebrows up and down a few times.
“All staff have to take at least one sweep rotation a week,” Shelly explained. “Clint forgot to talk about that during our orientation. Leaving unsupervised high schoolers with a lot of free time is asking for trouble. Leaders pair up and wander around camp in two-hour shifts from dinner until lights out.”
I frowned. “It’s really not so bad,” Marissa assured me. “You walk through the activity rooms, poke your heads in and out of cabins, and check all the secluded areas to make sure there’s no funny business or hanky-panky going on.”
My eyes got wide. “Does that happen often?”
“Funny business, not so much. Hanky-panky? All the time. They’re hormonal teenagers. Knowing we’re out there keeps the kids on their toes. But every leader busts up a make-out session at least once. That’s why we go in pairs, boy-girl when possible. Then it never comes down to our word against theirs.”
“What about the middle of the night?” I asked.
“The real adults cover that,” Matt replied.
I scoffed. “I am a real adult.”
He rolled his eyes. “I mean the old ones. You know, the thirty-plus crowd. Vivian; Benji; Cara, the activities coordinator; Nurse Leslie; Jim, the maintenance guy. Oh, and Duke. He’s the new security guard. They’ll all take turns walking the camp around two or three a.m., listening for kids who aren’t where they’re supposed to be.”
“Or counselors…” Chloe snickered. “And I’m telling Vivian you called her old.”
For a brief moment, panic crossed Matt’s face. “You do, and I’ll sign you up to sweep with Thomas.” Now it was Chloe’s turn to panic.
“Who’s Thomas?” I asked.
Marissa busted up laughing. Shelly giggled as she answered, “This guy who has a huge crush on Chloe. He’s totally weird.”
Chloe hooked her arm through mine and grabbed my bicep. “Garland, you just became my permanent sweep buddy. I’m going to sign us up together for the rest of the summer.”
“Aww, you’ll break poor Thomas’s heart.” Matt faked his sympathy.
“He’ll live.”
Chloe and I were still arm in arm when Clint strolled up to the table. He saw how close we were sitting and threw me a dirty look
. It was almost imperceptible, but it gave me a sick sense of satisfaction nonetheless. Chloe detached herself from my side and smiled at him. “What’s up?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he replied casually. “I thought I’d walk you to your next session.”
“Oh. Okay. I guess I’m done eating.” She stood and collected her trash. “I’ll see you guys at dinner,” she said, stepping over the bench.
Clint put his hand on the small of her back, low enough that it grazed the top of her butt. So tacky. He gave us all a big grin before winking at Shelly. “See ya, Shell-bell.” Her face turned positively red. I had no clue why, but it appeared I wasn’t the only person annoyed by Clint at the moment.
“You ready?” Chloe asked. I’d gone back to the cabin after dinner to brush my teeth and change my shirt. Now we were standing in front of the lodge.
I bowed to her. “Show me how to sweep, oh great leader.”
She curtsied, one long leg extending behind the other. She definitely had the grace of a dancer. “My pleasure.”
Starting on the north side of the building, we worked our way around the quad, going clockwise. After that we moved to the main trail, weaving between cabins and knocking on doors when the rooms looked occupied. It was a good way to meet people. Chloe gave me tips on the most efficient way to cover ground and showed me all the popular hiding spots along with a few of the more secret ones. I’d have never thought to look in some of those places, but that was the benefit of being trained by a former camper.
She walked me to a thick patch of brush. From the trail, it just looked like some tall bushes. But when we crept around the backside, a cozy pocket was revealed, easily big enough for a couple and completely sheltered from view.
I whistled. “This is a good one. Dare I ask how you know about it?”
“You can, but I’ll never tell,” she sang.
The Danger With Fireworks (Holiday Romance Book 3) Page 3
