“That was a long time ago—”
“Doesn’t matter. You can’t tell me what I can and can’t do when you’ve done it yourself. You’re threatening me because you know he doesn’t like you anymore. You did something to screw it up, and you lost him. Unlike you, I’d never hurt him.” I spun around on my heels and walked to the door to leave.
She called after me, “I’m warning you. Stay away from him, Dahlia!”
When I emerged from the cabin, Devin was standing below the deck and about to head up the stairs. He paused when he saw my expression, then peered toward the door. He looked back at me in confusion.
“What’s going on, Dahlia?”
“Ask her.” I nodded at the cabin door. “She left a note in my pocket to meet. I thought it was from you. She told me to stay away from you or else.”
“Wait. Slow down. Who left you a note? Blake?”
Throwing my arms up in the air in exasperation, I corrected him, “No, not Blake. I said she. Marissa.”
Just then Marissa emerged from the cabin and stopped to observe the two of us. Devin looked shocked, then his eyes turned to a glare.
“Go, Dahlia.” He was still glaring at Marissa, who was glaring in return. He turned to look briefly at me. “I need to settle this. Go.”
Quickly, I took off and went up the trail to my cabin. When I reached the cabin, I ran inside and sat down on my bunk in a panic. What was Devin saying to her? He’d spoken to me in a tone he hadn’t used before, and I knew it was directed at Marissa. I just hoped it wouldn’t blow up in our faces, and we’d be sent home. I wasn’t ready to leave camp. Or worse yet, leave Devin.
With nothing else to do but watch the clock, I thought of every possible scenario and prepared myself for trouble. Another fifteen minutes passed, and my freaking out hadn’t lessened. Should I leave the cabin and find Devin? Or should I wait for him to find me? I couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to get outside of the cabin.
A search of the camp yielded no results—Devin and Marissa weren’t to be seen. The craft cabin room was empty as well. It had then been an hour since Devin had told me to go. Maybe they were at the director’s cabin.
“He’s on the field playing football. I just left to get a drink,” a voice behind me said.
When I turned to see who’d spoken, I saw Lauren. Relief washed over me, and I was glad to see her.
“We can walk together if you want,” I suggested.
Lauren shrugged. She got a drink at the water fountain while I waited. When she turned around, she didn’t smile but at least was willing to go to the field with me.
“What’s up with you two?” she finally asked.
“Marissa went off on me an hour ago. I’m worried Devin’s in trouble.”
“Oh, that explains it. He’s playing very aggressively out there. Mostly targeting Blake. I was wondering because it’s sort of obvious he’s pissed.”
We looked at each other, and I was sure Lauren could see how concerned I was. Her look softened somewhat then. When we reached the field, we took a seat on the sidelines with other campers who were watching the game.
Devin hadn’t noticed me or if he had, he showed zero indication. Lauren was right. Devin was playing his hardest and wasn’t himself. No encouraging words were said to his team, and his face looked intense. He charged at one point and knocked into Blake. They exchanged looks before Devin turned in a huff and got back into position.
“Devin can’t stand Blake,” I whispered.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
The game ended, and Devin immediately walked off the field. He didn’t look in my direction but just kept walking. I figured if he’d been in trouble for anything, then he wouldn’t be playing football. So, I just had to wait it out.
***
We had to practice for the lame skit again. Neither Lauren nor I wanted to be there because our hearts weren’t in it. However, it had to get done, or Caroline wasn’t going to let us go. So we did our best to perform well. Finally, we were excused to get ready for dinner.
Lauren at least sat with me this time. Things were different between us, for sure, but she was making an effort to be semi-nice to me.
Marissa showed up and sat one table away. However, I didn’t see Devin at all. I wondered if he could be waiting for me in the cabin, but I didn’t dare to get up and leave with Marissa watching.
The director announced there was a short staff meeting after dinner. We’d have back rubs and then the campfire.
We were excused, so Lauren and I got up to go. Somehow, I ended up alongside Marissa on the way out the door. She was branching off to go to the staff meeting.
Impulsively, I walked a little faster so I’d pass her. Just as I did, I looked back at her and said, “Please tell Devin I said hi.” I smirked, then walked toward my cabin to grab Devin’s sweatshirt for later.
Lauren ran to catch up to me. “What did you say to her?”
“Nothing important. Come on, let’s go to the back rubs. I could use one.”
“Okay.”
Thirty minutes later, we walked into the rec hall and got in line to be numbered off, then found empty mats to lie down on. Taking a hair tie out of my pocket, I put my hair up so there was full access to my back. The lights went out, and tranquil music started playing. We were only getting two back rubs tonight. After those, we would need to head to the campfire.
I felt a hand on my back and knew someone had chosen me. When I glanced at the legs, I didn’t recognize them and had no idea who had me. So, I closed my eyes and just let myself enjoy a free massage, as my shoulders were so tense from all that had happened earlier.
The back rub ended, and people got up to move to new places. I felt another hand on my back. This time, I didn’t even bother to try to see who had me.
The hand moved up my back and to the base of my neck, where it halted. The person fidgeted with my hair tie, and I felt it being pulled out. Only one person would care that my hair was down and loose. I smiled but didn’t open my eyes as the hands pulled gently through my hair. Devin’s hands moved to my shoulders and caressed very deliberately. My body relaxed completely and allowed his hands to take over and give me the best massage. He touched me like a boyfriend would. It was borderline arousing, and I had to be careful to remain still. Eventually, I slid my hand just under his knee and held it, not caring anymore if anyone saw. I wanted to claim him as mine.
The back rub was over way too soon, as I could have been there all night and allowed his hands to wander my entire body. Reluctantly, I stood up and stretched out. Devin smiled as we switched places so I could return the favor and give him a massage.
My hands roamed through his hair and tugged on the ends. Everything I did was purposeful to provoke a response. Devin circled my kneecap once more with his finger but very discreetly. If the possibility for a true relationship didn’t extend after camp, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was already aching at the thought of having only a few more days together like this.
It was time to switch partners again. I debated not moving and keeping Devin for his second rub. However, I didn’t want to draw more attention to us, so I got up and moved one person over. As I placed my hand on this other camper’s back, the worst possibility happened when I saw Marissa take my spot. Devin hadn’t noticed yet. She then looked directly at me as she placed her hand on his back and grinned. She was getting her revenge for my comment earlier to tell Devin hi.
There was absolutely no way I could watch this, so I rudely stood up and climbed over the outstretched campers on the floor and left the rec hall. I wasn’t sure if Devin realized Marissa was rubbing his back or not, and I didn’t wait to see if he did.
The campfire was next, but I didn’t want to go sing songs. For once, I wasn’t in the mood to be around Devin either. Instead, I headed toward the cabin to get ready for bed. The anger inside me was building up like a furnace, and if I didn’t calm down I might explode. I hated that
woman.
Angrily, I got ready for bed and brushed my teeth. No one else was in the cabin, so at least I had some peace. After switching off the bathroom light, I got onto my bed. I was about to get inside my sleeping bag when the cabin door opened. It surprised me to see Lauren since she was supposed to be at the campfire.
“Hey,” she said, walking over to my bunk. “Someone asked me to get you. He’s waiting outside.”
Devin sent you to get me? I sat up on the bed and put my boots and jacket on, then walked out the door. When I reached the edge of the stairs, I noticed Devin standing off under some trees—sort of hidden from view. When I didn’t budge, he waved me over to him. Taking in a deep breath, I started down the stairs and slowly made my way to where he stood. Before I could object, he took my hand firmly in his and pulled me away from the lights and further into the forest.
When we were a safe distance away from the cabins, Devin forcefully pushed me up against a tree and started kissing me. At first, I responded. Then Marissa and the back rub came to mind, distracting me. I pulled away. He exhaled a warm breath against my mouth.
“I don’t want her,” he said. “But we can’t make a scene during every unpleasant interaction.”
“Did you stay and let her touch you?”
He took a slight step away from me. “Dahlia, it would have drawn more attention to us if I’d left right after you did. It feels at times like you want to get me into trouble—for me to prove myself to you.”
What? You think that? OMG. “I don’t want you in trouble,” I started to say with a defensive tone. “I want your ex to go away and stop ruining things for us.” Shaking my head, I looked away. It was Marissa causing all the problems, not me.
“She isn’t if you don’t let her.” He waited for me to look at him. “I don’t want her,” he repeated.
Impulsively, I grabbed his jacket collar and pulled him into me for a hug.
He embraced me tightly. After a few seconds, he said, “I listened to a song earlier today.”
“Oh yeah?”
“It’s a song by the Kinks.”
“I’ve heard of them… I think. What’s the name of the song?”
I felt his hand move my hair away from my ear, then he turned his mouth toward it and whispered, “‘You Really Got Me.’”
Devin let go of me and turned to walk off toward his cabin. I couldn’t believe he’d just told me that. When I’d first met Devin, he truly was a crush. But now it looked like he might be… my boyfriend.
Chapter Twenty
Lauren and I walked to breakfast together. At least she was willing to hang out with me again. We weren’t completely back to normal and would need to air our feelings out. But for now, I was okay with how things were.
“So, where were you after lights out?” I wasn’t sure if I should ask, but wanted to make conversation.
“Talking to Blake,” she said, showing no emotion.
“Talking? Hmm. You weren’t making out somewhere?”
“No. I’m really angry with him,” she said bluntly.
“Oh. Did he do something?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know for sure.”
I stopped walking, so Lauren came to a halt. She looked at me, waiting to see what I’d ask. “What does that mean?”
Lauren let out a heavy sigh. “It means I’m not sure now if I’m the only one he’s doing things with. He denied doing anything with anyone else. But I have this feeling he lied.”
It wouldn’t have been wise for me to say I agreed with that statement since we were barely speaking again. Instead, I just said, “Oh.”
“I already know what you think, so let’s just go.” Lauren proceeded to walk down the hill, so I followed her.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled. “Lauren, wait.”
She stopped to see what I wanted. “What?”
I ran to catch up to her. “Maybe we should talk about this.”
“Okay. So talk.”
“I feel like you don’t believe me—about Blake. You know, the night you found us in the cabin.”
She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I didn’t.”
“But?”
“Recent events have proved to me I should have. It seems he can’t keep his hands off any of the girls. And he doesn’t care who sees.” She rolled her eyes.
“Lauren, he’s made me uncomfortable for a couple of weeks.”
“If that’s true, then why didn’t you tell me?”
“You know why. We both know no guy would ever like me over you. You wouldn’t have believed me.”
“Dahlia, you’re stupid.”
“Huh?” What did you just call me?
“Do you really believe that? Do you know how many times someone’s liked you and you were too oblivious to pick up on it because you already have it in your head they like me?” Her eyes widened.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re so worried someone will like me over you that you don’t even see it when someone is interested in you. You were crying at the dance because you thought Devin liked me. You assumed it. I’m not any prettier than you. I don’t know why you think that. No one else does.”
“Um.” I didn’t even have an intelligent rebuttal. I was fixated on her and always compared us.
“I don’t know why you’re this insecure, but I’m sure it has to do with some of your adoption issues. No offense.”
That hadn’t even occurred to me. It probably did.
“Maybe you’re right. I’m screwed up.”
“I didn’t say that. I said you already think the worst and set yourself up to be rejected. Like that night with Devin.”
“I do that?”
She nodded.
“I guess I do,” I said.
This was news to me and something I’d really need to look at objectively once we were away from camp. She was basically saying I sabotaged relationships before they even had a chance to begin. Cameron had thought the same thing. If I was doing this, and it had by chance stemmed from my adoption issues, then this was something I was going to need to deal with. The last thing I wanted to do was push Devin away. He had rejection issues, too.
“Cheer up. It’s not like you have issues that can’t be worked on. Look at me. I’m sleeping with a counselor who made me think I was special, and he’s probably sleeping with every girl here. Except you, of course.”
Lauren’s statement made me laugh. The past week had been miserable, and I’d really missed her.
She reached her hand out to me. “Come on. Let’s go see if they’re serving pancakes. I could use extra syrup to drown my sorrows.”
“Okay, let’s go.” And we continued on to the dining hall.
Once we were standing in line, Lauren whispered, “So, why do you like him so much?”
The mention of Devin made me grin. “He’s incredibly nice to me. I love everything about him, and he’s pretty much perfect.”
“Gee, you make him sound dreadful. Can’t you find something you like about him?”
“Ha ha. I know. I’m falling so hard for him.”
“What has he said will happen? I mean after camp.”
“Nothing yet. I guess we’ll need to talk about that after this week.” The possibility of not seeing Devin after this week depressed me.
Blake showed up in line behind us and wasn’t alone. The girl from my family group was standing with him. He was laughing and talking loudly with her. The look on Lauren’s face told me exactly how hurt and angry she was. She forced herself to turn back and face the front of the line.
Then Dirk walked up to us and stopped to greet Lauren. “I think family group is going to be a good one today.” He smiled at her. It appeared he was waiting for her to respond.
She looked away from Dirk and at me. “I can’t do this.” The way she said it, and the look on her face made me want to laugh.
“Are you looking forward to the big dance on Saturday?” Dirk asked, not giving up on Lauren.
>
She was still looking at me and rolled her eyes. “I’m totally serious. I’m not in the mood for this.” And then she walked out of the line and into the dining hall, cutting in front of everyone, and leaving an oblivious Dirk standing next to me. It was hysterical because it was so rude, and she didn’t care how it appeared.
“Oh my. Lauren must be really hungry,” he said to me, trying to excuse her offensive behavior. He made it worse when he tried to laugh it off. It was embarrassing. “She practically ran in there. You think we’re having pancakes, and she couldn’t wait?”
The situation was totally awkward, but I managed to nod at him. “That must be it. She wants pancakes now.” I wondered if there was a possibility I could also enter the dining hall ahead of everyone.
Finally, the line moved swiftly, and I managed to get myself bundled up with a crowd and ditched Dirk. There was no way I was sitting with him.
I saw Lauren was already seated with her tray of food. We were indeed having pancakes today.
All I had left to get was my drink, then I’d planned to sit with Lauren. As I was pouring some milk into a glass, I felt a nudge. Turning to see who the culprit was, I smiled warmly to see Devin. I’d expected it to be him.
He mouthed the word hi to me, so I mouthed it back. His hair was parted to the side and still wet from a shower. Stubble showed on his face and looked so hot. If only we could sit together like a real couple, but I knew that it was wishful thinking. We smiled one last time before I took my tray and proceeded to sit beside Lauren.
***
It was late afternoon, and I was lying on my bunk almost in tears.
Earlier, all the family groups met on the field, and we had competitions against each other. We ended up in one of the games against Devin’s family group. Blake was being inappropriate with many of the girls and trying his hardest to get under Devin’s skin. There were four of us waiting for our turn to race. I was against a girl from Devin’s family group, then he and Blake were last to race each other. The final straw was when Blake made a derogatory remark about me, knowing it would set Devin off. Then I had to race and couldn’t hear Devin’s retort. However, I did beat the girl from his family group.
Edge of Eighteen: A Slow Burn Summer Camp Love Story Page 21
