Before we got on the bus, I quickly texted Hayley and Kaitlyn to let them know I was leaving. Our softball coach had a strict ‘no phone’ rule at camp. We were only allowed to call our parents at night, and that was it. The rest of the time, she kept the phones locked up in her room.
“Hey, Cam-Wham.” Liam looked over my shoulder. “Texting about me?”
I hit send and tucked the phone in my back pocket, turning to face him. “What are you doing here?” I swear, the guy was showing up everywhere, like a fly searching for food.
On his shirt, he had one of those movie clapperboard things with his name on the director’s line. “Coach Barnes needed some volunteers.” He had his hands stuffed in his pockets, and he rocked on his heels, bringing my attention to his black and white checkered Vans. “Counts toward my community service hours.” He glanced over his shoulder at the parking lot. “I saw your dad and brother. How are they doing?”
“Good.” I’d forgotten he’d met them before, back in middle school when we did a school project together.
“Mom couldn’t make it?”
Heat crawled up my neck, inching toward my ears. I only talked about our relationship with Hayley and Kaitlyn. Not even Dylan knew my true feelings about my mom. How it hurt to have her ignore me day-in and day-out. I fiddled with my fingers. “She had to work.”
Something flashed in his eyes, maybe sorrow, but it left just as quickly. “I get that. My dad’s a workaholic.”
“Construction, right?”
He nodded. “Yep. Working on the remodel downtown.”
My eyes lit up. “It’s looking great. I can’t wait until they finish. I hear there’s going to be lots of shopping, eating, and an outdoor area for bands to play.”
Boredom consumed his posture and his voice. “I know. I know. I hear about it every single day.”
I held back a laugh. “Sorry. I kind of sounded like an ad, didn’t I?”
“It’s everyone’s reaction.” He shrugged it off. “So, I guess I’ll be seeing you around at camp. Good luck.” He rocked on his heels again. “I, uh, I mean, you looked great at the game the other week. I forgot how good you are.”
I pushed him on the arm. “Why, thank you, Liam. I just hope I can keep it up. I’d forgotten how much I missed playing.”
“Weird how we can lose ourselves over someone, right?”
I stepped back in surprise. “What?”
He cleared his throat. “Nothing. See ya.” He took off at a jog.
What had he meant by that? Was he referring to Dylan and me? Or was he talking about himself and a relationship he’d had? I tried to remember whether he’d dated anyone recently, but I hadn’t paid close attention to his love life. Or his life in general.
“Let’s load up!” The softball coach, Coach Wilkes, cupped her hands over her wide mouth. “We’re leaving in T minus five minutes!”
I knew some of the softball players from when I’d played before. But like most people in my life, I’d cut off ties when I’d started dating Dylan. It was never on purpose, I’d just been too busy to do anything with them until we’d stopped talking all together.
I hopped up the stairs and onto the bus. The chatter cut off, and all heads whipped toward me. Coach Wilkes held out a basket filled with cell phones. I couldn’t believe she was already taking them. Having them for the ride to the camp wouldn’t be a big deal. It would give me something to distract myself. At least I’d remembered to pack an MP3 player in my backpack. I set my phone in the basket with the others.
With a smile, I headed for the back of the bus. Halfway down the aisle, I saw Val. The girl from my science class. She played softball? I took in her tiny frame. With what muscles? Maybe she was really fast or something.
“Hey, Val.” I tried to plaster on a natural smile, but with her sneer, it was difficult.
Her brown eyes narrowed as she stood to get closer. “Don’t think you can just walk back on the team.”
It was then that I remembered she’d been the student athletic trainer for our team. I’d never needed her, so we rarely spoke when I was on the team. I was starting to realize all these things about myself, and I didn’t like any of them. Had I been that self-absorbed even before Dylan?
I’d been rude to her in class, and Liam had mentioned not threatening anyone, so I thought I’d try a different tactic. I spoke softly. “I’m not trying to do anything. I just wanted to come to camp.” I pointed to her dangly earrings. They were round hoops with yarn stretched in the middle to create a fun design. “Did you make those? They’re amazing.”
The snarl on her face slowly lessened. “No one asked for your opinion.”
Instead of snapping back, I left and found an empty bench in the back. It was a small step, but hopefully, she’d soften, along with the rest of the team, so I could survive camp.
Part 2: Three Strikes & You’re Out
Chapter 19
I ended up falling asleep on the ride with my earbuds in, Maroon 5 blaring. The bus jerked to a stop outside the university dorms. Coach Barnes had a relationship with a university about five hours away from where we lived. They let us stay there for a week during the summer and use their facilities. I’d gone the summer before sophomore year and absolutely loved it.
I waited for everyone to get off the bus before I did. It wasn’t until I stepped off that I realized I desperately needed to pee. And I was starving. I went to check my phone for the time, but I didn’t have it. So, I checked the actual watch on my wrist. How had so much time passed?
Coach Wilkes clapped her hands. “Listen up! Val has the room assignments. Everyone needs to drop their stuff off in their room, and then we’ll meet up right outside the dorms and take a tour of the facilities.”
I crossed my legs, squeezing my thighs together. I really needed to go. My stomach rumbled. I couldn’t believe they didn’t stop for lunch. How long were they going to make us wait until dinner? No. I wasn’t going to think that way. I was going to be positive. I was here to have a good time and improve my softball skills.
Val went to work, pointing to each girl and giving them her room number, the baggy sleeves of her thin sweater flapping around with the motion. The bus driver opened the cargo area so we could get our bags.
I hurried up to Val, bouncing a little where I stood. “What’s my room number?”
She clenched her jaw. “I’ll let you know when I get to it.”
“Can’t you just tell me now?” My bladder could explode at any moment, which would be disastrous.
She put her hand on her narrow hip. “You don’t get special treatment, Camille.”
I danced. “I don’t want special treatment. I just want to pee.”
Val smirked. “Too bad.” She cupped her hand over her mouth and called over another pairing.
I ran over to the bus and searched for my bag. I found it buried in the back of some others. All the movement took my mind off my bladder, so I grabbed the bags one by one and set them outside of the bus.
“Wow, what service.” Izzy bent down and picked up her bag. As usual, she had her long, strawberry-blonde hair wrapped up in a high bun on top of her head. “You think this will make people like you?”
“I just want my bag.” I plopped another bag on the ground, and then wrapped my hands around the handle of the bag in front of mine.
Ava, the first baseman, ripped the bag from my hand. Her blue and tan UCLA trucker hat covered up most of her blonde hair, which she had in double Dutch braids. “Don’t touch my things.”
I held up my palms. “Sorry.”
She rolled her soft, blue eyes. “You haven’t changed. So impatient and wanting everything your way.”
I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Izzy and Val flanked her sides. Ava took a deep breath, annoyance bouncing in her eyes. “I know you got away with a lot sophomore year, but things have changed. You can’t push people around anymore and call the shots.”
&nb
sp; A frown formed on my lips. Had I been that bad? “Listen, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean anything . . .”
Izzy pointed a finger into my chest. “How about you just stay out of everyone’s way, okay? Stop interfering. Stop being controlling. Stop demanding attention.”
I had no idea how to respond. I didn’t realize they all hated me that much. Plus, it was hard to focus when my bladder was burning. I shifted back in forth in an awkward dance.
“What’s wrong with you?” Ava asked.
“Have I not mentioned I have to use the bathroom? Because I do.” My legs were squeezed together so tightly, my muscles were on fire.
The three of them shared this weird look that made me squirm. The next think I knew, Izzy and Ava had me pinned to the bus.
“What are you doing?” I tried to wriggle away, but they held on tight.
Val arched a sculpted eyebrow as she tucked her clipboard under her armpit. “Doesn’t she have an incredibly ticklish spot?” She tapped her chin, her eyes looking like they were flipping through memories. They finally lit up when they found the right one. She moved toward me, slowly and deliberately.
“I’m sorry,” I said through clenched teeth. “Please don’t do this.”
With a smirk, she tickled my soft spot on the left side of my stomach. It made me loosen my muscles enough for Izzy and Ava to pry my legs apart before their hands held my arms again. Seconds later, my bladder released, not wanting to hold it any longer. The warm urine soaked my shorts and travelled down my legs, my socks absorbing it.
Izzy and Ava finally let go of me, and the three of them laughed to the point of tears. I’d forgotten that Ava had the loudest and most annoying laugh—almost like a cackle. Val pulled a phone out of her pocket and snapped a picture of me.
“How do you have a phone?” I asked, frozen in place. I hadn’t peed myself since I was a kid, and it was just as horrible now.
She tucked her phone in her bra. “Special perk of being a trainer.” She pointed her thumb over her shoulder at Jordyn, the catcher. “Oh, and you’re with her. Room 308.” She held her clipboard close to her chest. “Good luck.” The three of them snickered and took off. I wanted to run myself, but I also wanted to hold onto any pride I had left.
I might not have remembered a lot, but I did remember that Jordyn snored incredibly loud.
All I wanted was to get in my room, grab some fresh clothes, and take a long, hot shower. I pulled my bag out of the bus and trudged over to Jordyn. She had her black hair slicked back in a ponytail, all her hair past the hairband bunching out in extreme curls. She wore shorts and a tee like most of the girls there.
“Hey, roomy,” I said, hoping she couldn’t smell my pee. “Ready?”
She grunted, her dark brown eyes less than enthusiastic. That was it. What did that mean? Yes? No? I hate you, and I’m going to kill you in your sleep?
“Well, I’m heading in.” I shifted my bag on my shoulder. With my backpack and the overstuffed bag, I was about to fall over. Jordyn answered with another grunt. I walked as fast as I could to the dorms. Izzy had gone in front of me, not bothering to hold open the door. I rushed to get there before it closed, but it ended up hitting me on the back before I could get fully inside. With a sigh, I pushed the door away from me with my back and shuffled inside.
Some of the girls were already on their way back down from their dorm rooms. Coach Wilkes pointed at me. “Run that up and get back down here in the next minute.”
Jordyn grunted behind me, making me jump. She’d come out of nowhere.
“I’m going to need more time,” I said.
Coach Wilkes’ gaze landed on my wet shorts. She rubbed her forehead. “I didn’t realize you weren’t potty trained yet.”
I opened my mouth, ready to lash out and point the blame, but my three assailants stood behind the coach, all giving me threatening looks. With a deep breath, I stared at the elevator. Waiting for it would take too long, so I ran for the stairs, taking them two at a time. Without food, I was running on empty, but the need to wash off pushed me along. When I finally found our room, I threw my bags on the floor, grabbed a fresh pair of shorts, underwear, and socks, plus a towel and some soap, and then booked it down the hall to the community bathroom.
Coach Wilkes did not look happy when I got back downstairs.
“I said you had a minute.” She wore a snarl that was definitely new. She hadn’t been this ornery when I was on the team. Apparently, a lot had changed since then.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “It won’t happen again.”
She snapped her fingers. “Let’s go. We’re already behind schedule, thanks to Camille.”
All the girls turned glares on me, including Val, Izzy, and Ava, like it had been my fault. I couldn’t let them get to me, no matter how hard it was.
We followed Coach out, keeping close behind.
My stomach rumbled, and I placed a hand over it. “I’m starving.”
Jordyn stomped next to me, her curls bouncing with the movement. “You shouldn’t have slept through lunch.”
“What?”
She scratched her thick nose. “You were sound asleep when we stopped.”
I almost stopped walking, but I didn’t want to fall behind. Coach was moving at lightning speed. “What? When?”
“A couple hours ago.” She hacked and spit on the ground.
Anger boiled inside me. “How come no one woke me?”
Jordyn scoffed. “Are you serious, princess? You bite people’s heads off if they interrupt your beauty sleep.”
I wanted to deny that fact, but that much I remembered. I still hated my sleep getting interrupted. Seth and my dad knew better than to wake me on the weekends. It kind of irked me that my teammates seemed to remember so many negative things about me. I had to have some good qualities. I just needed to remind them of that.
The guys were waiting for us when we arrived outside the locker rooms.
“What took you so long?” Coach Barnes asked, a gruffness in his voice. Why were they all in such a hurry? He tapped his watch. “We’re already off schedule.”
All the girls’ heads turned toward me. Liam chuckled when I clenched my fists at my side. I wasn’t used to so many people hating me. Or maybe they always had, and I’d never noticed.
Both coaches snapped at us to follow them. I stayed in back, trying to calm myself. Anger would get me nowhere.
Liam bumped my arm with his. “Did you have to freshen up your makeup?”
I turned to him. “I’m not even wearing makeup.”
His eyes traveled my face. “Huh. Look at that. You’re not.” He pulled a pad of paper out of his pocket and wrote something down.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He tucked the pad back in his pocket. “Making note of this historic occasion.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve gone outside without makeup before.” Hadn’t I? Dylan didn’t like me without it, but I’d gone without makeup before. Maybe some time back in middle school, before I’d started wearing it.
“Keep telling yourself that, Cam-I-Am.” His eyes widened, and he whipped out his notepad again. “That’s the best one yet.”
I rubbed my arms. “Why are they in such a hurry anyway?”
“We have a schedule,” Liam said, trying to impersonate Coach Barnes and doing a terrible job.
Even though I was beyond irritated, and crazy hangry, a smile found its way to my face.
Alejandro fell back, so he was walking on the other side of me. “You know I’ll be getting payback from the last game, right?” He grinned at me, a wicked glint in his eyes.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” I scanned the sea of baseball players until I spotted freshly cut blond hair and a shy smile—Mason Payne. I’d have to find time to talk to him without Alejandro around.
It would be kind of hard to flirt with both of them without the other noticing. I’d have to be subtle about it. With Mason, subtle would be easy, with how quiet he
was. Alejandro? He didn’t know the meaning of subtle.
Izzy and Ava looked over their shoulders at me, whispering away. They weren’t going to make things easy, either. I really hoped I hadn’t made a mistake by going to camp.
Chapter 20
Val was trying to make my life difficult by forcing me to share a room with Jordyn, but as I’d proved the day before, I could sleep through anything. I popped in my earbuds and fell asleep to Adam Levine’s voice, so really, the joke was on her.
I bounded into the mess hall in the morning, ready for breakfast. I ignored the shared looks of disappointment Val, Izzy, and Ava wore. They were expecting me to be all sleepy-eyed and upset, but they were wrong.
I’d just got in the food line when Liam clapped me on the shoulder and pulled me close to him so he could talk quietly.
“Bad news, Cam-I-Am.”
I looked up at him, fake shock and horror on my face. “They found out you weren’t actually a baseball player?” Then I took in his royal blue shirt that said, ‘The only way to ball is bocce.’ “Oh, wait, it’s because of the confrontational shirt you’re wearing. Pretty ballsy to wear it here, if you ask me.”
He lowered his hand and stared at the ground. Liam normally loved a good pun. Had I upset him by my comment? That didn’t seem likely. Something else was eating away at him.
“What?” I set my hand on his arm, hoping to let him know he could tell me anything.
He licked his lips. “You have another rumor going around.”
My whole body deflated, like all the air had been let out. Val. It had to be. I cupped my elbows, pulling my arms close. “A picture?”
He nodded. “It was uploaded last night, but no one knows by who.”
Val. She’d taken the picture of me in my pee-stained shorts. Obviously, she uploaded it. I glanced over my shoulder, seeking her out. She sat at a table with the other softball players, all of them huddled around her phone and laughing, a few looking up at me.
The Kiss List Page 10
