“Talk to him.” Scarlett nibbles on the edge of her sandwich.
“When? We have activities all day and then we go to separate cabins.”
Pushing her tray away, she grins. My eyes widen because this is a grin I’ve seen before. It means she’s up to something and usually not something good.
“What are you—”
“Ugh, my stomach!” She folds in half, groaning loud enough for Mr. River to hear over the chatter of the children around us.
“Miss Morse?” Mr. River jogs over to us followed by Shane whose eyes flick from her to me, suspicion swirling in in the depths of the oceanic blue hue.
“My stomach is killing me,” Scarlett groans.
Everyone else might buy this lame act, but I cringe because she’s so transparent and over the top. Still, I didn’t see this coming. If I had I would have punched her and told her to knock it off. She’s never been the best actress.
“Let’s get you to the nurse’s office. Shane, combine your afternoon activity with Miss Underwood.”
As Mr. River helps Scarlett up, she winks over her shoulder and lets him lead her out of the building. For a couple of seconds, I’m dumbfounded because that was way too easy. How the hell did she know Shane and I would be partnered if she bowed out?
“So, I guess we’re partnered this afternoon.” Shane runs a hand up the side of his hair, ruffling it a bit.
“Guess so.”
“Do you want to step out and make a plan because you’re assigned to crafting and I have hiking?”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s go to…your cabin?” Ugh. I hate myself for how unsure my voice sounds. I also hate myself for throwing that out as an option because I’m not fond of rejection.
After a moment’s pause, he nods. “Sure. It’s quiet in there. We’ve got fifteen minutes to make a plan so…”
Oh, right. I should stand or make some kind of move to leave.
On uncoordinated legs, I stand up and only trip a little as I step over the bench seat.
Get it together, Lyla.
Shane leads the way and speed walks to his cabin. Mr. River is nowhere around, so I’m assuming he’s still with Scarlett. Knowing her, she’s putting on quite a show. Once she gets rolling, it’s kinda hard to pull her back.
The cabin is quiet as we step inside. And was it always this small? I swear it’s as if all the oxygen is sucked out of the room with both of us standing awkwardly in the center.
“So, do you think we should take all the kids on a hike or—”
“Why are you ignoring me?” I blurt out.
No tact. No thought. The words just tumble out and leave Shane staring at me as if I’ve asked him to solve Hodge conjecture.
“I’m not…I wasn’t…”
“You are. And it’s weird. We kissed, and you admitted you like me and now you can barely look at me.” He glances down at his shoes. “See! You can’t, even now. Do you regret it? Was it another mistake?”
My stupid voice wobbles with the pain of his rejection, and it makes him glance up.
“Do you regret kissing me?”
“That’s not a simple question to answer.”
Pain lances through my chest. I will not cry, dang it. But even as I think the words, tears well at my lash line.
“Don’t. Come on, don’t do that.” In an instant, I’m in his arms and he’s crushing me to his chest. “I like you so much it hurts sometimes but us together…it won’t be easy.”
Sniffing away tears, I lean back. “Listen, I understand you attend college in a different state and I’m not asking for forever, but I want to at least give us a shot to explore whatever this is.”
His fingers tangle in my long ponytail. “I don’t think I’ll live past the summer once Jay finds out.”
His words soften the blow of earlier rejection. “So, this is about Jay?”
“Of course it is. You’re his little sister.”
“I’m an eighteen-year-old woman who can make her own decisions.”
“You’re still his sister and no one will ever be good enough for you. Least of all me.”
I drag my thumb across the crease between his eyes, flattening it out a bit. “Leave Jay to me. He talks a big game, but he’s a big mushy teddy bear underneath it all.”
“No.” His strong fingers massage the base of my head. “I’ll talk to him. This is something he needs to hear from me.”
“So…does that mean you’re done ignoring me?”
“It means that I’m ready to explore this even if it means I end up in a shallow grave.”
I giggle, tracing the pout of his bottom lip. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe from my mean old brother.”
Leaning down, he slides his nose against mine. “And who’s going to keep you safe from me?”
Before I come up with a witty reply, his lips crash on mine, hungry and full of the same pent-up emotion I’ve been battling with over the past two days. My toes curl, and my brain turns to mush. I would stay like this forever if I could, but we have kids to watch over so I’m the first to pull away, panting. Shane’s cheeks are ruddy and his eyes are full of desire since I cut us off so abruptly.
Little does he know it took all of my willpower to be the responsible one when all I want to do is get lost in him.
Besides, we have all summer to explore the new us.
“Three days and we’re out of here. You ready?” Scarlett asks, toasting a marshmallow to cinders.
“Yes, and no.” Without meaning to, my gaze lands on Shane on the other side of the dancing flames. At the moment he’s showing a kid how to roast four marshmallows at once and I can’t help but smile.
He’s convinced he’s some terrible guy I should steer clear of. But over all these years I’ve never seen him be anything but the upstanding guy I’d always envisioned myself with. Whatever his doubts are stem from my brother.
This thing between Jay and him is hanging between us and holding him back from investing in this—whatever this unnamed thing is. Are we boyfriend and girlfriend? Are we dating causally? Seeing other people? I’m too scared to ask, and he has made no attempt to put a label on us.
He won’t be calm until we’ve sat Jay down. I get it—all their history—and I will try my best to let him do it in his own time. After all, they were the ones who were best friends.
“Did you hear me?” Scarlett bumps me with her knee.
“Sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked if we can have a girl day when we get home. Manis. Pedis. The works. Three weeks is way too long in the wilderness.”
The girl has a point. Gunk turns the edges of my nails a disgusting black color. This has been fun, but Scarlett is right. I’m so ready to sleep in my comfy bed and air-conditioned house.
“Definitely. Momzilla will have me on a short leash the first few days, but after that, I’m all yours.”
“What about Sexy McCounselor?”
An unstoppable grin takes over when I imagine an entire summer wrapped up in Shane’s arms. “There’s enough of me to go around. I’d never ditch you for a guy. Besties for life.” I hold out a pinkie, and she links hers to mine.