Page 45 of Camping with the Boss
I can’t deal with this. My team is looking to me to lead them. And Canyon is too quiet. “Then why the hell did you ask?”
He leans closer. “Because I don’t buy it, Wade. What’s going on?” His voice hardens. “Where did you go?”
“Fine. As long as we’re sharing secrets.” I keep my tone even. Fuck him. “You’ve been trailing after Jared like a lost puppy. Let’s start there.”
“Why do you have to be such a dick?”
My heart races as anger bursts through my defenses, making everything hazy. I choke back my scathing response—his betrayal. Siding with Meredith—and my stomach churns with guilt. I’ve yelled at people from time to time. Never Ander.
He stumbles back. Can he see it in my eyes? My face? I’m no longer able to hide it. Hurt flashes through his eyes. No, pain.Always pain.His eyes drop to my hands.
They aren’t balled into fists like I expect. My thumb is pressed into my palm so hard they’re both white, my fingers almost purple. The pain finally registers. I flex my hands and my fingers tingle. I take a deep breath. “Ander?—”
He jerks his head, rejecting my attempts to fix this. “Tell Canyon I’ll be back to help.” He turns away. “I need a minute.” His voice is rough, gravelly, like the sound of his bike on the road by our old house, full of starts and stops.
I hate Meredith. Nothing new. But today, I feel raw. And part of it’s from my meeting with Steph this morning. I know that. We’re back to this again. Every mistake I’ve ever made unveiled for the world to see.
It’s easier to breathe after Ander shuffles away. My team needs me. It’s why we’re here.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Wade. Do your duty. Rule number three. No regrets. Regrets are self-indulgent.
Groans come from my team seated at the picnic table as Canyon explains the upcoming activity.
He laughs. “It’s not that bad. We were scheduled to do these yesterday. But honestly, you guys weren’t ready.”
“We’re still not ready,” Al says loudly. It’s his main setting. Some things never change.
“Are you ever ready?” Owen asks.
Everyone laughs, but it’s subdued, as if they suspect something more is going on. Al complaining isn’t new. Owen getting pissed about it is.
Canyon catches my gaze and frowns.
Is he worried they’ll revolt? And an image of them standing on the picnic tables and shouting for a revolution flashes through my mind.
“Next week,” Al says, folding his arms across his chest. “I’ll be ready then.”
This time, the laughter is more hesitant. Wavering. Next week, we’ll be back in the office. Owen stands and takes a few steps away from the group, his eyes on Al.
I pull myself up, but before I can intervene, Canyon’s eyes snap to mine and pin me to the spot. A warning not to interfere.
Crossing my arms, I lean against the small building that holds sports equipment for the camp. No problem. I’ll just wait here. Useless.
“Trust fall exercises can feel scary, but I’ve seen you all come together as a team in the past few days. You’re ready.”
There are still a few grumbles as Canyon leads the group over to a grassy spot behind the ball pit.
This could go very wrong. I try to keep the concern off my face as I follow my team. Is there any way to stop this without upsetting Canyon? Not likely. The last time I intervened, he’d been furious. In my face. Strong and beautiful. And our kiss had been unexpected. Not the kiss itself—that seemed inevitable—but the intensity. The need for more. I stumble on the uneven ground and catch myself.
“Problem?” Jared is walking beside me. He smirks as if he knows what I’m thinking. Was I staring at Canyon? Probably.
“Nope. You?” I raise a brow at my old friend. I will find out what he’s been up to with my brother.
He looks away. “We should…talk,” he says, all amusement gone from his voice.
“Hurry up, bossman,” Canyon calls from the other side of the ball pit. At least he’s no longer calling me bosshole.
Jared looks past me, and I follow his gaze. Ander.
