She raises her cup. “You already did.”
“Nah, that was just the ticket in the door. I’m taking your KP duty after dinner tonight.”
She shakes her head. “That’s sweet, but—”
I show her my phone. “Already done. I texted Kyle and he approved the change. And afterward, maybe we can hang out?”
“Yeah, sure. There’s a movie at the rec hall.”
“I know, but I’ve got a better idea. And it’s totally within camp rules. Mostly. I’ll swing by your cabin at 8, ok?”
She nods as the door opens and a bunch of kids pour into the room. Lucy chatters on about today’s craft and I hand out supplies. The hour is uneventful, but that’s a good thing, since my mind is busy making plans.
* * *
Lucy
My campers are all at the movie and Sophie, the counselor at the cabin next door, agreed to keep an eye on them. That means I’m free for the next two hours. And when I see Caleb leaning against my doorway, two hours suddenly doesn’t seem like enough time.
“Hey,” he says, dropping a quick kiss on my lips.
“Hey. How was KP?”
“Not too bad. I like being in the kitchen, even if I have to do the dishes. You ready?”
“Yeah,” I say, grabbing my hoodie from a hook by the door. “If we’re not going to the movies, where are we headed?”
He lifts his arm and I notice the picnic basket he’s holding. “If I weren’t such a headcase, I’d steal a canoe and recreate that scene fromThe Little Mermaid. You know the one?” he asks, singing the song about kissing the girl.
I’m supposed to laugh or smile or be charmed by the hot guy with the dimple and the voice that belongs on a radio. And I am. But my heart breaks for him, too. “Don’t say that,” I scold. “You are not a headcase.” If I was braver, I’d tell him he’s the boy I love, but it’s too soon to say that. Or even think it.
“Agree to disagree,” he says.
“Nope,” I shake my head, following him to the gazebo that sits on the hill past the rec hall. I pause when I realize the white wooden structure has been strung with fairy lights. And there’s a little table inside. I walk up the steps and see that there, on the middle of the little table, which appears to be made of milk crates, is a nautical vase filled with wildflowers.
I turn, but he’s standing right behind me, so I’m immediately wrapped in his embrace. There’s no place I’d rather be.
“You didn’t have to do all this,” I tell him, but he just shrugs.
“I didn’t do it because I had to. I did it because I wanted to. I’d do almost anything if it would make you smile like that.”
We sit at the table and eat the food he smuggled from the fridge in the dining hall. It’s so good, and I can tell he doctored it a little.
“You distracted me with the fairy lights and the flowers, but I was about to say something really important.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” he swipes a breadstick from my plate and takes a bite.
I take a deep breath. “I’m sorry your dad is gone. I’m sorry you hate the water. But I get it. And you shouldn’t feel bad. You shouldn’t apologize for it.”
“Yeah?” he looks unsure. “My baggage doesn’t scare the hell out of you, Lucy? It should.”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t. In case you didn’t notice, I’ve got some baggage of my own.”
He nods. “Have you heard from her?” his voice is quieter, like he’s not sure he should even ask the question.
I shake my head no. “Not since my birthday last year. And even then, the card was late. It came in October instead of September.”
“That sucks.”
