Home > Beneath a Summer Sky(9)

Beneath a Summer Sky(9)
Author: A.R. Perry

“Those guys aren’t the ones who got me caught. You did.”

He steps back, confusion washing over his features. “This wouldn’t have happened if they didn’t convince you to sneak out.”

“No. None of this would have happened if you didn’t challenge me by saying I couldn’t go. You’re not even my friend, so why do you care?”

His jaw tightens, pulsing the tiny muscle below his ear. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Well, too late.” I take a step back, wrapping my arms around my stomach. “I’m hurt that you dumped me like a bad habit two years ago. I’m hurt that you almost got me kicked out of here. And—” I clamp my mouth shut before I can embarrass myself and tell him how much it stung to hear him tell me our kiss was a mistake.

Even if right now I agree with him.

“Can’t you just go back to ignoring me?” I ask as I rush around the corner and back inside the building as the realization hits me.

I’m not mad he dragged me back to camp kicking and screaming and got me caught. I’m mad that he kissed me and made me realize I want to do it over and over again only to rip it away from me.

 

 

To Shane’s credit, he did try to keep his distance. He was in bed before I got back to the cabin. He snuck out before I got up. A whole cafeteria separated us during meals. Everything was going so well.

Mr. River had other ideas.

So far in the past two days, he’s partnered Shane and me for every group activity. When he said he wanted Shane to monitor me, he meant it. And until I can prove that I’m not some demon-spawn troublemaker, I’m going to be uncomfortable and internally chafed from my out-of-control emotions.

I’ve barely slept since I changed cabins because it’s hard to do when Shane is all topless and unfazed in the bunk below me. I’m too scared I’m going to snore or drool or do something else embarrassing. Not that it should matter because, from the way he’s been acting, I’m not even a blip on his radar. Just some girl he’s being forced to watch over. And clearly, he meant it when he said the kiss was a mistake fueled by our crash. As for me, I can’t seem to get it out of my head. Any time there is a dull moment, there it is, haunting me. A reminder that I’ll always be some annoying kid to him. One he now gets to babysit, furthering the idea that I haven’t grown up from the gangly sixteen-year-old he last saw.

“Okay.” Shane claps his hands to grab all the kids’ attention and snaps me out of my thoughts. “Today we’re going to take a canoe trip around the lake. Partner up and grab a lifejacket.”

I take a step toward one of the younger kids who will need the most help, but Shane shakes his head and beckons me toward him with a curve of his finger.

“Let them partner up. They need to get to know each other—team bonding.” He tries to suppress a smirk when I roll my eyes.

When I said he was distant that didn’t include stifling his sarcasm. No. That’s alive and kicking. I swear it’s a million times worse than when we were kids.

He tosses me a life jacket and I slip it on as I move toward the kids to make sure everyone is putting them on correctly. Really, I want distance because now my afternoon will be Shane and me shoved together in a tiny canoe.

Fantastic.

“Everyone ready?” Shane calls as he makes his way to the shore where five canoes are waiting to take me to my afternoon of hell.

The other counselors, those lucky bastards, are filling their afternoon with hiking and volleyball and not wanting to drown themselves in the lake.

I make my way to the far edge and help a group who are struggling to push it off the sand and into the water. The young boy I help gives me a tight smile and casts a glance at the girl sitting in the canoe watching us with what appears to be pink cheeks. It’s cute the way they both have no idea how to function around each other. Being stuck out in the middle of the lake alone won’t make this any less awkward.

Behind me, Shane is waiting by our canoe.

Okay, awkward is a huge understatement.

With a steadying breath, I walk over to him. The kids are already floating a few feet out, splashing, tilting, and getting used to the way the oars move through the almost still water.

I can do this. A few hours on the water and then it will be lunchtime.

I’ve been alone with Shane before—hell we’ve slept in the same room for the past few nights. Well, he sleeps and I lie awake. But still, I have a feeling I’m making this far more awkward than it needs to be. We’re friends. Or rather, we were.

But he kissed you.

I shake my head and pull my hair into a scalp-tingling ponytail. He said it himself, the kiss was fueled by panic and adrenaline. Nothing to think twice about. Yet, I can’t forget. Why did he have to do something so…life altering? There is no way I’ll ever be able to look at him and see a mud-covered eight-year-old who spent the afternoon digging up roly-polies. Now all I’ll see is his full lips and that dang smile that enticed half the female population at school.

“Ready?” He holds a hand out for me, the other steadying the canoe as it bobs half on the shore.

“Uh-huh.” Ignoring his hand, I step inside and almost trip when his fingers glide over my spine steadying me.

After a few seconds of the canoe rocking from my not-so-elegant entrance, Shane casts off, pushing the rest of it into the water then hopping in with an ease that makes me cringe at my total lack of grace.

Once out in the water and close to the kids still trying to find their bearings, Shane picks up a white megaphone from the spot by his feet. “Okay, campers. This is an exercise in teamwork as much as it is a fun day on the water. Like we talked about this morning, it will take the team to make the trip around the lake without capsizing. If you need help, blow your whistle. Counselor Lyla and I will stay close so make sure you don’t veer off on your own or you will put the rest of the campers in danger should something happen.”

Shane nudges me with his elbow, giving me my cue. I pick up one of the paddles, holding it as high as I can so everyone can see.

“Counselor Lyla is going to show you one more time how to hold the oar. When you decide which side you are paddling on, put that hand on the rubber part.” I wrap my right hand around the rubber and once again show the children. “The other hand will wrap around the T-grip.” I demonstrate the grip, sliding the paddle into the water. “Remember that the person in front can’t see what’s happening behind them so make sure you are communicating. Try a few strokes to get comfortable, then we’ll be off!”

Shane sets down the megaphone and gets into position at the front. “How many you think will end up in the water?” he asks over his shoulder.

I scan the group, watching as pretty much every canoe wobbles. “All of them.”

He lets out a huff of a laugh as he rests his paddle across his knees. “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.”

I set myself up as he rows. After a few strokes, we fall into a comfortable rhythm. There isn’t even a need for me to speak. It’s almost as if he can sense every move before I make it.

I wish I could say that about the other campers.

It takes five minutes for the first team to capsize. The shy girl from earlier breaks the water with a cough and wastes no time bringing the whistle to her lips.

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