The Paid Bridesmaid(47)

“Thank you,” he said, his tone clipped. I guessed I wasn’t the first person to give him grief. “Your tents are over there. Go and get changed and then meet me and the rest of the wedding party by the campfire.”

“Changed?” Krista asked me. “This involves an outfit switch?”

I had no idea and shrugged as she and I walked to the tents Troy had indicated. My and Sadie’s names were written on a tag, hanging on the tent to the right. Krista’s name was on the left. She opened the flap. “Mary-Ellen! Looks like we’re camping buddies,” she said, in a tone of fake enthusiasm that only I would recognize.

It would be nice to be alone with Sadie. To check in with her, see how she was holding up, what she needed from me. To make sure that me telling Camden about the spy thing wasn’t going to be an issue. That she was happy with how her mother was behaving.

Two cots with white sheets and blankets were set up in the tent. Small collapsible canvas totes sat at the foot of the cots, and I assumed that was where we were supposed to store our things. The tent was tall enough to stand in, and there were white Christmas lights strung around the interior. Above the two cots hung mosquito netting. Which seemed odd, because I was usually a magnet for mosquitoes and hadn’t gotten a single bite yet.

On each cot there was a pair of pajamas. Button-down tops with drawstring bottoms. They were pale pink and the wedding’s hashtags were written on them—#DanAndSadie and #SadieMarriedLady. There were also a pair of slippers and a note from the different sponsors who had provided the tents, cots, and clothing. I claimed the cot on the left and changed quickly, stowing my dress, sandals, and purse in the tote.

It was then that I noticed something on our pillows. Chocolate chip cookies inside plastic baggies. My stomach grumbled appreciatively and I devoured both of the cookies in record time. So, so good. I should probably go find something else to eat that had actual nutritional value.

I stepped out of my tent and found Krista waiting for me in her pajamas. “I thought we could head over together.” There was a strained quality to her voice and I could hear Mary-Ellen singing off-key in their shared tent. I did not envy my friend.

“Come on, Mary-Ellen, let’s get a move on!” she called out. Krista linked her arm through mine and I asked if she’d eaten her cookies. “Obviously.”

“Do you think they were made here at the hotel, and if so, do you think we could get more?” I asked as we walked up to the campfire. Not exactly healthy, but maybe I’d throw in an apple or something.

Mary-Ellen was right behind us as we approached the campfire and found Sadie, Dan, and all of his groomsmen. The men’s pajamas were white and I couldn’t figure out who had thought that was a good color for camping.

Camden gave me a playful smile when we approached.

Krista let out a low whistle. “Do you see how he’s looking at you? That boy has impure thoughts about you.”

I shouldn’t want that to be true.

She nudged me with her arm. “Don’t bother denying that you think about him, too. It’s pretty obvious he’s living rent-free in your head. Because he has squatter’s rights at this point.”

I opened my mouth, intending to refute her statement, but had to admit to myself that it was true. Camden took up far too much space in my poor mind.

He said something to Rick, patted him on the shoulder, and then started walking over to me.

“Oh, look,” Krista said to Mary-Ellen. “Come over here and see this.”

“What?” Mary-Ellen asked as she was being dragged away. “What am I supposed to be looking at?”

Super subtle.

Every step that he took toward me I felt in my chest, my heart beating hard in time to his footsteps.

“Do you know why we’re camping?” I asked as he approached, willing myself to calm down.

“Dan loves it. Sadie apparently did it as a gift for him.”

That was very sweet of her, but not so much fun for me. “Why would someone love camping?” I truly didn’t get it.

“I don’t know. Nature, trees, peeing outdoors, bears, something-something one with the universe. I never really got it, either.” He put his hands in his pockets and stood close to me, our shoulders nearly touching as we both faced the campfire, which seemed more like a bonfire. “Although, to be fair, this is only sort of camping. Still it could be fun, right?”

“Which one is it? Fun or camping? It can’t be both. I mean, my idea of camping is a motel room that faces some trees.”

He chuckled slightly, but before he could respond an employee of the hotel came by, passing out the white lei.

“Be careful with those,” Camden said. “They were handmade.”

She appeared puzzled, probably because all the lei we’d had so far were handmade.

The employee wasn’t the only one who felt confused. He was over here bantering with me like nothing had happened.

Which I should accept and be grateful for. Instead I asked, “Have you processed yet?”

He raised both of his eyebrows, as if surprised by my question. “I’m taking things under consideration.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning . . . there are things that I’m feeling and I’m not sure how to deal with them and what you’ve told me.”

My breath caught at his words, wondering what exactly those feelings were. “But you still think I’m a spy?”