Unknown (The Secret Life of Cassie Martin #1)(38)

His eyes light up with the challenge. I’ll play along, but for now, I’ll just watch them enjoy themselves. Maybe they’ll let me drop it so I can say I contributed?

About five minutes into the pros and cons of each idea, Mr. Smyth and Ms. Carlton come by. Ms. Carlton hovers over the guys. She leans into Parker as she tries to see what they’re doing. Parker scrunches in on himself as she moves closer.

I get up to go rescue him when Mr. Smyth stops me. “May I have a word with you outside, Cassie?”

With my curiosity peaked, I agree and follow him into the hall.

He waits for the door to close before saying, “I hear you and your boys went hiking this morning.”

That’s one way to put what we did. I’m not going to give anything away unless he asks me directly, though. “We did. We like to spend time down by the lake where there are fewer distractions. It allows us to focus.”

“It’s good to know you’re happy enough with your team to go off with them. Just be careful because people will show you what they want you to see,” he cautions, and irritation makes my fingers curl into fists. Why would he be putting doubts in my head about the boys? He seems oblivious to my change in mood as he adds, “I also would like you to be careful looking around where the firecrackers went off. We don’t know that those kids won’t come back.”

“I’m a good judge of character. I don’t believe any of them would ever do anything against me.” Anger makes my cheeks heat, and I keep my voice low as I point at him. “You, on the other hand, chose to lie last night and just now about firecrackers. If you want me to heed your warnings, you should start with building my trust in you.”

He has the nerve to look contrite. “I sometimes forget where you were brought up. It’s unfortunate you ever encountered gunfire. Please keep this information to yourself so the other campers don’t panic.”

“I’m not the only one that noticed. Jay knew immediately as well. I’m sure we aren’t the only two teens here that have heard gunfire before.” My voice rises with my anger until I’m almost yelling. “You might want to come up with a better cover story. Or better yet, just tell us the truth!”

“There’s no need for a cover story. They were local teens trying to scare the campers. They were removed.” He smiles at me now, but I don’t believe a word coming out of his mouth. “It was just safer to tell people it was firecrackers and not guns shot at the lake.”

I’m about to say something else to him when Ms. I’m-Going-to-Get-Close-to-Your-Boys Carlton walks out of the room. “Cassie, your team is on the right track in there. I enjoy watching great minds come together. Keep up the good work.”

Before I can respond to either of them, they walk off. Irritated, my mind wanders as I walk back into the room. About three feet in, I trip over something the boys set on the floor and fall right into Lucca’s arms.

Lucca helps me straighten up. “If you wanted to cuddle with me, you only had to ask.”

I take a deep breath before I answer because I don’t want to let my anger and irritation out on him. It’s a clear sign of my respect for him that I even consider reining in my temper. Normally I’d have told him off. “Maybe some other time, Lucca.”

“What’s wrong?” His brows pull together at my short tone. “What did Mr. Smyth say to you?”

Shoot. I didn’t want to sound irritated. “It was nothing. He admitted it was gunshots we heard last night, but they decided not to tell anyone because they didn’t want to cause a panic.” I’m not sure why I’m leaving out his warning about them. The web of secrets grows.

“I’m glad he admitted it. It makes sense he wouldn’t want to scare people,” Lucca agrees with Mr. Smyth.

Maybe I’m blowing this up, and I shouldn’t. Something just doesn’t feel right, though.

Since I don’t want to think about that anymore, and we have a project to finish, I change the subject by teasing the boys some. “So, you’re hitting on the counselors to get a passing mark. I wouldn’t have thought any of you had it in you, but I’ll go with it. At least as long as it’s you doing it and not me.” I wink at them.

“Eww, never!” Noah laughs.

At the same time, Parker yells, “I would rather fail first!”

Jay doesn’t say anything, but he wads up paper to throw at me. It isn’t long before there’s an all-out war with paper balls. Parker grabs me from behind so I can’t move and uses me as a shield against the projectiles.

“Hey! No fair! Let me down.” I try to wiggle away from him.

Noah comes from my left side. His fingers connect with my side, and now I’m squealing. I can’t think clearly between the paper ball assault and the tickling. I yell, but nothing coherent comes out. I’m not even sure if they’re throwing things at us anymore. Lucca and Jay may have joined in on the tickling.

Through my tears, I beg them to stop; unfortunately, nothing comes out like it should. I finally manage to say, “I will never speak of her again if you stop! Please, stop!”

My whole body shakes with tears and laughter. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard. Parker still holds me, but he does it more to help me stand than to restrain me. I manage to sit on the floor as someone hands me a tissue to wipe off my face.