Family Camp (Daddy Dearest, #1)(18)

She waggled her eyebrows at him. “Don’t worry. After three years of trying, it’s actually a relief to know it’s not me.” Aimee was leaning tiredly against her mom, and Bridget smoothed her hair.

“Honestly, I think he’s just trying to help me out with my kids,” Geo said.

Bridget snorted. “Come on, Geo. You’d have to be blind not to see it.”

Really? Geo wanted to say. Do you really think he likes me? Yeah, he spent way too much time with seventh-graders.

“He’s not out, you know,” she said conversationally. “I Googled him just now, specifically looking for that? There’s not even a rumor that he’s gay.”

Geo gasped. “Stalky McStalker!”

She snickered. “I was curious. Hey, I’m all about my Google Fu. Besides, I typed in ‘Is Travis Mayhew’ and it brought up ‘gay’ to finish the sentence. So I’m not the only one who wonders.”

Geo snorted. “If you typed in ‘Is the pope…’ it would probably bring up ‘gay’ to finish the sentence.”

She laughed. “True. Hey, Aimee, should we show Lucy the pink treasure chest?”

Aimee stood straighter, her face brightening. “Yeah! Wait ’til you see it, Lucy. There’s one that’s big and pink and it has, like, plastic necklaces and rings and stuff. It’s really pretty!”

Bridget led the way into the trees. Max followed along at Lucy’s side. Geo looked around and noticed Travis was busy setting up a snack table. He didn’t seem worried about Max, so Geo figured it was okay if Max went with them.

“You do like Travis though, right?” Bridget asked as they walked.

“Pfft! Absolutely not. That guy? He doesn’t do a thing for me,” Geo said confidently.

Bridget laughed. “Uh-huh.”

“Anyway, I have no idea if he plays for my team. At all. I think it’s really about Jayden and Lucy. They’re, well, they’re foster kids. And I haven’t had them long. Still trying to find a ‘normal,’ you know? I think Travis is trying to help. That’s the extent of the intrigue. More’s the pity.”

“Interesting.” Bridget cocked her head. “I guess I can see that. He was a foster, you know.”

“He was?”

“Oh, yeah. The Mayhews have ten kids. Only two of them are biological. James and Ida are amazing people.”

Geo blinked. “Wow. I did not know that.”

“Yup. So maybe you’re right. Maybe he’s trying to give you a hand.” She winked. “Or maybe he wants to give you a hand.”

Geo muttered something about buttinskis and gay-baiting, but he wished his heart would stop hammering quite so voraciously at the tempting idea.

They found the treasure chest, which was exactly as hideous and garish as Bridget had described. All the plastic goodies in the chest were glued into place so they couldn’t be taken. Smart. Geo filed the idea away for his classroom.

And Geo was thrilled to hear Lucy speak a new word for the first time.

She pointed at the chest and looked at Aimee. “Am-ee, it’s pink!”

By the time they got back to the canoes, there was a fire going in the fire pit and families were raiding the snack table like a swarm of ants. Jayden was already seated on a log with Stryker and Aiden, a plate of food in his hands. He looked at Geo, and Geo nodded and smiled at him. You’re cool, bro. Have fun. He helped Lucy get a plate of food.

He only caught glimpses of Travis as they sat by the fire and ate, Max at Lucy’s feet. There was something about a fire, even though it was a warm afternoon. It lent a certain Family Camp je ne sais quoi.

Travis didn’t appear again until they were ready to leave.

“Okay, everyone!” Cindy called out. “Adults are in the same canoes going out as you were coming here. Kiddos can move around if you want, but no more than four to a canoe!”

Adults in the same canoes. That meant Geo would be with Travis again. He couldn’t help but feel smug about that. Travis was already over at canoe number 10, pulling out the life jackets. Max ran back and forth on the pebbled beach beside him.

“Let’s go, Luce Goose,” Geo said. “It’s canoe time.”

Lucy nodded and clutched her dolls. She looked tired. Hopefully, there’d be time for a nap when they got back to camp. They wandered over to Jayden in time to hear Stryker ask, “Hey, Jayden, wanna ride with us on the way back?”

Jayden puffed out his chest. “Nah. I’m helping Travis do the sweep. Make sure nobody falls out of the canoes and stuff. He said he needed me to help him.”

Stryker looked a little jealous. “Okay. Cool, I guess. See you back there.” Stryker and Aiden went off to join Van at their canoe.

“Ahoy there, Jayden the Scourge,” Geo said in his pirate’s voice. “Time to board the skiff and man the lookout.”

“Aye, Geo the Terrible,” Jayden said with a fake snarl.

As they walked towards their canoe, Jayden’s hand tucked itself into Geo’s. It was only for approximately ten seconds, like Jayden had forgotten himself. Geo held it lightly until Jayden remembered and pulled away.





Chapter 9




That night after dinner, campers had a choice of watching an animated movie in the dining room or going to the campfire down at the fire circle. Lucy wanted to see the movie, so Geo stayed with her while Jayden went to the campfire with Stryker and Aiden. He made not one quibble about “stupid campfires,” which Geo found amusing.