Family Camp (Daddy Dearest, #1)(23)

Geo turned to Lucy. “Would you like to paint with Bridget and Aimee and Van after breakfast while Da— Um, while I go on a hike? Or do you want me to stay with you?”

Lucy looked up at him, her little face squinting. Then she looked at Bridget. “Paint Max.”

Which, Geo thought, meant she was more than willing to cut him loose. Buh-bye. That was good, right? It was good that she was engaging, even a little, with Bridget and Van.

“I didn’t sign up for the hike, though,” Geo remembered. “Don’t you have to sign up?”

Bridget waved her hand dismissively. “Just show up and ask if there’s room. I’m sure Travis won’t mind if you tag along.” She smirked.

“The hike doesn’t usually fill up. It’s on the tougher side,” said Van.

“Great. Way to sell me on the idea, Van,” Geo deadpanned.

“Oh, stop,” Bridget said. “You know you’re dying to go. So go.”

Bridget and Van looked at each other and smiled.





Chapter 11




Travis waited at the TRAIL sign with his brother Joe as the campers arrived. They stood around in their little family units, waiting for the Goat Rocks hike to begin. Eighteen had signed up for it, but there were always a few no-shows at the last minute.

Some of the hikers snuck self-conscious looks at Travis, but he was used to that. He kept his sunglasses in place and a slight smile on his lips, trying not to look scowly. It wasn’t his fault he looked cold and unfriendly by default. Left to its own devices, his face just did that.

Geo jogged up. “Hey. I thought I might join you guys. But, uh, if you’re full, that’s fine. I didn’t mark it on my activity sheet.”

“No problem,” Joe said. “We’ve got room for one more.”

“I don’t know,” Travis deadpanned. “He didn’t mark his activity sheet. There ought to be consequences.”

Joe frowned at Travis before realizing he was joking. “Heh-heh. Yeah, bro. Whatever you say.” He looked Geo up and down as if wondering who he was, then wandered off to do a head count.

“I was kidding,” Travis told Geo.

“Yeah, I got that.” Geo nodded. “You’re hilarious.”

Travis’s smile turned genuine at Geo’s teasing tone, but he didn’t say anything more.

He wasn’t sure if he was glad Geo had joined the hike or if he was stressed about it. Stressed, if he was honest. He tried to make himself relax. He was going to be around Geo a lot this week. There was no point in getting tweaked about it. Or paying too much attention to him. Or ignoring him. But he was so aware of Geo, it was hard to act natural around the guy.

He was still embarrassed about last night too. The thought of their conversation on the porch step of Geo’s cabin made his face heat. He’d just come right out and accused Geo of…things. Including lying about his kids to get Travis’s dick. Why the hell had he said that? Could he have sounded any more conceited? It was so awkward. And he’d been wrong about Geo all along, about the situation with the kids. Open mouth, insert size twelve foot.

But they’d gotten past it, Travis thought. They’d joked through the camp song and it had felt all right by the end. And at least now he knew the truth and didn’t hate Geo for a reason that existed only in his head.

God, Cindy was right. He could be a defensive asshole. He knew he tended to shut people out, not trust them, but he’d really done it this time. Geo probably thought he was the biggest ass who ever lived. Which was a shame. Geo was a nice guy who was trying to do a good thing for Jayden and Lucy. The most important thing. Besides, Geo made Travis laugh. A lot. How could you not like someone who made you laugh like that? And was so damn cute besides?

Travis turned away from the group and dug the toe of his hiking boot into the dirt, hoping to hide the silly smile he could feel on his face.

Jayden, Stryker, and Aiden came running up. Jayden reached Travis first and threw himself into Travis’s middle like a player sliding into home base. Travis caught him, hands under his arms, and swung him around before setting him on his feet.

“Hey, Travis!” Jayden said breathlessly. “We’re hiking, right?”

“Absolutely.”

“Cool!” Jayden said.

Geo gave Travis a wide-eyed, disbelieving look.

“Hey, Travis!” said Stryker, grabbing his arm and hanging off it. “I’ve been practicing my pitching all year. Can I show you tomorrow?”

“Definitely. Have you been holding your arm like I said?”

“Yup! And my coach says I’m the best pitcher at my school!”

“And I’m the best pitcher too,” said Aiden.

Stryker rolled his eyes. “Maybe. In third grade.”

“I want to see both you guys pitch,” Travis said, to head off an argument. “Tomorrow morning before family baseball.”

“Cool!” said Stryker. “Hey, Jayden, do you play baseball?”

“Duh. Everyone plays baseball.” Jayden turned and wandered over to pick up a rock, clearly hoping to avoid the conversation. Which meant he’d probably never played baseball in his life, something Travis had already suspected.

“So tell me about your Little League, Aiden,” Travis asked, to take the focus off Jayden.