Glow (Glimmer and Glow #2)(46)
“Crystal knows we’re up to something, by the way. She’s been watching you, me, and Justin like a hawk,” Terrance said in a hushed tone to Matt after they’d all quieted. He referred to their very experienced night cabin supervisor, who had just arrived and was greeting a group of girls across the large room. “But if we’re good enough to come out on top on the wall climb, there’s no way we shouldn’t be able to . . . you know,” Terrance said shiftily to Matt and Judith. Judith glanced up and noticed Alice slowly approaching them. She gave Terrance a repressive glance.
“Steal Bang?” Alice finished pleasantly, coming to an abrupt halt next to them.
Judith’s, Terrance’s, and Matt’s expressions ranged from panic to convincing noncomprehension. Noble D just stared at the table uncomfortably.
“What’s a bang?” Terrance asked, pointing at Alice and giving Matt an “insane-lady alert” look.
“You know,” Alice said with the air of musing quietly to herself and ignoring Terrance. “It occurs to me that a team that strategized so brilliantly on the wall climb should be able to recognize that the candidate or candidates to send on a . . . oh . . . say a secret mission or something, isn’t necessarily the obvious one or ones, because that person or persons would have the spotlight turned on them.”
Terrance scowled at her cryptic statement. “You okay, Alice? Did you eat dinner? You light-headed or something?”
“I’m fine,” Alice said blithely, because while Terrance and Matt were looking confused, D had slowly raised his head and Judith was regarding her through a narrowed gaze. Alice had paused behind a couch. She idly picked up a throw pillow. “And it also occurs to me that a team should consider the ultimate goal of any task. Is it really the obvious goal?” Alice wondered as if to herself, keeping her voice low so that only the four kids heard her. “Or is the real goal something symbolic? Could the goal be achieved in some alternative way without taking any unnecessary risks? Taking anything, really? That’s what I wonder about.”
“You and me both,” Terrance said, rolling his eyes. Alice smiled innocently, flipping the throw pillow and catching it.
“I was just thinking about things, that’s all. It’s a good night for thinking . . .”
“Or going nuts,” Terrance muttered under his breath.
“. . . about goals, and how the most brilliant of plans often achieve more than one purpose,” Alice continued. She abruptly tossed the pillow. Despite his hunched-over position, Noble D straightened and caught it with the reflexes of a natural athlete.
Judith blinked at the sudden move. Her stare transferred from D to Alice, her eyes widening.
Message received.
She pointed at Terrance. “We’re running in the morning. Don’t be late. Night, you guys,” Alice said before she sauntered away.
*
DYLAN’S last kiss in the woods—that hot, deep, tender one—rode her consciousness as she crept out of her cabin that night at nine thirty. She’d never known it was possible to be both anxious and relieved to the point of euphoria at the idea of seeing another human being . . .
At the idea of resuming her schedule of spending the night in his bed, wrapped in his arms.
The night was still and quiet. There were a million stars in the night sky. Alice wasn’t sure if it was her sharp anticipation in seeing him or if she was getting used to his silent nocturnal movement in the dark woods, but unlike most nights, when he surprised her, she turned to him just before he touched her back. Instead, his hand slid along her T-shirt and cupped her shoulder. Alice stepped toward him and went up on her tiptoes, both her hands pressed against the solid wall of his chest.
She found his mouth in the darkness unerringly. Her kiss was hungry; she held nothing back. All the feelings that she’d been stifling found an outlet in that kiss.
It only took him a split second to get over his surprise at her attack. Then his arms were closing around her, and he was joining in that wet, wild kiss.
After a delicious moment, where Alice felt her toes curling in her tennis shoes, she reluctantly came up for air.
“I’m still mad at you for keeping things from me,” she breathed out against his lips.
“Exactly how am I supposed to know what to tell you and what not to tell you, when you send me so many mixed messages?”
She bit her lip, unable to answer his question as concisely as he’d asked it.
“I know I’m sending mixed messages,” she conceded. “What else can I do? I’m confused.”
“Understandable.”
“But you shouldn’t have treated Thad like that,” she whispered. “You’re far too protective of me, Dylan. I’m an independent person. I always have been. I don’t want to live in a cage.”
A breeze caught the tops of the trees that surrounded them, making them sigh softly. It suddenly struck Alice that she was having this conversation with him in the pitch black, where she couldn’t see him. Maybe that made it easier, somehow. When she looked into his deep, magnetic eyes, she sometimes lost herself.
“I respect that,” he whispered stiffly after a moment. “And I still don’t think you should be giving anyone carte blanche with your loyalty, but I do understand that Schaefer has become your friend. For better or worse.”