Daring the Bad Boy (Endless Summer)(46)

…

ANNIE

“Tonight ought to be interesting,” Gwen said as she bent closer to the mirror, carefully applying black liquid eyeliner to her eyelid. No one could do a cat eye like Gwen.

“Why do you say that?” I stood next to her in front of the mirror. We were getting ready before dinner. I didn’t put on much makeup because I was an utter fail at applying it compared to the rest of the girls in my cabin, but I could manage a little eyeliner and some mascara.

Gwen stood up straight, her gaze meeting mine as I did the same. “It’s our annual special edition ghost story night, when Nancy dresses up as a creepy old lady and tells even creepier ghost stories.”

“Sounds fun.”

“It definitely is.” Gwen capped her liquid eyeliner and threw it into her makeup bag. “The stories are so scary, it’s when most of the guys take advantage of getting a girl to sit close to them. Offer them comfort, so to speak.”

I thought of who I’d want to sit next to if I was extra scared—and it wasn’t Kyle anymore.

It was Jake.

“It’s basically the only time we can make out in front of everyone and we won’t get in trouble,” Gwen added sarcastically before she started to laugh. “It’s a total hookup night.”

“Oh, well.” I smiled helplessly, wishing I had something interesting to say, but I was at a total loss for words. All I could think about was Jake. Sitting with him in the back of the group, where all the older kids hung out. Squeezing his hand tight when I got scared. Feeling his arm sneak around my shoulders as he pulled me close to him. Our lips meeting in our first kiss…

My first kiss. I could only imagine what it might feel like. I’d read enough books, seen plenty of on-screen kisses that looked amazing. I wanted amazing. I wanted my first kiss to be with someone special.

“Who do you want to hook up with tonight?” Gwen asked, her expression curious. “Kyle?”

My heart sank. Not even close, but how could I admit that? I didn’t want them to know I liked Jake. I didn’t want to hear their warnings about how I shouldn’t be involved with a counselor. I knew it was wrong, yet I didn’t care. But I didn’t want everyone to think I still had a crush on Kyle, either.

I didn’t know what to say or how to answer.

“Guess what!” Presley screeched as she ran into the bathroom, her body practically vibrating with excitement.

Gwen sent me a look like she thought Presley was crazy before she turned to her. “What, Pres?”

“I just ran into Jake, like, literally.” Presley giggled as my heart felt like it was sinking even lower. Why was she talking about my Jake? “Out by the lake. We talked for a while. God, he’s so cute!”

I could say nothing, couldn’t even find my voice. It was like it disappeared.

“What did you talk about?” Gwen asked.

“Just dumb stuff. Then I asked him if he’d sit with me tonight.” Presley grinned, looking very pleased with herself.

“And what did he say?” Gwen shot me a look, and I tried my best to keep my expression neutral. I had a feeling she was onto me, but I wasn’t about to say anything.

“Oh, well, that was the disappointing part. He said he couldn’t sit with me, since he had to work. He’s in charge of the bonfire,” Presley explained, like she was imparting secret Jake knowledge to us.

“That’s too bad,” Gwen said.

“Yeah,” I added, my voice scratchy. I cleared my throat.

“Oh, hey. Annie.” Presley turned toward me. “You two are friends, right? You and Jake?”

That’s what I’d told them when they kept questioning me about the arts and crafts paper airplane incident. And the jumping into the waterfall incident. Jake and I were racking up all sorts of incidents, weren’t we? I shrugged, trying to act casual. “Sort of.”

“Maybe you could put in a good word for me. Like I did for you with Kyle.” Presley beamed.

“Wait, what? You talked to Kyle about me?” Dread slithered down my spine, making me cold. At the beginning of the session, I would have been thrilled, but now I was almost scared of what she had to say.

“Oh, yeah. He’s interested.” Presley sent me a sly look, her lips pursed. “Said he’s sick of the same girls every summer. You’re like a breath of fresh air.”

“He actually said that?” Gwen started to laugh. “I find that hard to believe.”

“He did, I swear.” Presley waved a hand, dismissing Gwen. “Whatever. It’s true, Annie. Don’t be surprised if he sits with you tonight. And if anything happens, just remember who you have to thank.” She laughed and started to leave the bathroom, calling over her shoulder, “Me!”

I resumed my position in front of the mirror, trying to apply mascara with a shaky hand and nearly stabbing my eye with the stupid wand. I set the tube on the sink and exhaled loudly.

“Nervous about what Presley did by talking to Kyle?” Gwen shrugged. “She’s relatively harmless. But let me say something up front—no way did Kyle call you a breath of fresh air.”

“Why would you think that?” Her remark stung. Why wouldn’t Kyle say that? Was she jealous? Did she wish Kyle said that about her instead?

“Because Kyle doesn’t say stuff like that. Honestly?” Her gaze met mine in the mirror’s reflection, her expression serious. “Kyle’s not the…smartest guy I know.”