Daring the Bad Boy (Endless Summer)(57)

“No, I’m just observing your situation from the outside. I can see exactly that happening, though. Who wants to be treated like they’re a secret? It’s fun at first, but after a while, you start developing a complex,” Gwen explained.

“That’s exactly it!” I practically started bouncing in my chair. Gwen understood me so well. “I’m more than halfway to the complex right now.”

“Right, it’s understandable, your feelings. So. Can you stand the idea of being apart from him?” Gwen asked.

Tears threatened at ending it with him. I just…I couldn’t even fathom it. “No,” I admitted.

“Then talk to Fozzie. Plead your case.”

“Should I do that now?” It was a Sunday, the last full Sunday we’d be at camp, which meant lots of free time and rare sightings of Fozzie Bear, since he spent most Sundays in his office.

“It’s the perfect time,” Hailey said with an encouraging smile. “Go fight for love, Annie.”

I stood, faltering at the idea of love. It was such a serious word, with so much meaning behind it—a life-altering, potentially devastating meaning. Could I be in love with Jake? We’d only known each other for such a short time. Yes, I liked him a lot. I cared about him even. I could see myself falling in love with him, but was I at that point now?

I really had no idea.

Determination filling me, I stood, slipped on my flip-flops, and took off, with everyone from the cabin cheering behind me. I headed along the trail, my gaze drawn to the lake and the lifeguard tower on the other side.

I could see Jake sitting on top, his baseball cap on backward like usual. No shirt, just those red board shorts, and I could make out the width of his shoulders even from where I stood.

Strong shoulders I’d leaned on. Shoulders I’d even dared to kiss. I’d come to depend on those shoulders, on that boy. That I was willing to fight for him by talking to his uncle surely proved that, right?

But the closer I got to the main building—and Fozzie Bear’s office—the more nervous I felt. What if he wouldn’t listen to me? What if my admission got Jake in trouble? That was the last thing I wanted to do.

Yet I couldn’t let this end without a fight, either.

I entered the building, nearly sagging with relief when I felt the cool, air-conditioned breeze wash over me. Fozzie’s secretary lifted her head from the magazine she’d been looking at, a welcoming smile on her face.

“Can I help you?” she asked. I was fairly certain she never took a day off. Like, ever.

“Um, can I talk to, uh, Mr. Fazio, please?” It took everything inside me to keep from blurting “Fozzie Bear.”

She held up her index finger and picked up the phone, hitting a button while she waited for him to answer. “A camper is here to speak with you. Annie McFarland.” A pause. “Yes, I’ll send her in.” She hung up and our gazes met. “Go ahead. Just knock on his door before you enter.”

Or what? Will I see something I could never unsee? Nerves eating at my stomach, I smiled at her. “Thank you.”

I walked down the short hall, coming to a stop in front of the partially closed door with the sign ROBERT FAZIO on the front of it. Curling my hand into a fist, I tentatively knocked, and Fozzie’s booming voice ordered me to come in.

I don’t know why the man bothered with that megaphone. He was pretty loud without it.

“Annie McFarland. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?” He smiled at me, and I had to remind myself that he was a human being, just like me. I couldn’t be scared.

“Um, I’d like to talk to you.” How did his secretary remember my name? There were hundreds of kids here, so I was impressed. And a little scared. Maybe there was a reason they knew who I was.

And it had everything to do with Jake.

He waved a hand at the empty chair sitting opposite his desk. “Sit. Relax. Enjoy the air-conditioning.” He grinned.

My nervousness wouldn’t allow me to smile, so I practically fell into the chair, curling my hand into a fist so I wouldn’t start chewing on my thumbnail again. I needed to act like I had it together. But it was so hard.

Fozzie leaned forward, peering at me. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Jake.”

His extra-thick eyebrows rose. He looked almost comical, not that I could laugh. “What about Jake?”

“I know he’s your nephew,” I started, and Fozzie nodded.

“I think everyone knows he’s my nephew.”

“Well…I, uh, really like him.”

Those bushy eyebrows lowered.

“And he really likes me. A lot.”

The eyebrows were now scrunched because he was frowning.

My palms started to sweat. “We, uh, we’ve been sort of seeing each other for the last few weeks, and I really care about him. Jake cares about me, too, and we—”

“What?” The one word blasted out of him like a bullet. All glimpses of sweet, lovable Fozzie Bear the camp director were gone. He looked positively furious. “How old are you, young lady?”

I was completely shocked by his tone. “Um, sixteen.”

“There will be no fraternization between campers and counselors!” He picked up the phone receiver and stabbed a button, shouting when his secretary answered, “Find Jake now!”