Daring the Bad Boy (Endless Summer)(6)

“You’ll be at the spaghetti feed, right?” He turned to look at me, his sharp gaze making me feel like I probably did something wrong. I racked my brain, trying to remember if I’d screwed up somehow in the last few days, but I came up empty.

“I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss Cook Betsy’s spaghetti for the world.” It was pretty delicious, like most everything she made. Nothing like my mom’s, but no one could beat her cooking, ever.

We stopped near the dock, the both of us staring out at the lake. It was a beautiful but hot day. Nothing but blue skies dotted with puffy white clouds that looked like cotton balls, and the water sparkled and shone from the reflection of the sun. As a kid, this had been my absolute favorite spot. Now it felt kinda like prison, considering I was forced to come work here. It was hard to find any positives to this situation.

“I’ll see you there tonight, then,” Uncle Bob continued. “For now, I’ll need you and Dane working double duty here. I figure the kids are going to be flocking to the water for the entire session, considering it’s the hottest time of the year.”

As if on cue, we could hear them coming for the lake, a low rumbling in the distance like a herd of animals just set free and ready to make their escape. We both turned to watch the older cabin groups headed our way and being led by their counselors. Dane, the head lifeguard for the lakefront, stood at the water’s edge by the canoes and kayaks, which were docked and ready for anyone to take out on the water.

“Ah, here they are. We’d better get to work.” He clapped me on the shoulder, his gaze dropping to my swim trunks. “Good to see you wearing the red shorts. You’ll get tower duty while I keep Dane on the ground. He does better with the ladies. You’re too grumpy.” With a wink and a smile, my uncle strolled away, yelling out his greetings at the kids who were running toward the water. They all chorused back, “Hi, Fozzie Bear!” at the top of their lungs.

Grimacing, I headed off the dock and toward the lifeguard tower.

Summer felt like it was never going to end.





Chapter Three


JAKE

“Hey, Pine Ridge campers, listen up!”

I wanted to groan. Here came Uncle Bob and his giant red-and-white megaphone. His deep voice felt like it could rattle the walls when he screamed into that thing in the dining hall. The place was packed. Everyone was eating dinner and talking so loudly I could hardly hear myself think. But the minute he went to the front of the building, turned his precious megaphone on, and we all heard the squealing feedback?

Everyone went dead silent.

“For some of us, it’s our first night here! How’s everyone feeling?” He waved his free hand up, encouraging everyone to say something.

The entire dining hall erupted in cheering. Even Brian, the junior counselor in charge of cabin B7B, was going along with it? and he was almost as sarcastic and jaded as me. This was why we’d become such good friends.

“Okay, okay, simmer down.” Uncle Bob pulled the megaphone away from his mouth and grinned at everyone before he launched into his speech. “My name is Fozzie Bear and I am your camp director.” He did a dead-on imitation of the beloved Muppet, and there was plenty of laughter.

My uncle was the ultimate performer.

“How’s the spaghetti dinner, huh? Can we all give a rousing cheer to Cook Betsy?” Everyone cheered, even me, though I was a little reluctant.

“Yeah, Betsy! We love you!” He made kissy noises through the megaphone, which sounded horrible. “All right, then. I know you’re excited to welcome the new batch of summer friends. But don’t forget we’re all meeting out by the bonfire pit at eight o’clock sharp! There will be a special skit that was put together by your favorite camp counselors, so get excited, kids! It’s gonna be epic!”

“Your uncle says everything’s epic,” Brian muttered to me, and I nodded my reply. “Epic” was currently Uncle Bob’s favorite word.

He made a few more short announcements and then turned off the megaphone, indicating that he was done. I resumed eating, trying to figure out a way to avoid going to the bonfire pit, when I felt someone come up behind me.

“Hey.” I glanced over my shoulder to find Lacey standing next to our table, a sexy smile curving her pink-glossed lips. “How are you?” she asked.

“Good. How are you?” I said absently, my gaze snagging on a blond head. I’d always had a thing for blondes. This one was a camper with her hair in a ponytail, and it was constantly bouncing up and down, her hair swinging with every flick of her head.

She burst out laughing, and the sound was nothing but pure happiness.

My heart panged, which was stupid. But I didn’t remember the last time I felt like that. Happy. Carefree.

“I’m great.” Lacey’s gaze drifted over me, her lids heavy as she flicked her hair behind her shoulder. My supposed interest in her went totally against type. I’d spent time with Lacey because I was bored and it was something to do. I knew that made me a total * but hey, I was embracing it. “So what are you up to tonight?”

Brian nudged me in the ribs, a giant grin on his face. I tried my best to ignore him.

“Not much,” I said, keeping my tone casual as my gaze kept following the blonde. She turned to her right, her gaze snagging on mine for the briefest moment. Her smile was big, her joy radiating all over her face, and our eyes locked for the briefest moment.