This Summer (7 page)

“I don’t!” I exclaim. “Not since—” I stop myself. “Not for a while.”

Will turns back to his task and Ethan continues on about his ranking within the game.

Ethan claps a hand on Will’s back as he tosses the empty box next to Lily. “We should set up your computer and play Enter Strike tonight.”

“Sure, man,” Will says just as I say “I’m sure he has work to do.”

“It’s fine,” Will counters. “I have three weeks before the first open house. It’s nice to get a break from chores too.”

Ethan sticks his tongue out at me and I roll my eyes, turning back to my work. Ethan and Will chatter on about video games while my skin pricks with embarrassment. I feel Lily’s eyes on me, begging to look at her, but I keep my focus on the task.

The rest of the counselors slowly trickle in and by the time eight-thirty rolls around they are all accounted for. Dad hands out morning assignments and just my luck I’m paired with Will for check-in. But so is Lily, Skye and Tyler. Lily gives a little pout when she realizes she won’t have time with Aiden that morning, but I remind her she has a whole summer with him.

“I don’t need a whole summer.” She eyes Aiden’s bobbing head as if he’s rocking out to music in his head.

Tyler and Will prop open the doors and already there is a crowd. Lily nudges my arm. “And so it begins.”

CHAPTER SIX

Hadley

I take a breath, inhaling the fresh morning air that streams in around the campers and their families. The beginning of the end. I shake away the negativity and smile warmly. No second will be wasted in what is to be the best summer of my life. Even if Carter nearly ruined it for me.

The kids rush the table and we sort them by age group. Will returns to the table, taking the space next to me. He’s grinning, one of those melt your heart kinds. I’m not sure if it’s for the benefit of the campers or he’s genuinely happy. I hope the latter.

Harry and Oliver Yates are the first in our group. Their black hair is cut exactly the same, but they’ve been in my group for three years now, starting when they were in the eight to tens group. And unlike most of the people in town I’ve picked up on the subtle differences between the twins.

“Will!” Harry bellows.

Will leans over the table and high-fives Harry’s outstretched hand. “Hey buddy.”

Harry’s blue eyes find mine, “Did Carter get fired?”

Mrs. Yates, a tall olive-skinned woman, steps up to the table. My spine straightens. I overheard Dad on the phone speaking about Mrs. Yates and her reluctance to send Oliver to the camp this year. He’s behind his brother, looking up at us with big brown eyes. He’s always been a shy boy, but his shyness progressed as he aged, almost as if Harry’s exuberance had sucked it out of him. Polar opposites in personality but they were both amazing kids. Without being asked, I knew I had to work on Oliver a bit to ensure he had a great summer. Pulling a camper out in a small town would be devastating to the program, especially since Mrs. Yates tended to be quite vocal about her thoughts.

“Will,” Mrs. Yates says in a breathy whisper. “I didn’t know you were back.”

He nods politely. “Just for the summer.”

Her lips press together in what I think is the closest that woman will ever get to a smile. Her eyes flick over to mine and all signs of it disappear. “I expect Will to do a better job with my sons.”

I mask my embarrassment for Carter in a reassuring grin. Carter had been a replacement for Will but really only in body. I carried a lot of the weight with the kids last year while he was distracted by his friends rather than them. I didn’t have to worry too much about the girls, but the boys got a little lost in the mix while I juggled everything.

I open my mouth to say something, anything to assure her, but Will steps up. “They’re going to have a great summer, right guys?” He looks down at Oliver who still hasn’t said anything.

“Hi,” a young girl catches my attention away from the Yates.

“Well, hello there,” I say.

She twists her long almost white blonde hair around her finger. “I’m Casey Winters.”

I scan my list. Casey is new to the group this year.

“Will Carson?” says Casey’s mother. I look up at her.

“Sarah?” Will says, as the Yates move away from the table.

Lily chokes and I grab her hand, squeezing tightly.

Sarah Goode. Winters now. How did I not put two and two together? She married Casey’s father nearly a year ago after his wife passed away. He was disgustingly rich and the rumors I heard about his philandering made even Lily blush. Sarah was Will’s last girlfriend in high school.

“Gold digger,” Lily mutters under her breath.

I squeeze her hand tighter. Sarah looks exactly the same, and I wonder how long she can keep that up. Her chestnut hair is cut short, making the lines of her model-thin face even more severe and unnecessarily perfect. I can’t stop staring at her. I never understood their relationship. Well I did from her point of view. Will was gorgeous and kind. Well, she was gorgeous too but as a cheerleader she was anything but kind. She rubs her belly and a little thrill goes through me. She’s pregnant! Thank goodness for small miracles.

Will leans over the table and gives her a kiss on the cheek. She beams and I let go of Lily’s hand, dropping my hands at my sides. Sarah never liked my friendship with Will and she made that perfectly clear to half the school. The rumors of my crush never hit Will but they did carry over the last two years of high school.

I meet Casey’s emerald green eyes. “She’s not my mom,” she says in a low whisper.

I’m so not going there. “My name is Hadley. We’re going to have a great summer, Casey.”

Casey nods slowly and walks past Sarah into the gym. I glance at Sarah. She doesn’t realize that her step-daughter has left the room.

“Excuse me!” A mother calls from further down the line. “Some of us work for a living.”

Lily snorts and finishes checking in another camper.

Sarah stiffens and turns around to see several scowling mothers. She grins sheepishly. Now she knows how it feels to be the butt of a joke.

She spins around frantically looking for Casey.

I want to let her sweat but Will looks at me. I hold back the urge to roll my eyes. “She went into the gym,” I say.

Sarah flashes Will a grateful smile, as if he was the one to direct her, and leaves the room.

“Easy tiger,” Will says under his breath.

He’s smiling as he greets another kid.

I want to say something but there isn’t time. The line is now out the door so I focus on the job, but I can’t help hearing Will interact with the families. I’m distracted by his charisma. He’s been distant since he’s returned but, watching him, it’s as if he’s found his niche. He’s relaxed and carefree and seeing him that way makes my heart ache. Is it just me that makes him clam up? He’s only here as a favor to Dad and to sell the house. Maybe he’s just being polite to me since we have to work together. I steel my resolve. If that’s how he’s going to play it, I’ll do the same.

The room empties almost as quickly as it filled up. Dad enters the room and ushers us into the gym.

Lily tucks her arm into the crook of my elbow. “At least she’s fat now.”

“She’s pregnant.”

Lily shrugs. “Still fat.”

I love this girl.

“Well at least you don’t have one of the Pritcher boys in your group,” she gripes. “Their mother is a major OCD case. Rider has a whole backpack of fricken’ Purell and gloves. And he will tell her if I don’t make him use it.”

The counselors line up on the stage behind Dad, who is at the podium. He has a way of commanding the room and soon enough he even has most of the kids at his attention.

“I just want to welcome you all to Spring Falls summer camp—” he goes on with the same practiced speech I’ve heard for years. It’s not a bad one but there’s only so many times I can hear it before I start mouthing it and I’m sure Dad wouldn’t be too happy. My mind wanders to Will and Sarah, another part of my past that I don’t wish to revisit.

“And here are your counselors!” Dad says, waving a hand to us. The gym explodes with applause and soon enough the parents are saying goodbye to their kids.

Dad turns to us. “You all have your schedules. Head to your first section.”

“Aye aye,” Aiden says, holding his hand to his head in a mock salute.

Dad turns on his professional face and his normal jovial nature is lost. Lily takes Aiden’s hand down from his head and drags him off the stage.

“Hadley and Will,” Dad says. “May I speak with you two for a moment?”

The rest of the counselors assemble into their groups.

Dad turns his back to the kids and crosses his arms. “As you know, Mrs. Yates has her concerns about Oliver. I am hoping you two will be able to bring him out of his shell. Mr. Yates is a significant donor to the department so we show him that our program is above the rest. All right?”

“We’ll try our best,” I say.

Dad smiles tightly. “That’s all I ask for.” He and Will share a weighted glance before he walks away.

I open my mouth to ask Will what that was about, but he is already off the stage before I can.

More secrets Will Carson? This time involving my dad.

I take the stairs off the side of the stage and walk to the group. Will already has his boys in a straight line and their mouths closed. I’ve always had trouble with the boys, they don’t listen to me, but Will holds a commanding stance above them. But his secret tactic was sneaking candy to the kids when he thought I wasn’t looking. We didn’t buy any the other day so I wonder if he grew out of that. Until I see Harry sneak something with a shiny wrapper into his pocket.

The five girls preen at Will who appears unfazed. “Casey, Jaclyn, Allison, Kelli, Lauren.” Their hands go up when I call their name. I quickly put faces to names.

Will turns to his boys and they do roll call themselves. Will smiles at me in a
See how quickly I trained them?
look. I don’t give him the satisfaction.

“We have the Art elective first this summer, and this week is painting.”

A few of the kids groan but I ignore them. It’s always best to establish authority the first day. “Let’s put a little shake in our step!” I say, leading them from the room.

***

After a morning of keeping paint off the kids during their art elective and avoiding the wild free throws during basketball, I’m glad for a break during the swimming lessons. As much as I’m not looking forward to seeing Carter, at least he’ll be busy with the kids.

“Pool time!” I say to the bunch.

Jaclyn, Kelli and Casey huddle together and walk off the basketball court. Jaclyn scoops her black hair into a ponytail as she talks to the girls. That was quick. Forming cliques within groups is usually discouraged, but rarely successfully. Allison, the tomboy, looks longingly at the boys’ group but her expression is torn between them and the other girls. Instead she sidles next to Lauren, a skinny girl with glasses and braces. They pick up their bags, walking close behind the others.

The boys grab their bags and I’m right behind them. Jaclyn holds the other girls attention. I hear her say Harry’s name but as soon as she notices me she clams up and diverts the conversation back to a werewolf book series she’s reading.

The boys take off at the same time.

“Slow down!” Will and I call at the same time. The boys are ahead of the girls by several strides but all slow down at the same time. I can almost feel the excitement in their veins.

Will walks beside me. “Are you going to be okay?”

I look at him. “With what?”

Will stares ahead. I follow his gaze to the closest lifeguard chair where Carter sits overlooking the empty pool.

“It’s fine,” I say, not entirely sure I believe it myself.

I sense a shift in his attitude.

“Do
you
have a problem with Carter?”

Will frowns and shakes his head. “I barely know the guy.”

I nudge him. “I know we haven’t talked much in a while.”
His fault
. “But you can tell me.”

“Just let me know if you have an issue with him,” he says, and I sense the conversation is over.

We enter opposite doors into the bathhouse on the other side of the pool. The girls talk animatedly to each other as they change into their bathing suits. Dave Matthews Band streams out of the staff office filling the space.

Daisy leans on the wall watching the entrance to the pool. I’ve heard Ethan talk about her but never actually come face to face with the girl besides orientation. Her silky brown hair is up in a high tight ponytail, pulling the skin around her eyes taut. She does make the red one piece bathing suit look good. And, not for the first time, I’m happy I chose to be a counselor. It takes a lot of confidence to wear that all day.

“Hey Daisy.”

“Hey!” she reaches out, wrapping her arms around me.

I awkwardly pat her on the back as she hugs me.

“How’s your first day? I’m having such a blast. Everyone is so nice. And Ethan has been great. Has he mentioned anything about me?”

Her eyes are wide and I really don’t know what to say. Ever the people pleaser though. “He did say you were a great swimmer.”

Her smile falters slightly but she lifts it quickly.

The girls walk around us towards the pool deck.

“I’m helping with lessons…” Daisy trails off, following them.

I make a mental note to ask Ethan more about her. She seems sweet but if he’s not interested I don’t want her to think she has an “in” with me.

I step out onto the deck. Heath waddles with bare feet, his top-heavy muscular frame propelling him forward over the hot surface toward the chair. He and Carter swap positions. I glance at Will who has Isabelle, one of the bitchier girls from my class, practically on his lap.

To everyone else he looks comfortable but he shoots glances at Ethan, whose attention is purely on Isabelle’s chest.

I sigh.
Men
.

Carter is beside me before I know it. “Hi.”

“Hi,” I say, turning to the pool to watch the kids in their first swimming lesson.

“How was the rest of your weekend?”