Page 13 of Kayak Girl

“Hey, I just showered. I didn’t need a second one!” My mock annoyance only made her giggle, the sound delightful. “And you’re laughing at me now?” I teased, scooping up a cupful of murky water.

Elle’s eyes widened in playful horror. “You wouldn’t!”

“Oh yes, I would,” I said with a sly grin.

Elle tried to make a run for it, but I was too fast for her. I slid in front of the door before she could exit. Her forward momentum caused her to slam right into me. I circled my arm around her waist, holding her in place while I held the dreaded cup above her head. She smelled like citrus. Oops, I should not be holding her. I let her go, but still held the cup up, poised to toss her way.

Elle inched backwards, as if hesitant to spook me. “It was an accident. This is too much. I’ll stink for days.”

I laughed at the drama of it all. Suddenly, she stopped backing away and stood up tall, all confidence again. I frowned, trying to figure out her game plan. She winked at something or someone behind me and before I could look over my shoulder, my hand was tipped, and the water poured down my face.

Brenda, with a triumphant hobble, squeezed passed me into the kitchen.

“Brenda, how could you? I thought we were friends,” I protested in feigned betrayal.

“Elle has been helping me all afternoon. I love you, Gray Hudson, but I couldn’t let that dirty water land on sweet Elle.”

Elle’s smug smile spoke volumes about her apparent mischievous streak. Interesting.

With a dismissive wave, Brenda shooed me out of the kitchen. “Off with you, boy.”

Dinner was a lively event, with everyone sharing stories from their morning adventures while also discussing the crafts and games for the next day. As soon as we finished eating, Jenny claimed Elle to help cut out stars for the following day’s story time.

Jenny, one of the other summer camp leaders, was a free spirit. She had a bohemian flair evident in her flowing skirts, layers of beaded necklaces, and the daisies she’d woven into her hair. Her entire appearance made her seem more like a twelve-year-old than a twenty-three-year-old. I wouldn’t have pegged Jenny as the type of person Elle would connect with, but I suppose I hadn’t quite figured Elle out yet. A pang of frustration wove its way through me, as I wished I could be the one working side by side with Elle. Her eyes sparkled as she chatted animatedly with Jenny, their laughter mingling together as they created a galaxy of paper stars.

Observing from a distance, I tried to decipher Jenny’s formula for bringing out this bubbly version of Elle. I longed to connect with Elle in the same way, to engage her in simple conversation and share in her laughter. What would it take for Elle to talk to me with the same enthusiasm and openness? Since seeing her in action at the summer camp this morning, I couldn’t deny that I was attracted to her. But I knew that the only path for us was friendship. And like I told Weston, I was okay with that.

After all the prep was done, we’d usually start a bonfire and chill and chat until bed. Most days we were tired, so no one stayed up too late. I’d been waiting all evening to chat with Elle. It seemed everyone wanted to talk to the new girl. It’s great that they were being so welcoming, but I wanted to get to know her better. So, the moment her conversation with Rick, Jenny’s brother, finished, I gestured for her to sit next to me by the fire. I hoped it wasn’t too forward. But she came and quietly sat next to me. Log chairs encircled the campfire, but they were rather uncomfortable so most of us opted to sit on the ground and lean our backs against them. Elle did the same. As she got settled, I noticed her shiver—the kind that sneaks up on you.

“Hey, are you cold? My hoodie is just over there, let me grab it,” I offered, half-rising.

She brushed off my offer with a wave. “Oh, it’s just chillier than I expected. I’m fine, really.”

I wasn’t convinced. The thought of her being uncomfortable bothered me. “No sweat, I’ll be back in a flash.” I sprinted over to the dining area, grabbed my hoodie, and unzipped it on my way back. “Ta-da,” I said, draping it over her shoulders.

Her smile was all the thanks I needed.

“Hopefully that keeps the chill off,” I said, and made myself comfortable against my log again. Leaning over conspiratorially, I whispered, “Plus, Rick’s got a thing for feeding the fire. Watch, like clockwork, he’ll add a log every ten minutes. If you want we can move your log closer to the fire?”

“No, I’m plenty warm now. Thank you.”

Right on cue, Rick paused his conversation with one of the other leaders to toss another piece of wood onto the flames. Elle’s eyes twinkled as she looked at me, a silent laugh shared between us. We both watched the fire hungrily devour its new meal. But neither of us spoke. Where was chatty Elle?

“Other than appointing yourself as the summer camp Simon Cowell, you fit in well here. Everyone likes you,” I said, hoping to make her feel more at ease.

“Ha-ha. I like it here. Everyone’s so easy to get along with,” she said. “I think I hit the jackpot of all community projects. It’s that or God has my back. Most likely the latter.”

“It’s the latter,” I said. “I can see God at work in your life.”

Elle blushed and offered me a shy smile before looking down. Not wanting the conversation to end, I quickly searched for something else to say. Opting for honesty, I said, “I like your name.”

“Thanks. It’s short for Estelle. My actual name is Estelle Knight. My mom wanted my full name to sound like ‘a starry night’. But during a rebellious patch in my teens, I got people to call me Elle. And it stuck,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders. “What about your name?”

“My full name is Gray Hudson, and Mom had already chosen my name before I was born. Gray was my great grandpa’s name. I guess my eyes just understood the assignment.”

“Well done, eyes,” she said and gave a small clap at my eye level.

Even though I was sitting, I gave a dramatic bow, as if I had control over my eye color. I enjoyed having Elle here. “Since we have your van to thank for you staying at the hostel, can you tell me more about it? Why is it at the mechanic?”

---