Page 69 of Bring me Back

From the shadows, Daniel came to light. Dressed in swimming trunks and a white t-shirt, he brushed his hair off his face, sending me the most delicious boyish smile.

It wasn’t fair how good he looked.

“Where are we going?” I wanted to know. “We can’t swim.”

“Why not?” he challenged.

“Because… I don’t know. Can we?”

He didn’t reply, but took my hand and led me to a trail I knew would end in the hot springs. I put a swimsuit under my clothes as he requested, but still felt naughty going to a swim at night. I followed in his footsteps, his hand on mine. We kept going for a few minutes until the trail opened to the right to reveal the smallest of the hot springs at Camp Nightfall. It was perfectly centered among thick, tall trees that danced in the light breeze.

I shivered. To my side, Daniel was peeling his shirt off; hot golden muscle came to view and I lost all words. I licked my dry lips as he stepped into the water, relaxed and perfect like nothing was a bother to him.

That was what attracted me the most about Dan. He always looked like he belonged. He knew how to act around people, he spoke with ease and was never awkward. He lowered down in the water, and I watched him swim to the center. Only then, he turned back around with a smirk on his lips.

“Come in.”

His voice was a hot liquid dare. I tossed my shirt to one side and my shorts to the other. Leaving my flip-flops behind, I fell into the water. It was the perfect temperature, so incredible, I groaned. “I’m going to miss the hot springs.”

His arms stretched for my waist, bringing our bodies together. “We can visit on the weekends.”

“Camp?” I arched an eyebrow.

“No. God, enough of camp. Spring’s Harbor.”

I laced one arm over his shoulder, grabbing the hair on the nape of his neck. I kept my other hand on the water, right on the surface, watching as it rippled. He brought me closer, his lips brushed mine; in an instinct I didn’t know I had, my legs closed around his narrow waist.

“Camp wasn’t that bad. Actually, I would argue it was much better than I imagined. I think I made friends.”

He groaned. “Please don’t make friends with the kids.”

I shrugged. “Maybe that’s my thing. I make friends with people younger or way older than me.”

“Just older is enough, Cricket. Leave thewaybehind.”

I giggled. “Maybe the lesson here is that I don’t get along with people my age. Younger and older are game.”

“You said you wanted to learn who you are,” Daniel reminded me.

“Is it weird if I say Camp Nightfall helped with that?”

He chuckled. “Sure, just don’t tell anyone.”

“Oh god no. I can’t be in a brochure saying 'Camp Nightfall changed my life!' ”

We both laughed at my silliness, then I arched an eyebrow. “It might change Delilah’s life.”

He stilled under me. “Not this again.”

I held his face between my palms and nipped his bottom lip. “She came to talk to me.”

“Did she?” he asked, half annoyed, half interested in kissing.

“Told me she really needs this.”

“No snarky comments?”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

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