Page 92 of Never Will I Ever

Jesus Christ, get a grip.

But my PTSD from meeting with authority figures is real, and from the tension lining my back and shoulders while he silently closes the file on his desk—myfile—it’s not going away anytimesoon.

“How’s it going this morning, Avery?” Colin asks, gaze lifting to mine as he leans back in his chair.

“Um. It’s…good,” I stumble through the lie.

His eyes crinkle at the edges, and I know he sees right through it.

“Great, then let’s hit the ground running with this,” he starts, nodding toward the folder in front of him. “Normally, these reviews are a combination of my own assessments of your performance combined with any notes or comments from your co-counselor. We use them to outline your strengths and weaknesses, giving you a chance to hone the areas you’ve excelled in and also address your shortcomings during the remaining weeks before camp is over.”

“Okay,” I utter slowly.

There’s no chance Kaleb has told him anything about our clandestine meetings every night. If I can be sure of anything, it’s that.

But I’d be a fool if I wasn’t a little worried about what his notes about me might say. Especially if they’re from the first few weeks of camp when he was still treating me like Public Enemy Number One.

Either my face is giving my thoughts away, or Colin is a mindreader, because a sharp bark of laughter fills the office, and he shakes his head. “You don’t have anything to worry about, I promise.”

Yeah, Kaleb said the same thing. But I’ll only believe them when I still have a job to go back to after this little meeting.

Clearing my throat, I motion toward the tan file folder sitting on his desk, labeled with my name at the top. “What’s the consensus?”

“In short? You’re different than when you first arrived.”

I arch a brow at the director. “I have a feeling you’re not talkingabout my newfound skill at starting a campfire.”

A smirk tugs at his lips before he shakes his head. “Not quite.”

He looks back at the file in front of him for the briefest moment before flipping it closed entirely. Folding his hands together, he rests them atop it and meets my gaze again.

“From what I’m seeing, you’ve taken great strides. Not only with honing some outdoor skills for yourself, but with the kids, and also with your interpersonal relationships.”

“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t have gotten there without Kaleb’s help.”

The knowing gleam in his eyes is unmistakable, and while I expect him to make some sort of comment on the admission, he doesn’t. Instead, he moves right along with the conversation.

“I have to admit, I had my reservations about having you at camp. Of course, those only grew when you and Kal couldn’t seem to set aside your differences those first few weeks.”

“I can’t even begin to apologize for that, sir. We—”

“Colin, son,” he cuts in, offering a gentle smile. “That being said, I’m glad to see how well the two of you have moved past it. And rocky start aside, Kal’s had nothing but great things to say about you the past few weeks. Truly a complete one-eighty from where the two of you started, actually.”

“What can I say? We took your reprimanding to heart.”

“Now, unlike your co-counselor, Elijah’s been singing your praises since the beginning. It’s remarkable, really. He hasn’t ever taken to a counselor the way he has with you. I was talking to him before breakfast, and if I had a nickel for every time your name came up in conversation, I could retire right now.”

So that’s where he disappeared to this morning.

“Regardless, I expect this plan of your father’s should go off without a hitch, if you keep up the good work.”

My gaze drops to my lap, fixating on my interlaced fingers. “I’d hardly call itwork,s—Colin. Eli’s a great kid. Just a lonely one.”

“From where I’m sitting, lonely is the last word I’d use todescribe him these days. I have you to thank for that.” A warm smile appears on his face before he adds, “Turns out, all he really needed was someone who understood him.”

He wasn’t the only one. Without Elijah, I don’t think I would’ve lasted those first few weeks out here. It makes me wonder how the hell he managed every summer without someone to talk to.

“Yeah, well…I see a lot of myself in him, I guess. Made it easy to connect.”

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