Page 3 of It Starts With Summer

“How do you know Aiden?”I asked.

“We’ve been working together on a research project in conservation ecology this past year.”Ravi’s voice was calm and measured, and I could tell he took his studies seriously.“My focus is plant biology, and he’s interested in conservation biology, so we’ve been studying invasive plant species.He thought spending some time here might give me a better understanding of the impact of the invasive species we’ve been studying.”

“Ah.”I wasn’t entirely sure what to say to that.

“It’s fascinating stuff.”Ravi paused for a moment.“I already spotted some reed canary grass down by the lake.”

“Is that bad?”

“It's a non-native species and is a threat to wetlands.So I'll get to investigate it in person, and perhaps even help Matt find a solution."He cleared his throat, visibly calming his excited demeanor.“Sorry, I will try to restrain myself from lecturing you.I’ve been told I have that tendency.Aiden told me to try not to info-dump at camp.”

I smiled at the thought of my friend.“I'm sure Aiden meant well, but I don’t mind the occasional lecture.By the way, how much experience do you have in the outdoors?”

Ravi shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans, kicking at the dirt for a moment before answering.“I hope you’re not angry, but truthfully, I enjoy nature more in theory than in practice.My focus is on the study of plants, but I haven’t spent much time in nature itself.”

“What?How?”I couldn’t imagine a childhood that wasn’t full of hikes and adventures in the wilderness.

He shrugged.“I grew up in San Francisco.In the city.I’ve been to the parks around the bay, and we lived close to the San Francisco botanical gardens.That’s where I became fascinated with plants.But my parents didn’t have money for vacations until recently, so we rarely traveled, and never to wilderness areas, only to visit family in India.”

This might be a problem, but I rubbed my hands together and smiled at him, determined to make the best of it.“There’s nothing quite like being immersed in the great outdoors, surrounded by the beauty of nature.You’ll love it, I promise.”

“Let’s hope so.”Ravi adjusted his glasses once more.His expression was cautious, but not closed off to the idea.

“Trust me,” I assured him as we reached our sleeping cabin.“This summer is going to be one you’ll never forget.”

“Is that a good thing?”he asked, tilting his head.

two

Parker

Ipushedopenthedoor to the counselors’ cabin and immediately spotted my co-counselor from last summer.Ben set down his book and smiled, his eyes darting to the other man in the room.As my eyes adjusted to the dimmer light in the cabin, I froze, my heart stopping.

Ravi was following me and he crashed into my back.I tripped, flying forward, until Ravi somehow caught me, setting me back on my feet, his hands firm and reassuring for a beat before he let me go and walked over to his suitcase.I would have thanked him had I not been in a state of shock.

Because standing across from me was the guy who’d shattered my heart into a million pieces only five weeks ago: Sutton Holm.And Sutton was staring at me, his steel-gray eyes wide.He looked stunned to see me.Was he faking it?I narrowed my eyes, not sure.

“Parker?”Sutton laughed nervously, glancing from me to Ben, as if Ben could confirm something.

“Why are you here?”I blurted, not able to connect the dots.Was this a ploy to win me back?

Sutton scratched the back of his head, a blush rising to his cheeks.“Small world, huh?Who’d have thought two Stanford students would run into each other at some Podunk summer camp in the middle of nowhere?”

“Technically, I go to Stanford, too,” Ravi interjected.

I widened my eyes at Ben, who frowned.“Podunk summer camp.”I repeated, shock turning me into an idiot.“You can’t be here.This is my camp.”

Sutton laughed, rolling his eyes.“You can’t own a goddamn summer camp, Parker.”

Ben made a weird snorting sound, then started laughing.

“What?”Sutton asked.

“My parents own the camp,” Ben said.“So yes, you can own a camp.It’s a business.But Parker doesn’t own it.”

“That’s not what I meant, dork,” Sutton grumped.

Ben shot him a hard stare, his jaw setting.I knew from experience that you didn’t want to see that expression on Ben’s face.He may have been an introvert, but he wasn’t afraid to put someone in their place.“Come on, Sutton, let’s give Parker and…” he glanced over to the other side of the room, where Ravi had produced a tiny handheld vacuum from somewhere, and was sweeping up dust.

---