Page 50 of Beyond the Summer

"What does your mom have to say about everything he does?"

"My mom isn't like yours.She has never really been present," I said, sighing."She's the minister's wife and spends all of her time with him, making public appearances on his show or shopping.She wrote a book about raising children as a traditional Christian wife and doesn't even see the irony.I'd love to one day connect with the nanny I had when I was younger, though.She was lovely."

Ben groaned."Fuck, baby.Never again will I bitch about the sperm donor… that's what my mom calls my biological dad."

"Hey," I said, kissing him."My insane childhood doesn't make the difficult things in your life any less valid."

He grinned."Sounds like something I'd say."

"Maybe my boyfriend is wearing off on me.There's only one problem.My dad wants to talk to Matt about my responsibilities."

"Ah," Ben said, widening his eyes."Well, I suppose we'll have to talk to Matt then.We can prep him for the conversation.Also, my stepbrother never answers his phone, and we all know how your father feels about that."

I laughed, remembering the time Ben had yelled at my dad."Good point.Better warn Matt before everything goes horribly wrong."

We quickly finished lunch, pulled on our clothes, and raced across the property towards a tiny home nestled among the trees.The crisp air nipped at our faces as we sprinted through the forest, but there was something about racing through the forest, jumping over roots and fallen logs.Ben grabbed my hand, and breathless laughter bubbled between us, making the anxiety fade away.

"Why is his house so small?"I asked as we approached an efficient glass and wood structure that blended seamlessly into the surrounding forest.

"Matt believes in leaving as small a footprint as possible—this is off the grid, eco-friendly, and kind of cool, if we're being honest.Wait until you see the inside," Ben said.

Matt appeared from around the side of the building, carrying a pile of logs."Sutton!Just the man I was looking for.Anyway, Stanford would let me have you for the fall semester?People keep sending me spreadsheets, and I don't know what to do with them."

Ben laughed, elbowing me."He hates computers.Spreadsheets probably made him break out in hives."

"There were no hives, only a brutal headache," Matt said.

But my mind was already whirring with the possibility of a semester-long internship.Could I swing it?Would my father allow it?"How would that work?If I stayed for the fall semester?"

"Presumably you'd live with your boyfriend and work at camp?"Matt said."Does your school do internships for credit, or whatever?"

I blinked, glancing at Ben, wondering if I had enough time.My brain was already five steps ahead, coming up with the pitch I'd send to my advisor.Independent study?Internship?Something that would convince her that I could get a solid educational experience out of working on this.I pulled out my phone and started typing notes.

"I want to try," I said, and Matt beamed at me."And my dad is going to call you.I'll tell you what to say to him.I think it'll work, as long as there's no way for him to find out what's happening."

Matt shook his head."Registration for next summer opens in January, and we have to figure out how to get the word out to the parents before then, and how to market to parents who might be looking for a camp solution that works for their kid.But we won't be telling anyone until closer to then."

"What about some kind of grand reveal?A party, streamed on social media.We could feed it out as a top-secret announcement in the weeks before the reveal, maybe drop some clues?"

"You're a genius!"Matt said."You can help me make sure there's some good buzz?"

I ducked my chin, my cheeks a little hot."It's basic social media marketing.I learned it in my classes."

"Don't downplay it," Matt said."I don't have that kind of smarts."

"He doesn't even know how to use Instagram," Ben whispered."He keeps calling it 'Instant Pot.'"

"I don't see any difference between the two."

"One is a kitchen appliance, Matt!"Ben said, cackling.

"No shit?"Matt tilted his head to the side, then shrugged."Well, Sutton, as you can see.Having you on board would make a huge difference.You can plan the whole launch… and look at the spreadsheets for me.Though, to be clear, I do think you should be open about it with your father."

"You haven't met my father," I muttered."This is easier.For now.Anyway, I need to start composing this email right now.Matt, don't answer any calls from my dad until I send you some talking points.And thank you!"

Matt laughed."Well, it's not like I want to do all this work myself.And Benny here has college classes starting, and he'll be abandoning me."

Ben rolled his eyes."I'm not abandoning you.I don't know anything about any of this."

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