Page 51 of Sass in the Grass

“Look at her.”

Jovian’s eyes moved over to her and was surprised to see her eyes round like saucers and she was pale too. “She looks all washed out. I need to get some more blush on her.”

“Blush will not help. This is Kathy’s first date as a girl.”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah. Remember, she’s from a small town. They know she’s trans. She doesn’t get to the city often, where she’d maybe find a community, hence coming here.”

“Even when she’s come here. She’s never…?”

“No, but that’s her fault, mostly. A couple of guys were interested, but she was nervous. I think you’ve been a good influence on her.”

“Me?Oh,please!”

Mike wasn’t laughing. “She sees your confidence, and knows it’s not all real, but she emulated it, fake it until you make it, kinda thing.”

“Wow. I had no idea.”

“To be fair, you don’t see past your own nose a lot, Jovian. That’s not a judgement, just an observation, but you’re getting better.”

That made him think of the camp being in trouble. “Yeah. Not enough, though.”

He left soon after, the thoughts in his head making it hurt. Before he got far, however, Dixon called to him, then jogged to catch up. “Heading out already?”

“Yeah. I have a headache.”

“We’re still on for tomorrow, right?”

As much as it scared him, he wanted the date more than he’d maybe wanted anything in his life. “Of course.”

“Good. I’ll see you behind the office at one. We have a bit of a hike, but not too far, I promise.”

“I’ll wear my ruined sneakers.”

Chapter Fourteen

Thenextday,Jovianshowered long and lavishly. It had always been the same for him. If his heart felt any pain, he concentrated on his looks. Makeup, skin treatments,

Setting himself on a path to go on the date and be assured he would not get hurt, he planned to be as snippy as he liked, and if Dixon couldn’t handle him, then he’d know.

Like everyone else, he’d tire quickly of Jovian’s true personality. Better now than later, he figured.

Looking his best, he headed out right after the Mess Hall was emptying of people after lunch. The smiles and greetings that were given by many, even by those he didn’t really know, surprised him.

When he got to the office, True and Bernie were outside, being playful together as they set up the grill. “Hot dogs andhamburgers around the dock tonight, and night swimming,” Bernie called to him. “Don’t be late!”

“O…kay,” he said, though hot dogs and hamburgers weren’t his idea of cuisine and him swimming in a lake full of smelly fish and smelly fish piss? No. Just no.

After he got to the back of the office cabin, he saw Dixon waiting there, wearing a camo muscle shirt, a black backpack slung over one shoulder. Why he expected one of those cute picnic baskets, he had no idea. “Hey,” Dixon called to him.

“Hey,” he said, trying to keep his voice as aloof as possible.

“Are you okay? Headache gone?”

“Yes, but…it might come back at any time. Just…just warning you.”

There was a definite smirk on his face, but all he did was nod and wave his arm to the road. “We’re crossing here and heading down the lake for a bit, then heading north a quarter mile. You good for that?”

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