Page 109 of Nerdplay
Charlie observes me. “What’s your plan? Stay here until your skin shrivels?”
That doesn’t sound particularly appealing. “Maybe.”
“Do you mind if I talk to him?”
“Please don’t. He’s like a toddler. If we ignore him, maybe he’ll go away.”
“I don’t think that’s how toddlers operate.”
I steel myself. “I’m going to exit the lake in stealth mode.”
“Does that just mean no splashing?”
“And I go alone.”
I swim to the shore as far away from the picnic area as I can get, staying underwater like a human submarine until I hit the shallows, where I flee the water and make a beeline for my cabin. I jump straight into the shower and rinse the seaweed from my hair. I may not want him back, but I still don’t want Patrick to see me drenched in lake sludge.
As I step out of the shower, I hear a knock on the door. No doubt Charlie followed me. I squeeze the excess water from my hair, then hurriedly wrap a towel around me.
“One second!” I dart to the door and fling it open.
“There she is. My favorite insect.” Patrick opens his arms wide, like he’s greeting an old friend. “Been a long time.”
The Prick looks more attractive than he has any right to. Why can’t people bear external evidence of their assholery? Not a scarlet letter, of course—I wouldn’t be in favor of that—but maybe an ugly wart or other mark that denotes a person of poor character or a lack of integrity.
Patrick Faraday would be covered in warts.
My shoulders snap into place. “What are you doing here?”
He leans a casual arm against the doorjamb. “What do you mean? I registered like everybody else.”
“You didn’t show up, same as last year, so I’m afraid I gave your spot to someone else.” I’m so focused on not falling apart at the seams that I forget about the seam of my towel.
Patrick’s gaze dips to my chest beneath the paper-thin material as I yank the towel closed. “You look exactly the same as I remember.”
If I had a free hand, I’d shove him. Unfortunately, both hands are required to keep my coverage in place. “Why don’t I get dressed and then we can discuss your registration in my office?” There. Professional line drawn.
“I don’t mind waiting right here.”
“Maybe not, but I do.”
How dare he show his face here again. I slam the door shut and realize my body is shaking. I take a few deep breaths, my hands continuing to tremble as I put on clothes and whip my wet hair into a ponytail. I hope he’s gone by the time I emerge from the cabin. The campground is bad enough; I don’t want him in my personal space. I changed cabins after his last summer here so that I wasn’t haunted by memories of him in my private quarters. It doesn’t help that all the cabins look nearly identical.
I open the door to see Patrick hasn’t left. I cradle my arms in front of me to block any attempt at an embrace. I don’t want to touch him. I don’t even want to breathe the same air as him, but sadly I lack that kind of control over the universe. Otherwise, Patrick would’ve transformed into a praying mantis that ended up having his head chewed off after sex.
“Camp started over a week ago, Patrick.”
“Yeah, sorry. Something came up, but I’m here now.”
I’m a deer in headlights. A hand in the cookie jar. I want to make like a tree and leave, but my feet are rooted to the ground. I release a sigh of relief when I see Charlie striding toward us. My phone is also lighting up with text messages. Word must’ve spread like Patrick’s genital warts.
“Hi, Charlie.”
The Prick offers his hand to Charlie. “Patrick Faraday. Nice to meet you.”
“Charlie Thorpe.”
“You must be my replacement.”
