Page 82 of Nerdplay
I look around. We’re the only two left in the clearing—unless you count the raccoon currently scampering into the woods.
“False alarm,” Charlie says, recovering his breath and retuning to an upright position.
“What did you intend to do if it was a bear?”
He blinks in rapid succession. “I don’t actually know.”
Charlie wasn’t just heroic. He was manly, a realization that fuels a deep thrum in my lower abdomen. I silently berate my body for this betrayal. He’s the enemy. The Kylo Ren to my Rey.
On second thought, not the best analogy.
Charlie cups his hands around his mouth. “It’s safe to come out. It was only a raccoon.”
Campers slowly emerge from their hiding spots like the Lollipop Guild after the house falls on the Wicked Witch of the East.
“It looks like somebody left trash outside the bins,” I announce. “I’m not going to ask you to out yourself, but I am going to ask you to never, ever do that again. Proper storage of trash is essential to the health and safety of this camp.” And I can’t afford any issues, not with LandStar hovering like a vulture and waiting for any sign of a carcass.
Olivia promptly bursts into tears.
Gloria flings an arm around her. “What is it, little bit?”
“It was me. I dropped a napkin and then I couldn’t find it. I thought it blew away.”
Gloria kissed the top of her head. “The raccoon wasn’t attracted to a napkin, hon.”
Olivia sniffs. “What if the napkin had ketchup on it?”
Ben wraps his arms around her. “That wouldn’t be enough.”
Adam removes his helmet and wipes aside the damp strands of hair stuck to his forehead. “I think it was me. I’m so sorry, everyone. I put a few bits of hotdog in my pocket at dinner. I intended to give it to Chewy before bed.”
Olivia stops crying. “Maybe it was the smell of the ketchup and hotdog together.”
Laura clears her throat. “I think it was my fault. I might have dropped a buttered roll.”
Charlie leans over and whispers, “Is this going to become a Spartacus situation?”
I bite back a laugh. He’s right—now they’re clambering to take responsibility for the mishap.
I love my campers.
Gloria pulls a tissue from her pocket and passes it to Olivia. The girl wipes her eyes with such vigor, I’m afraid she’s going to rub her eyeballs raw. I’m relieved when I see Ben urge her to be gentler.
“She’s tired,” Ben says with regard to his granddaughter. “It’s well past her bedtime.”
“Mom and Dad don’t let me stay up until midnight,” Olivia crows.
“Let’s keep this between us, shall we?” Ben steers her toward their cabin.
“Still want to race to the water?” Charlie asks. His bright eyes hold mine for a beat longer than necessary, and I feel that pesky tug in my lower abdomen. I do not support the reaction my body seems to be having to him. In fact, I strenuously object.
“Let’s do it. On the count of three. One…” I sprint toward the lake. Unfortunately, I start laughing at Charlie’s shocked response, which causes me to lose my lead.
We splash into the water at the same time, fully clothed.
“You laugh like you’ve been smoking menthols since you were ten years old,” Charlie says.
“Rude.”
