Page 92 of Nerdplay
“Because you’re trying to play me. Charm me so that I’ll sign over the land.”
Now it’s my turn to prop myself up by an elbow. “Do you really think that?”
“Isn’t that the real reason you registered? To find a way to make me sell?” Her eyes are downcast. “It’s okay to admit it. I won’t be mad, as long as you don’t intend to follow through with it now that you’ve spent time with us.”
I think of the document tucked under my mattress. I’ll have to destroy it. There’s no way I would do that to Cricket—or any of the other campers. I see how important this camp is to them, and I can’t imagine the rustic cabins being replaced by luxury condos or anything else. Nerd camp belongs right here in this safe, idyllic space.
“Charlie?”
This is the moment of truth, literally. “I fully intended to find leverage to use against you to get my promotion.”
“But you’ve changed your mind,” she says matter-of-factly.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because you’re kinder than you give yourself credit for.” Her lips soften into a sad smile. “And I forgive you.”
Relief floods my body. I can’t believe how important it was to hear her say those words. “You’re not going to kick me out of camp? Or more imminently, out of this bed?”
“I’m also kinder than you give me credit for.” She slips back down to rest her head on the pillow. “And so you know, there’s nothing you could’ve done that would’ve convinced me to sell. Not a single thing on planet Earth.”
“No kidding. I’ve been around you long enough to know that I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”
She studies me closely. “If you already decided not to find dirt on me, then why are you here? Why haven’t you made an excuse and gone back to the city?”
“I guess I want them to think I’m giving it my best shot. If I leave early, they’ll wonder if there wasn’t more I could’ve done.”
“You could lie. Tell them I caught you snooping and kicked you out, or would that be considered a worse failure than finding nothing at all?” She hesitates. “Do you really think there’s anything to find?”
She’s presented me with the perfect opportunity to tell her about the document, yet I can’t bring myself to do it. It wouldn’t be fair to add to her negative feelings toward her father, a man no longer alive to confront. The negative emotions would fester inside her and I don’t want that for her. As they say, ignorance is bliss.
I shrug. “I guess we’ll never know.”
My answer generates a wide smile that warms me from the inside out. I want to say something equally worthwhile to keep her smile in place. “There is one thing I’m wondering though.”
“What’s that?”
I dare to make eye contact. “Did it work?”
The shine in her eyes tells me she knows exactly what I mean. “Does it matter?”
“I’m curious. It’s the lawyer in me.”
Her earnest expression tugs at heartstrings I didn’t know were part of my anatomy until now. I expect her to defuse the moment with a joke.
Instead, she says, “Like a charm.”
We stare at each other. This is a complication I didn’t anticipate. Because as much as I want to pretend otherwise, I like her too. A lot.
Too much, in fact.
“Thank you for your honesty. It means more than you know.” She pulls the sheet to her shoulder and turns to face the wall.
“You’re welcome,” I say, because I don’t know how else to respond. I’m taken aback by my willingness to share things with her that I’ve never told anybody. She didn’t even need to pry it out of me. I just—said it.
It takes me another forty-five minutes to fall asleep. I wait until I hear her breathing change and know that she’s drifted off before I can do the same. Courtney Abernathy might be the only obstacle in my life I haven’t wanted to overcome.
Chapter Fourteen
