Page 15 of Lady and the Camp
That tour took twelve seconds since I’d scoped out the place from the doorway. The bedroom wasn’t large enough for two beds, therefore, bunk beds.
“I never took this apart,” said Maggie. “After my last partner in crime was—” She cut herself off.
“Oh no, what? Are they…okay?” Was the murder hut involved? Were those horror movies based on real camps?
“Yeah, she’s fine. She works at the other camp.” Maggie stared out the small window for a beat. “If you don’t mind me keeping the bottom bunk, that’s where I’ve been since we opened again this season. Otherwise, I hit my head on the ceiling.”
Top bunk, sure. I could do this. Never mind a month ago I’d been partying on a superyacht with the daughter of a shipping magnate and the now-adult child star from that early 2000s sitcom everybody quoted in memes now. Because they were friends with my billionaire boyfriend.
Ex. Very, very ex.
“I don’t use the closet for much, so you can have that,” she went on. “I have my stuff in the dresser.”
I scanned her outfit. Wrinkled shorts. Faded polo shirt. Thick socks and hiking boots. Well, the woman did work at a camp.
“I hope you brought more shoes.” She looked at my dirt-caked heels. “The girls will think you’re cool, but your feet won’t last an afternoon in those.”
“Right. Of course.”
I felt ridiculous. Heels, dress, and my resort wear bangles and chunky necklace? I really hadn’t thought this through. I’d envisioned my lodgings in some sort of suite in a large log cabin, more hotel than actual cabin.
I rummaged through my suitcase. I’d packed hastily. My jewelry and accessories I’d swept into zippered cloth bags. Probably a hot mess in there. Not that it mattered. I wouldn’t be wearing any of that here.
Finally, I found my phone. I tapped the link to open the browser for a quick peek at email and my socials.
“Oh, and no cell phones.”
Maggie’s voice registered, but not what she said. “Huh?”
“No cell phones. At camp.”
I continued looking at her. She returned a mildly uncomfortable gaze. “Okay, technically the adult staff are allowed to have them. The teen counselors have very limited access and none of the campers can use them. It’s part of our camp mission.”
I stared. It was rude and I knew it, but I’d lost all chill.
“Sounds like maybe that wasn’t covered in the interview.” She threw me a weak smile. “After hours here in our cabin, it’s no big deal. Not like we get much of a connection out here anyway. Just don’t have your phone out around the campers.” She tapped a two-way radio clipped to her belt. “We’ll get you one of these.”
My focus shifted to the blocky ancient techphysically affixed to her body.
I wouldn’t survive this.
“There’s an extra camp shirt and some shorts on the top closet shelf. I’ll give you space while you change.” Maggie eased out of the room. “You’ll want to head to the office to talk with the boss.”
Whew, this was a lot to take in. The camp, the job, the surrender of any fashion sense. “Oh, Twila said to take my time.”
Maggie laughed. “Yeah, wouldn’t that be nice.” She closed the door.
An ominous sensation crawled across my skin. This coming from a woman who’d purchased a disguise wig and a burner phone in the last three days.
Chapter 5
Lucas
“Whatdidyoudo?”I kept my voice measured and professional despite the absolute trainwreck I’d just witnessed.
Twila held up a finger at me while she continued a phone call. “That’s right. Dressing on the side, but two containers. Your dressing isthe best.”
I felt my teeth tighten. Which made my neck muscle spasm. “Gah.” I rubbed my neck, which reminded me my knee throbbed. It’d been a dang miracle I’d landed on that blanket or I’d be in even worse shape.
