13. Island Camping
13
ISLAND CAMPING
T he week after the potluck passed quickly. Summer put in long hours with Austin and used that as an excuse not to call Brandon. They texted, but she knew she was running scared again. The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted from him. That wasn’t a bad thing, but it meant she would need to share her secrets sooner rather than later, and she didn’t think she was ready for that since she’d only been home for a month. The hardest part was ignoring Griff’s comments about her hiding again.
“You have a great time with him,” Griff said as he shadowed her on one of the bike rides in the mountains. “You told him you’d go to dinner.”
And I will . Just not yet. Summer kept her side of the conversation in her head, even though there was plenty of space between her and the biker in front of her. She was the caboose in a line of ten adventure customers for the afternoon.
Austin led them through one of the moderate-difficulty trails. Summer hated to admit it, but she chose to take up the rear position because it was straining her abilities. Biking wasn’t something she did in the Army .
“Why are you avoiding him again? Things were going so well,” Griff continued.
I’m not avoiding him. I’m busy .
“You got scared.”
Maybe .
“Why?”
Because if we keep getting along so well, I’ll have to tell him .
“You need to tell him regardless. We agreed to that. You even agreed with the therapist and your parents that you would tell him.”
What if it ruins everything? Can’t I enjoy being his friend a little longer ?
“But you’re not enjoying time with him. Fix it, Blakely.” Griff disappeared in a huff, and a whiff of smoke teased her nose as she flew down the trail.
Later that night, she lay on her bed, cell phone in hand.
“Do it,” Griff growled at her. “Are all women like this?”
“Can’t say,” she answered, placing the phone face down on the bedspread.
“I never knew you were so indecisive.”
“There’s a lot you never knew about me,” she said.
“Come on, call him.”
Summer sighed. “He’s probably busy.”
“You’ll never know until you call.”
“I’ll text him instead.”
“Just do something, already.” Griff paced at the end of her bed.
She picked the phone up and opened the texting app. They had a previous thread, but it had been quiet for a few days, probably because she hadn’t answered his last text.
With a sigh, she typed,
Summer: How was your day?
It was weak, but it was a start, right?
His reply came a minute later.
Brandon: It was fine. I feel like I’m trapped in the shop all day.
Summer: Sorry.
She didn’t know what to text next. It had been a long time since she’d tried to flirt with anyone. Was that what she was trying to do?
“If so,” Griff interrupted her thoughts. “You’re horrible at it.”
Brandon’s message popped up.
Brandon: So…I’m going camping with the family this weekend.
Summer: Oh?
Brandon: We’re going to the island.
Summer: You still go there?
Summer’s heart rattled in her chest with an influx of emotions—nostalgia and longing for those happy times.
His next message had her holding her breath.
Brandon: Yeah. Would you like to join us?
Would she like to go camping with Brandon and his family? She hadn’t been to their island since her senior year, and it was one of the things she felt she no longer deserved. But he was inviting her, which meant something, right?
Brandon: Summer?
She must have taken too long to reply. Without overthinking anymore, she quickly typed,
Summer: Yes, I’d love to come.
Brandon: Do you need gear?
Summer: I’ll check and let you know.
Brandon: Ok. See you in three days, unless you’ll join me for lunch?
Summer squeezed the phone in her hands. She’d like to see him sooner but needed to figure out a few things first. Namely, she needed to have a long conversation with her therapist or her group about how to tell Brandon her secret.
Summer: Next week. I promise. Send me the details for when to meet at the dock.
Brandon did that within minutes without pushing her for why she couldn’t meet him sooner. He truly was a good man—kind, patient, and supportive. Why couldn’t she accept that at face value and move forward? Perhaps she didn’t need to tell him about the mission trip nightmare.
“That’s not a secret you keep from the people you love, Summer.” Griff’s voice made her jump. She’d almost forgotten he was there since he’d been quiet long enough for her to concentrate on the text conversation.
She sighed. He was right, but it didn’t mean she wanted to do it.
Brandon glanced down the dock at Cabins by the Bay as he helped load the camping gear and food boxes into the boat. They stored their boats here so they didn’t have to deal with the crowded marina. He half expected Summer not to show up, and his nerves were on alert.
“She’ll be here,” Jackie said.
“How can you be sure?” Brandon asked .
“Because the first time I met her at the beach on the Fourth, I noticed how often she looked at you. She was conflicted but couldn’t convince herself not to sneak glances or walk away.” She patted him on the back. “You’re doing a great job being patient. Some heartaches take a long time to get over, and she’s been through a lot.”
“I know.”
Jackie’s smile grew, and then she nodded toward the parking lot. “See.”
Summer stood beside her dad’s car as he popped the trunk. She waved and then disappeared as she gathered her belongings.
“I’m going to help,” Brandon said before he jogged down the dock.
By the time he reached her, Summer had a backpack slung over her shoulders, a sleeping bag in one hand, and a tent bag in the other.
“Hi, Mr. Blakely. Good to see you.” Brandon reached out and took the tent from Summer. “Let me help.”
“Brandon.” Mr. Blakely gave him a good-natured nod and closed the trunk.
“Thanks,” Summer said. “I have a box of food in the back seat.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” Brandon placed the tent bag’s strap over his shoulder so the tent hung across his back. “We have plenty.”
“I know, but I wanted to help. Plus, I’ve found a new candy I can’t live without.” She laughed and hugged her dad while Brandon retrieved the box of food.
“Have fun,” Mr. Blakely told his daughter, then turned to Brandon and said, “Take care of my girl.”
“Will do, sir.” Brandon almost laughed when Summer rolled her eyes.
“I’m right here and capable of caring for myself,” she said.
Mr. Blakely hugged her again. “I know, but you never have to do it alone.”
“Go on before you make me emotional,” she teased.
They waited until her dad was in his car before heading toward the boat. Brandon was content walking beside her. He glanced her way and loved that she was smiling. When she’d first returned home, those smiles were infrequent but were becoming the norm .
“I’m glad you’re coming with us,” he said.
“Me, too. Camping is something I used to love. Remember all the times we spent weekends on the island?”
“How could I ever forget?” Brandon had saved countless memories of all the times he’d spent with Summer over the years. He feared they would be all he ever had, but now he was making new ones with her, which made him happier than he imagined.
His heart kicked in his chest. She looked more peaceful than she had since coming home. Perhaps she’d be ready to give them a second chance sooner than later. He wanted to drop his box and pull her into his arms to celebrate, but Evan yelled at them from his boat.
“Are you riding with us or Austin?” Evan asked. “We’re ready to go, but Austin is waiting for Carly.”
“We’ll come with you,” Brandon replied. “I’m ready to get to the island, and who knows how long it will take Carly to show up.”
“Come on then,” Evan said and waved them forward. “Darcy told Sara so much about this place that they’re both eager to leave.”
Brandon laughed and handed the box to Evan before taking Summer’s sleeping bag. He placed a hand on her lower back as she stepped onto the boat.
“I bet,” he said. “Darcy used to make up stories about the fairies that lived in the woods. I can see Sara loving every minute of that. How do you put up with the two of them?”
Evan set the box down and got that newlywed, sappy look on his face. Brandon was happy for his sister. It was clear this man adored her.
“Your sister is easy to have around. She’s made life better than I ever thought it could be,” Evan answered.
Summer placed her hand on her heart. “Awe, that’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Hey, I’ve tried to tell you that,” Brandon teased her.
“I know.” Summer ran her fingers down his arm to his hand. “And I’m ready to talk about that.”
“And that’s my cue to disappear and get this trip started.” Evan tapped the brim of his ball cap and backed away .
Brandon turned to Summer. “Okay. Now, or later, when we get a quiet moment on the island?”
“Later would be better. I just wanted you to know.” Her expression showed her insecurity, but Brandon was happy she was ready to move them forward another step.
He dropped both bags and pulled her into his arms. She nestled her head on his chest and sighed. “When you’re ready. Even if it’s not today. Okay?”
She nodded before pulling away. “Here come Darcy and Sara.”
They enjoyed the thirty-minute trip to the island by listening to Sara talk about everything she wanted to do on the camping trip. Brandon loved every moment but especially liked how Summer stayed close to him. Once they arrived, they busied themselves with unloading gear and supplies and setting up tents.
“I can’t believe it’s just the same. Why hasn’t anyone built here?” Summer asked.
“Well.” Brandon rubbed at his beard while ducking his head. “Dad bought the island. We wanted to keep it for family trips.”
“You’re kidding,” Summer yelped. “You’ll always have it?”
“Yep. Welcome to Fletcher Island.”
“I love this so much.” Summer shook her head with wonder and moved to pound in another tent stake. “You should build a nice dock and some mini cabins.”
“Maybe one day. For now, we like it rustic.”
The boat with Austin, Jackie, and Carly arrived as they finished the last tent, so they started with the second load of stuff.
Brandon was tired by the time they finished. “Guess I’ve been sitting in the store or behind a desk far too long,” he said.
Austin laughed at him. “I know how you feel. You could always hire help so you can come out with me sometimes.”
“That sounds like a good idea. I need to balance my time better.” He glanced at Summer. “Start living a life again.”
He thought Summer blushed, but she turned away, so he wasn’t sure .
“Let’s start living on the beach,” Austin said. “I brought two fishing poles. Let’s see if we can catch our dinner.”
There were several groans around the group, and that made Summer laugh.
“I see the rest of you still hate fishing,” she said. “I’ll take a pole.”
“I’ll take the other one,” Brandon jumped in.
That made everyone laugh, but it was Carly who spoke. “It’s not that we hate fishing. That part is fun.”
“So is the eating,” Jackie interjected.
“Right,” Carly continued. “It’s the cleaning and preparing the fish that we all hate.”
“Understandable, but I haven’t done it in years. Take advantage of my lack of memory here.” Summer smiled at his family, reminding him how she had been a part of every summer trip for the first half of their lives.
“Deal,” Austin said as he handed the poles to Summer. Then, he handed Brandon the tackle box and a cooler to hold the fish with a wink. “Good luck.”
Brandon scowled at his brother, sending a silent ‘ too much, too soon’ thought his way.
Austin grinned wider and said, “There’s a lot of us to feed.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Brandon muttered and followed Summer down to the beach and around the curve of the small island to a quiet inlet that had always been the best fishing spot. The fact she remembered that after all these years made him happy.
They settled in, resting their backs next to the rocks, and proceeded to bait their hooks and cast their lines.
“Nice one,” Brandon said when Summer cast a perfect throw. “You’ve still got it.”
She chuckled softly. “So you keep implying.”
“I don’t mean to imply anything, Summer, but I’m wary of laying everything on the line before you’re ready.”
“I know,” she sighed and shifted uncomfortably in place. “I think I’m ready. It’s clear that I shut myself off from the world a long time ago. Maybe Afghanistan was my wake-up call? ”
Brandon didn’t know what to say to that. Getting her convoy blown up seemed like a harsh way to get her attention. He reached over and squeezed her hand briefly before gripping his fishing pole again.
“Here’s the thing,” Summer continued. “I want to see what this is between us.”
“Okay. Does that include telling me why you ghosted me?”
“Yes.” Summer glanced toward the campsite. “But can we save that conversation for after the trip? I don’t want everyone to know, and I don’t want to ruin this trip. Please be patient with me.”
“I can do that. You think talking about it will ruin what we have?” he asked. Brandon hated how her voice wavered with her request.
“I hope not. My parents think you can handle it, but it will change things. And I—” she paused to take a deep breath. “I need to enjoy this first.”
Brandon wanted to assure her that nothing she said would change how he felt about her, but before he could say anything, her line jerked, and she sat up straighter to reel in her fish. He watched as the excitement entered her eyes as she enjoyed the process. When he saw the splashing get closer, he grabbed the net and pulled the fish in. They worked together to release the hook and put the fish in the cooler.
“He’s at least fourteen inches,” Summer said. “How many of those will we need for seven people?”
“We brought other food, but if we can get at least five, we should have plenty. Austin eats like a bear.”
“Bet I catch more than you,” she teased.
“We’ll see about that.” He was more than willing to let the heavy moment pass. Summer was opening up little by little, and eventually, he would get his answers.
They fished for another hour before deciding four fish would be enough. Since each of them had caught two apiece, there was no clear winner. After cleaning the fish and packing the gear, they trudged back to the campsite.
The rest of the evening was spent laughing with his family. Brandon had never been happier. He’d even managed to ignore Summer’s concern that her information would mess things up between them. How could it when he had already forgiven her?
Eventually, Darcy and Evan took Sara to their tent because she could no longer hold her head up. Jackie and Austin followed suit shortly after, saying they were going to take advantage of a full night’s sleep since they had left little Garrett with his grandparents. That left Brandon, Summer, and Carly around the campfire.
“How’s everything at the hospital?” Brandon asked his sister.
“I love it. After Christmas, we got a new surgeon, and he’s wonderful. The patients are happier, and that helps with their healing. Plus, they don’t fuss when I do my job,” she answered.
“Oh? Does this new doctor happen to be single?” Brandon teased.
“Maybe, but that doesn’t matter. We’re friends now, and there is a policy about not dating coworkers at the hospital. Not that anyone follows it.” Carly shook her head. “Marcus, Dr. Vaughn, and I may be the only ones. Everyone else trades partners like a seasonal bingo card.”
“Uh.” Brandon scratched his head. “That sounds?—”
“Awful,” Summer finished for him. “Does it cause problems?”
“Sometimes, but mostly, things are fine. I don’t understand flings. Sure, we’re busy, and there’s not much time to date, but I want to find something long-term like Austin and Darcy.” She sighed. “This trip kind of makes it worse. I had no idea I’d be the only one without a date.”
“We’re not on a date,” Brandon said.
“You keep telling yourself that,” Carly said as she stood. “I haven’t forgotten how many nights the two of you snuck out of your tents to kiss on the beach.”
Summer giggled. “Did your dad know?”
“Probably,” Carly answered. “Night, you two.”
She disappeared into her tent, the sound of the zipper louder than the pops from the fire.
Brandon and Summer stayed by the campfire, the embers casting a warm glow on their faces as it slowly died down. The natural beauty of the forest surrounded them. The scent of pine mingling with smoke and the fishiness from the lake in the night air held so many memories, and they could hear the occasional murmur from the tents. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, gazing up at the canopy of stars over the lake.
“I forgot how beautiful it is out here," Summer whispered, her voice barely above a hush.
Brandon nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the twinkling stars above. "Yeah, it really is," he replied, his tone soft with reverence. “It’s peaceful.”
A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, stirring the leaves. Summer shivered, and Brandon moved closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Are you cold?" he asked.
Summer shook her head and leaned into his embrace. "No, I'm okay.”
“Want to walk along the shore?” he asked. “I think the fire will be safe enough to leave.”
She met his gaze and whispered, “I’d like that.”
Brandon stood, pulling Summer with him. He took her hand and led them to the beach. Most of the island had rocky shores, but this one section of sand was out of sight of the camping area. The moon was only half full, but it gave plenty of light for them to see by. The water lapped softly, and an owl hooted from somewhere in the trees.
When they reached the beach’s edge, Brandon stopped and faced Summer. She looked beautiful in the light of the night sky. He couldn’t see her freckles, but her eyes shone in a way that they hadn’t for a long time. He traced the side of her face with his fingers. Her skin was as soft as he remembered.
Summer moved her arms around his waist, stepping closer.
“Do you want to relive one of my favorite memories?” she asked. “I’m curious if it will be different now.”
Brandon was rendered speechless, but his heart soared when she closed her eyes and leaned in. He had dreamed about kissing her again for years but didn’t think it would happen. The best part was Summer instigated this.
He met her lips with gentle pressure, determined not to push for too much too soon, but the way she clung to him made that hard. Did she feel the same desperation to make up for lost time that he did? Brandon tried to convince himself to keep things light, but Summer shifted her hold from his waist to around his neck and melded herself to him. He wrapped his arms around her, one around her waist, the other at the back of her head as he delved deeper.
Brandon feared his desperation to keep her would come through the kiss. And maybe it did because he felt as if she wanted to keep him, too. Their mouths communicated what neither had said as of yet. It contained the shared heartache and the hope for healing as they moved together—nipping, teasing, and promising.
Summer finally pulled away enough to rest her forehead on his chest. Her hands slid to his face, and her fingers traced along his beard. Eventually, he caught his breath and wondered what had changed between them.
Summer shifted again until she gazed at him with half-open eyes and said, "That was even better than I remembered.”
Brandon smiled, his heart swelling with love and affection for the woman in his arms. He would count whatever changed as a blessing and go with it. “Agreed. You are still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Does this mean I can call you mine again?”
“Yes. And you’re mine.”
“I always was.”
She smiled and said, “I better turn in.”
Then she slipped into the darkness, and Brandon let her go. Tomorrow looked brighter than ever.