Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
BASH
I add in double training sessions until it’s time to leave for camp, because I don’t know if I’ll have the opportunity to train while I’m there.
Thankfully, since signing up for Harbor Strike MMA, I’ve been training six early mornings a week before work—regular workouts on top of sparring and jujitsu.
And today, I finally feel more confident with my sparring.
Each blow my opponent lands is easy to withstand, but I can’t deny I need to work on landing faster punches.
After sparring, I do an hour each of grappling, drills, and weight lifting before heading home, where I spend some time by the lake out back to read the Bible on my phone. I sit out there, reading on the deck until Romilly lets me know she’s almost here to pick me up for camp.
I make my way to the driveway, and a text from Logan comes through.
Logan
hey, man. I heard we’re rooming together at camp!
Me
I know. Get ready to spar with me in your spare time.
Logan
stop tempting me. I can’t afford to get injured before my surfing competition and you know it. This is my chance to leave limo driving in the dust and I’d be a fool to squander it.
Me
Fine.
Logan
I will take you snowboarding this winter, though. I’m itching to see what you’re made of.
Me
Not fair. You’re making me compete with you in your element, but you won’t spar with me.
Logan
pick a less brutal sport and you’re on.
I chuckle as I shove my phone in my pocket. Who am I to steer the guy away from his dream to make it big? I’m currently doing the same thing. And I can’t deny it stings knowing I’ll be gone before winter hits, so I won’t get the chance to snowboard with Logan, anyway.
When Romilly picks me up, my spirits lift significantly. “Hey,” I say.
“Hi.” A little blush covers her cheeks as she smiles at me. I put my bags in her trunk and get in the passenger seat. Her car smells like flowers, and there’s a blues song quietly playing.
“You ready for camp?” she asks.
“I was born ready.”
She giggles. “I think you’re forgetting we’re working with teenagers.”
“And I think you’re forgetting I once was a teenager.”
Knowing I’ll get to spend two hours in the car with her makes adrenaline race in my veins. And as we drive, the amber and gold foliage grows more dense as her car climbs the winding road nestled in the hills.
It’s impossible to imagine leaving Meadow Hills when I think of her. Logan doesn’t make it easy either. But at least they’ll have each other. Part of me is surprised they never dated. Or…did they?
And then the more I imagine it, the more I want to know. As Romilly drives us toward Cranberry Pines Campground, I debate whether to voice my thoughts.
And then I can no longer contain myself.
“How did you meet Logan?”
“I met him at church. We were friendly acquaintances for a long time, but when Addison and Perry got together, we became even closer because Logan and Perry are best friends, like me and Addison.”
“How…sweet.”
She glances at me briefly. “Why?”
“No reason.”
She studies my face, takes in my crossed arms and the way my jaw is unintentionally clenched.
And then she smiles. “Wait a minute. Are you…jealous?”
“Of course not.”
“You are. You’re jealous.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
She giggles. The sweet sound travels straight to my toes. “I mean, he is really hot.”
My stomach coils at her admission, and the urge to punch something becomes so intense it makes me dizzy. “Okay, fine. I’m jealous.” The words sound strained because they’re so hard to admit.
Romilly bites her lip to keep from laughing. “You have no reason to be jealous, Bash. Logan is like another sibling to me. And…you’re really hot, too.”
My brain stops working. I feel like a mechanical device whose factory reset button just got pressed.
I know I’m good-looking, of course I do.
But hearing it from Romilly feels surreal.
Not just because she’s beautiful in a way that makes me forget my name, but because she’s…
her. She hasn’t given me an inch since the moment I decided I wanted a mile. Somehow, this feels like a win.
A massive win.
“Thank you.” I can’t mask the triumph from my tone. Not this time.
“Don’t go getting a big head, now.”
“Oh, it’s far too late for that.”
And then my sense of triumph is ruined when my dad texts me.
Dad
Your mum says you’re coming home next month. It will be good to have you back, son.
Me
I’m not coming back unless I lose my fight. Sorry.
Dad
You know we’re not letting you stay at the lake house even if you win, right?
Me
yes. I’m well aware. I’ll be out of there regardless.
Dad
It’s not too late to call the whole fighting thing off and just come home. Running the auction house is a much more respectable choice.
I don’t respond, because his words only make me sad and angry. Sure, running the auction houses would be respectable. But doing that is his choice. And after making it this far, the last thing I want to do is quit.
I’m a grown man. It’s my life. For once, I need to make my own decisions.
We arrive at the woods before sunset. Cranberry Pines Campground is speckled with teenagers emerging from the set of vans idling ahead of us. The cabins are nestled among the bright and colorful Maple trees, and right in the center is a fire pit already lit with a crackling flame.
Romilly parks us near the vans and shuts off the engine. She stretches her arms and makes a soft groaning sound. I can’t help but stare at her as she does it because her eyes are closed and she typically looks put-together, but right now she’s so pretty in a rumpled, messy way.
I glance away before she can notice me staring.
“Ready to get checked in?” She asks.
“Yeah, let’s do it.”
We get out of the car and head toward a wood-paneled building near the cabins. Excited voices ring in the air around us as we find the youth pastor from Harvest Valley standing out front with a pen and clipboard.
When he sees us, he smiles. “Hey, Sebastian and Romilly.”
“Nice to see you, Hayden,” she says.
Hayden scans the list. “Alright, so I have Bash in Cabin A with Logan and Romilly in Cabin C. Does that sound right?”
Romilly frowns. “With Hadley, right?”
Hayden winces. “Actually, Hadley just called and she’s sick, so she’s not coming anymore. There are six girls in your cabin, but if anyone can handle it alone, it’s you.”
She nods, but I ask Hayden, “Isn’t there anyone else she can share a cabin with in case she needs help?”
Hayden looks surprised by my question, but consults his list once more. And then he shakes his head. “No. Everyone else is already partnered up.”
“Of course they are,” I mutter.
“It’s fine, Bash.” Her hand brushes across my arm. “Let’s put our things in the cabin.”
Of course she’s fine with it. But I’m not. It’s not fair that she’s the only one who has to work alone on this trip, so I silently vow to help her as much as I can while we’re here.
I follow her back to the car. She opens the trunk, but before she can remove our bags, I grab them all with ease, slinging the four duffel bags over my shoulders, two in each hand.
She stares at my arms. My chest. My feet. Anything but my eyes. “Do you need help?”
“No.”
She swallows. Nods. Am I imagining the way her gaze lingers on me?
Romilly speed-walks toward the cabins. I follow behind with her bags. When we’re both in the cabin, I set her bags on the floor. All the bunkbeds are empty, save for their uncovered mattresses. Romilly sits delicately on a random bottom bunk and exhales happily.
I shake my head. “How are you this optimistic? I can’t believe you have to be in here with no other adults.”
“I’ll be fine .”
If I didn’t know her so well, I’d think she means it. But I recognize the tone of her voice immediately, the one that indicates she’s putting on a brave face and trying to make the best of the situation.
She does care.
I shake my head. “The whole thing is so unfair.”
“Look, I’m honored you’re so offended for me, but now I’m starting to think you’re worried I can’t handle it.”
“Of course I know you can handle it. But six girls is a lot for one person.” I sit down beside her. “I’ll be here to help you, don’t worry.”
“Bash.” She bites her lip. “You have your own group to manage. Don’t worry about me.”
I open my mouth to answer, but someone else’s voice cuts into the room.
“About time you two got here,” says Logan. “You’re missing all the fun.”
Romilly blinks a few times like she’s trying to clear her head. “What?”
He grins. “We’re about to start our first Bible study, and then there’s going to be an apple-picking contest after.”
I immediately remember picking apples with Romilly, weeks ago on our date. She must too, because she glances at me and blushes before turning back to Logan. “Okay. We’re coming.”
Logan nods and then glances between us. “Everything okay?”
“Everything is fine,” says Romilly.
“Her partner is sick so she’s a solo counselor,” I tell him.
Logan winces. “Ouch. Sorry, Romilly.”
“I told her I’d help as much as you can spare me,” I say.
Logan nods. “Oh, yeah. Don’t worry, Rom. I can handle most of the activities without Bash. We can share him.”
Romilly sighs, but her posture slightly relaxes. “Okay…thank you.”
“Of course. I’ll see you all out there.” He nods at me before walking out of the cabin.
“Shall we?” I hold out my hand to Romilly.
To my surprise, she takes it.