Chapter Seven
Sadie
By the time I make the fifteen minute trek up the barely-there path behind the firebowl, it’s almost too late. It’s been a long day, between greeting a fresh set of participants and following Oliver around, making sure he didn’t get lost.
I mean, it’s not entirely his fault—the guy has never been to a camp in his life. I doubt he’s ever been regular camping either, unless you count in a trailer that costs as much as a house, but certainly never anything as back-country as this.
And we’re not even in the real backcountry.
I don’t know what compelled his parents to buy a summer camp out here in the mountains, but it certainly wasn’t because of Oliver. He could have said no to his parents and gone back to wherever he came from, but he stayed. Even though he’s so out of his depth—I know because he mentioned it to me several times today—he’s here and he’s trying. Usually with a smile on his face.
Tonight’s campfire was a prime example. There were a few moments I thought I’d have to step in and help him out with the lyrics, but he caught himself and kept going. A few more days, and he probably won’t need me to follow him like a puppy, making sure he’s doing everything right. He might not have ever done anything like this before, but he’s picking up on it quickly.
I checked back in with Oliver after the final curfew check, and seeing that he had everything under control, I left him with another lame wave and headed back here to the fire bowl. I checked over my shoulder the whole way, making sure I wasn’t followed. That would be the worst way to begin the summer—blowing my longest kept secret to the whole camp. Because once one person knows, everyone knows.
The trees thin out as the almost-path crests a hill and opens up to a fairly bare overlook looking out across the back side of Camp Brower. A solitary boulder rests in the middle of the open space, almost like it was placed there.
This place is at the very edge of Camp Brower. Just down the hill from that rock is the wood-and-wire fence that marks the property line. But this rock is special for a few reasons.
One, it has the best view of Garden City, Utah. On the Fourth of July, you can see the fireworks and their reflection in Bear Lake. It’s the best fireworks show without the crowd.
Two, I’m one of the very few people who know it exists. It’s been a closely-guarded secret, especially over the last several years. Because…
Three, it’s the only place in Camp Brower where you can get cellphone reception.
Ten years ago, when I first started working here, cell reception wasn’t that big of a deal. I could go a whole summer without looking at a phone or talking to my friends from home because I had a whole set of friends up here. But as I’ve gotten older, the need to be connected to the outside world has increased. Especially now as I have a few applications out for post-summer jobs. I was able to ignore everything for a week while we set up the camp, opting for an early bedtime over this long walk, but even I have to answer to reality every once in awhile.
As much as I want to go back to those cellphone-less summers, I need to stay on top of things. At least a few times a week. Hence the forever long walk to Cell Phone Rock.
As I perch on the boulder that’s barely larger than a chair, I pull out my phone, holding the button to power it on. As soon as it finishes booting, it begins buzzing non-stop in my hand, notification after notification showing up. I swipe away all the ones from my social media and random apps, and press on the one for the group text from the Sunny Girls, my housemates from college.
A picture from Brooke—a selfie of herself with a beautiful, sparkling ocean in the background—comes through first. She’s smiling and she looks gorgeous, and it’s clear to see that she looks happier without her lousy ex. More texts from the other girls—Chloe, Ava, Meg, and Maggie—flood in, all supportive of Brooke and her solo honeymoon. She must have sent the picture last week. Even though I’m days late, I tap out my own reply, half to be supportive and half to let my best friends know I haven’t been eaten by a bear.
Me: Looking gorgeous! You and the view—I told you no bangs was your style!
I don’t sit around waiting for a reply. The first year I came to camp after meeting these girls, I always apologized about never responding on time, but they’re a great group of friends and assured me it doesn’t matter. Now, it’s just our big summer joke that “Sadie is never around when you need her.”
I keep scrolling through the messages I missed, catching up on all of my friends’ comings and goings for the last week and am shocked when I pass a second picture from Brooke. I have to go back and read the barrage of texts to figure out who is kissing her in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle because that gorgeous man is definitely not her sleazy ex. I send another text, finding a little smile for myself when I realize that picture came in this morning, and I’m not nearly as late on that reply.
After catching up with the girls, I ignore the texts from my mom, asking for any updates on my job hunt, and tap open my email to start clearing out over a week’s worth of junk.
“What is this?”
Oliver’s voice behind me startles me enough that I almost drop my phone, but I catch it just before it hits the ground.
“What are you doing up here?” I lean over to glance around him. “Were you followed?”
Confusion crosses his face and he looks behind him, looking for the trail that all-but disappears unless you know where to look for it. “No. Everyone’s in bed.”
“Good.” I fiddle with my phone, and his eyes drop to the motion.
“What are you doing up here, Sadie?”
“I believe I asked that question first.”
“I followed you, if that wasn’t obvious.” Oliver’s easy-going smile is back and directed at me, making me fidget even more.
“Okayyyy.” I draw out the word, unsure of what to say to him next. It was so easy to talk to him before I knew who he was, before he was on my staff. Talking to him about camp stuff, teaching him what I know about being on staff, is one thing, but coming up with conversation outside of that while knowing I shouldn’t flirt with him is a whole different beast.
“What are you doing up here?” he asks again, stepping closer to where I’m still sitting on Cell Phone Rock. Before I can tell him, his phone buzzes in his pocket, and he fishes it out, the screen illuminating his face and reflecting in his wide eyes as he starts getting notifications as well.
I sigh and scoot over on the rock, patting the vacated spot. “Welcome to Cell Phone Rock.”
Oliver eyes the small space I’ve allotted him with raised eyebrows, as if asking me if it’s allowed. It’s skirting the line a little bit, but I pat the rock again. Oliver folds himself onto it, and I laugh at the difference between how we’re sitting. Me, with my legs almost fully extended to keep myself perched here, and Oliver, with his knees at near perfect right angles.
His arm presses fully into mine as he gets settled, and heat races up my spine. I try to ignore it, but he’s sitting so close—close enough that I can smell hints of cedar and spice beneath the tang of sweat. It’s…surprisingly sexy. Since when is sweating sexy?
Oliver flicks his notifications across his screen, clearing them away. “So this is Sadie’s big secret.”
My head snaps to him. “What?” My voice shakes a little as I try to get a grip on myself after that spiral into my attraction to Oliver.
He raises his phone and swipes another notification. “Sadie has cell service.”
“Right. Yes. Sadie’s Big Secret. And now Oliver’s Big Secret.” I bump his shoulder. It’s so natural with us sitting this close together. I stuff down all those thoughts about purpling and pin Oliver with a look. “I can’t have this getting out to the rest of the staff. I don’t need a whole bunch of teenagers trying to sneak up here during the day when they’re supposed to be with the participants.”
Oliver mimes locking his lips. “My lips are sealed.” He smiles and looks down at me, and I swear he winks, too, but that must be my imagination. The result of sitting too close to him for too long. Letting my mind wander too much.
He turns back to his phone, clearing out emails and texts, and I do the same. We sit in silence for a few minutes, and the longer I sit here, the harder it is to ignore the pleasant heat of his arm compared to the cool night air. And when he shifts, moving one arm behind me to prop himself up on the rock, I jump up.
“Right,” I say, lamely. “We should really get back to camp. Another early morning tomorrow.” I attempt to smile and make light of things, but Oliver’s face grows sad, and I’m afraid I’ve said the wrong thing. He sighs and looks up at me with a put-out expression.
“Another early morning without coffee. Yay.”
“Oh, it won’t be so bad,” I say, stepping closer to tap his knee with the side of my fist. But the sad eyes Oliver gives me cut straight into me.
And I know I won’t be going to sleep for a while yet.
“Let’s get back. Staying up too late won’t make tomorrow any easier.”
With one last sigh, Oliver stands and slips his phone into his pocket. He follows me to the secret path and we make our way back to the fire bowl and then down to the main trail. When we get to the intersection, Oliver goes right, and I go left.
“I’ll see you in the morning!” I call quietly.
Oliver raises a hand in a wave. “See you in the morning, Sadie.”
He rounds the bend toward the boys’ cabins, and I take off to the left, but I don’t stop at the cabin I share with the other female adult staff. I keep going, past the lodge, and to the parking lot.