3. Three #2
Now, I was heading towards the office, keen to get my cabin allocation so I could drop my stuff and find my girl.
Not that I wasn’t dreading the office. Its brown walls were Brennon’s domain, and I hadn’t laid eyes on him or spoken a single word to that shithead since last August. I climbed the steps with increasing dread, but sagged with relief when I pushed open the door and Riley’s red hair popped out from behind one of the computers.
“Xavi!” He smiled and waved.
I might be relieved to see him, but I didn’t really do friendly, so I just tilted my head towards his monitor.
“Oh, right,” his face falling slightly at my non-response, “You’re probably here for your cabin allocation. Two seconds.” His eyes darted back to the screen. A few mouse clicks later and he looked back at me.
“You’re in the village, cabin is Yarrow.” I nodded and left.
I made short work of unpacking. My clothes could wait, but I wanted to have a nicely made bed just in case I ended up back here tonight with my wild girl in my arms. I prayed that I would.
I was desperate to hold her close. To make her smile.
And knowing that I could be with her night after night, picturing that, sent desire burning through me.
After I calmed down and finished making my bed, it was nearly time for the opening meal.
Toni would be in the dining hall, and I would find her there.
I hoped she didn’t mind eating her dinner outside on my lap because fuck everybody else.
I was going to steal her away the second I could.
The dining hall was already teeming with the other staff.
Newbies huddled together in the corners, as usual.
Normally, I would have avoided the whole scene and snuck in via the kitchens.
Tonight, however, I was hunting for Toni and wanted to make sure she could find me too, just in case she spotted me first. Some people were already seated, while others stood near the serving counter or by the coffee station in the corner.
The noise of their chatter was annoying as hell.
I tuned it out as best I could while I scanned the crowd.
Clearly, I did a good job, because I didn’t notice Abbi approach me until she tapped me lightly on the shoulder. The unexpected contact made me flinch.
No one touched me except Nettie. Brennon used to, I guess. Now, it was just Nettie.
“Woah,” Abbi drew back putting both hands up, “Sorry Xav, I just...”
Her voice trailed off as I stared at her quizzically. She was Toni’s friend. Not mine, although we had bonded a little at the end of last summer. Both of us worried by her sudden disappearance and neither of us quite buying Jack’s shitty explanation. Now I knew we were right to be concerned.
“Anyways…I just thought you’d want to know she’s not here yet. Or at least neither Michele nor I have seen her.”
I huffed low in my throat, concern rising. Where was she? She told me in a text last week that her father had approved of her coming back here. So, where the fuck was she?
Abbi didn’t seem bothered by my silence, she just dragged me by the arm to join Michele and Isabella at the table nearest the doors.
She gestured for me to sit. Not that I minded, since this table gave me an excellent vantage point of the Centre Circle and the doors where Toni was most likely to enter.
If she got here, I would be one of the first to know.
Eventually, the meal started with all its usual fanfare.
Jack on stage saying a bunch of crap I had heard a thousand times about the joy of summer, how camp was a family.
Blah. Blah. Blah. I couldn’t even tell you what I ate once the food was finally served.
I just shoveled it into my mouth, looking down as little as possible so I didn’t miss her arrival.
And finally, towards the end of the meal, I was rewarded.
An all-black town car appeared, moving slowly down the gravel road.
The sounds of the tires crunching along the rarely driven road signaled to everyone else that something was happening.
“Ah,” the director announced into the microphone, “Our late arrivals.”
I was out of my seat before he finished speaking.
It had to be Toni. Her father must have sent her in a car.
How typical of Franklin Barrett. When just one of her long, short-clad, legs extended out of the car door, I already knew it was her.
My wild girl. One glimpse of her bare skin sent my heart into overdrive.
And though I hated to garner attention, I sprinted for the doors, ready to greet the girl I had missed so badly.
By the time I was outside, standing on the dining hall steps, fighting the urge to run to her, she was already fully out of the car.
Our eyes connected across the space between us, and my smile stuttered.
She was staring at me with heartbreak written on her face.
Her blue eyes were red-rimmed and swollen.
Somebody made my Nettie cry. That made me want to murder people.
I balled my fists, ready to storm towards her, scoop her into my arms and demand their names.
Then, she gave a small shake of her head.
It was a warning. For what, I couldn’t be sure.
Not until I realized the car door behind her was still open, and another set of feet and finally, a whole body appeared behind her.
One I immediately recognized. One that sent ice hurtling through my veins. Her brother was here.