Chapter 5 #2
I lift the bead and turn it on its side, showing him the intricate design. “This was challenging for me. I had to learn to steady my hand to make the small design. I used tiny connected dots to make one larger.”
Nate’s eyes are full of admiration. “The anchor looks perfect. I still can’t get over that you made this for me.” He cups my cheek, smiling, studying me for a moment before leaning in and kissing me softly. “Thank you,” he murmurs against my smiling lips.
The deep vibration of his voice sends pulsing waves of heat through my body, awakening the part of me that Nate has stirred many, many times over the past few weeks.
My lips part with a mind of their own, and Nate doesn’t hesitate to take full advantage. He deepens the kiss with a low growling noise as my tongue tangles with his in a way that leaves me dizzy.
I’m completely lost in him.
My heart races, pounding hard against my chest as the skillful stroke of his tongue continues to dance with mine.
Never rushed, like the sloppy make-outs I’ve seen at school.
Even when I feel desperate for him and we can’t keep our hands off each other, he’s still always controlled and skilled.
Maybe I don’t have much to compare it to since he’s the only person I’ve ever kissed, but I’d bet anything that Nate is the best kisser in the world.
“It still shocks me when you take charge and kiss me. I fucking love it,” he mutters, threading his fingers through my hair, pulling me back in, his mouth instantly covering mine again.
His strong, muscular arm curls around my waist, flexing as he pulls me closer, molding my body to his.
His hand slips under my hoodie, splaying his fingers across my belly while his thumb strokes my skin in slow, teasing circles, sending shock waves through me.
The touching under the shirt is new, but I haven’t stopped him.
If anything, I want him to move his hand up higher…to touch me more.
Only I’m too embarrassed to bring myself to say it, so I hope he figures it out sooner rather than later.
It took me three weeks to work up the courage to initiate a kiss. There’s no way I can tell him I want to go to second base.
A quiet moan escapes at the image of his tongue in my mouth, his large hand cupping my breasts, playing with…oh god.
“Hey, losers.” Leo’s voice shatters the moment.
I jerk away from Nate so fast I nearly fall off the log seat. Gasping for air, my whole body flushes in embarrassment.
How does he make me forget where we are every second we’re together?
I’ve never been more grateful for an interruption in my life.
I swivel, searching for my brother. Thankfully, his back is turned, and he is deep in conversation with one of his football friends.
Even though I’ve gotten more comfortable around him with Nate, that kiss was a lot…it was more. And I’d rather die than have him see Nate’s hand up my hoodie.
“Don’t be a dickface, Leo,” Nate snaps.
Leo smirks but shoots me an apologetic look. “No one’s paying attention. I was only teasing you two.” He gestures between us. “You may proceed.” He laughs, then tosses a bag of marshmallows to Nate for our s’mores.
His silly humor always makes me laugh. “You’re an idiot.”
“Takes one to know one.” He playfully sticks out his tongue, then lets out a low whistle under his breath as Bethany Tucker walks by our bonfire. “I’d marry her tomorrow.”
I notice most of the guys are staring.
“She looks like Annabelle,” Nate mutters.
I frown, my stomach sinking. “Who’s Annabelle?”
Leo snaps his fingers at Nate. “Shit, you’re right, bro. No wonder I get a hard-on every time Beth is nearby. I’ve been crushing on Annabelle since the first time Sadie brought her around.”
“Hello.” I wave my hand between them, mildly irritated now.
“I see the green monster has reared its ugly head.” Nate waggles his brows.
I narrow my eyes at Nate but refuse to admit anything. “Who is Annabelle?”
“She’s best friends with a girl we grew up with. She lives in England, so we don’t see her often. But she and Beth could be related. They look freakily similar.”
“Oh.” I watch Bethany, along with half the other campers, walking around socializing with everyone.
Although I haven’t had many opportunities to talk to her, she seems the most approachable of the older, popular girls.
“Whenever I see you, you’re flirting with a different girl. Just go talk to her,” I tell Leo.
He sighs wistfully. “Beth is not just any girl. There needs to be wining and dining. She’s girlfriend material.”
“Wining and dining? We’re in the middle of the woods.” I gesture toward the impending trees surrounding us.
“Yes, I know—” He stops mid-sentence and pops up from his seat. “That cocksucker.”
We all follow his gaze to where my brother is leaning in, whispering something to Bethany that has her laughing out loud.
Amusement flickers in Nate’s eyes as he watches Leo fume.
“You snooze, you lose,” I tease, laughing when he shoots me a mock-annoyed look. “Cunningham’s always come out on top.” I flex my bicep to sweeten my jab.
“You Cunninghams are a pain in my tight ass,” he mutters, making a show of his very defined butt.
Nate casually puts a hand over my eyes.
“Hey. I’m back.” Addie plops down, and I push Nate’s possessive hand off me.
She hands me a steaming cup of hot chocolate, and when I take a sip, my eyes burst at the unexpected flavors. “Mint hot chocolate?”
She grins. “Delicious, right?”
I take another sip, sighing in contentment. “I’m addicted already. Thank you.”
While Nate’s attention is on perfecting my s’more—I can never seem to get it burned just right—I turn toward Addie and hand her a taped-up piece of tissue paper.
I only had one box and knew the glass piece needed protection, just in case I dropped it.
“What’s this?” She opens it slowly, eyes widening when she sees the bracelet.
“They aren’t glass. I’m not skilled enough yet to make a whole bracelet.” I hold up my wrist, showing her mine. “I made matching bracelets with clay beads I baked and sealed.”
She thrusts her arm out. “Oh my god. Put it on me right now.” Laughing, I fasten the bracelet around her wrist. “I love, love, love it. Thank you. You made all these beads yourself?”
“Yup. Each one. I picked colors I thought we’d both like and added some gold foiling on some.”
She leans over and hugs me hard. “Thank you. I love my bestie bracelet.”
The warmth of her hug and the casual way she announces that we’re besties are enough to fill me with unexpected waves of emotion.
My eyes fill with tears instantly.
Addie pulls back, her face alarmed. “Why are you crying?”
I swallow the lump in my throat, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve never had a best friend before.”
Plenty of girls from church, school, and even some of Mason’s friends have become mine. But I’ve never truly felt like I fit in.
Never had what Ads and I have.
She grabs me again, hugging me even tighter. “Well, good. You only need one bestie.”
A sharp burst of laughter from across the fire catches my attention, and I know they’re talking about me.
“Don’t pay attention to those catty bitches, Maddie,” Addie sighs, shaking her head in disgust.
I force a fake smile. “You called me Maddie.”
“Temporarily trying to make you feel better.”
When I glance over, I find all the Boyar girls smirking in our direction—a self-given name after their fancy Connecticut boarding school. How lame.
“White trash” and “poor Nate” are whispered, and before I can react, Addie’s up, rounding the fire pit like a girl on a mission.
“Nate.” I nudge his leg urgently.
“What’s up?” He follows my gaze. “Oh, shit.”
“Hey, slut brigade.” Addie stands in front of the girls, hands on her hips.
The girls gasp as if offended.
“You wanna talk crap about my best friend?” Her grin is scary.
“Maybe think twice, considering Little Miss Ringleader over here”—she points to Ashley—“had my friend’s brother’s dick down her throat yesterday.
She ingested enough ‘white trash’ to become one.
Talk about classless.” She points to her stomach.
“Probably have a few of them swimming around there too.”
Besides the crackling fire, the night air is dead silent until a slow clap starts among the campers.
Addie turns on her heels after a quick bow.
Then…
“Adelaide Sinclair!” The camp director, Mrs. Meyers’s, sharp voice silences everyone.
Oh no.
Adelaide puts her hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry. Ms. Meyers.”
I turn to Nate. “Do something,” I demand, but Nate shakes his head, giving Addie a high-five when she returns to sit with us.
“Don’t high-five her. You’re only encouraging her.”
I turn to Addie. “I love you and that you stand up for me, but don’t stoop to their level.”
“Please, I’d have to dig six feet under to reach their level. With what they’ve been saying all week to you, they’re lucky I don’t punch their faces in.”
I can’t help but giggle at the punch their faces in.
Nate stiffens beside me. “Who is saying what?”
“Nothing. Figure of speech.” I scrunch my face. I hate lying to him.
“Maddie,” he growls.
Addie opens her mouth.
“Adelaide,” I warn.
“Fine,” she grumbles, zipping her mouth shut.
Nate turns to Leo and hits his arm to get his attention. “Ah. Can you stop with the abuse tonight?”
“Did you hear anything about the Boyar girls talking about Maddie?”
Leo looks across the fire, then back at me. “No. What’s going on?”
Before I even open my mouth, Leo yells, “Mason!”
Ugh.
I throw my hands over my face, embarrassed that they’re making this a big deal.
“What’s wrong?” Mason’s concerned gaze flicks between me and the others.
“It’s nothing. Mean girls being mean.” I shrug.
Leo tells Mason what’s going on. Mason then turns his attention toward me, his expression hurt.
“All of you, stop,” I snap, annoyed. “You’re making it worse.”
“Madeline—” Mason tries to cut me off.