unlike any other parent that I’ve come across, but he and Mom never got away from this town and it was the only thing he wanted for me. And it wasn’t like me to disappoint him. And I was going to be living in the most amazing city in the world. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever want to come back.
Lily is already halfway done with her box before I open mine.
I laugh. “Maybe I should bring chocolate croissants everywhere with me. Like Lily treats.”
“Yeah, well,” she says, distracted, rearranging two of the folders in front of her. “Whatever they put in them is like catnip for me. Unless you want me to roll out of this place, I wouldn’t suggest doing it.”
“I’d pay to see that,” I say.
She tosses the empty box at me and I jump out of the way. She’s on a roll and I struggle to catch up. We make quick work of organizing the folders and are just about done when the front doors open. I look up and am momentarily blinded by the bright morning sunlight streaming through. Will and Ethan enter the room, both with a yellow glow around their bodies as if they are angels coming through the pearly gates.
Will locks eyes with me and I can’t help taking in the full sight of him. Even though he’s become leaner throughout the years I can’t help the constricting feeling in my chest that steals my breath. It was the last outfit I’d seen him in the night he left. The hurt resurfaces and it takes all of my strength to turn around.
Ethan beelines for the food but Lily slaps at him. “Not until we’re done.”
He shoots me a look but I turn back to my work, attempting to steady my breathing.
“What can I do?” Will appears at my side, close enough that I can feel his warm breath on my cheek. I inhale sharply, noting a minty scent on his breath.
I indicate the next full box. “Alphabetical, based on age group on the tables.”
He hovers for a second as if he’s going to say something, but I reach down, grabbing the next set of packets, ending the conversation before it starts. He eventually moves the box to another table and gets to work. Ethan joins in with one as well.
“So Will,” Lily says pointedly.
I stiffen and glare at her, but she continues on, fueled by the caffeine shooting through her veins. “What are you going to do around your house this summer?”
He doesn’t miss a beat, again throwing me back in time when their sparring matches were the highlight of many times with just the three of us. “The plumbing needs some work, I need to do some repairs on the trim, and I was going to paint a few of the rooms. Trudy said it will help jump up the price.”
“Do you need help, man?” Ethan asks.
Will nods. “I could use a hand if you have time.”
I snort. “Ethan has plenty of time. He’s been playing Enter Strike since school got out. Actual work might be good for you.”
The corner of Will’s mouth quirks up. “You still play?”
Ethan gives me a see, I am cool grin.
“I never stopped,” Ethan says and fixes me with a look. “Don’t pretend like you don’t either.”
“Seriously?” Will asks incredulously, turning to me.
I blanch. Enter Strike is a first person shooter game. Ethan and Will played for about a year until I got involved. I haven’t signed on since a particularly embarrassing weekend of missing Will where I signed on and stared at the chat menu waiting for him to do the same. For about five hours.
“I don’t!” I exclaim. “Not since—” I stop myself. “Not for a while.”
Will turns back to his task and Ethan continues on about his ranking within the game.
Ethan claps a hand on Will’s back as he tosses the empty box next to Lily. “We should set up your computer and play Enter Strike tonight.”
“Sure, man,” Will says just as I say “I’m sure he has work to do.”
“It’s fine,” Will counters. “I have three weeks before the first open house. It’s nice to get a break from chores too.”
Ethan sticks his tongue out at me and I roll my eyes, turning back to my work. Ethan and Will chatter on about video games while my skin pricks with embarrassment. I feel Lily’s eyes on me, begging to look at her, but I keep my focus on the task.
The rest of the counselors slowly trickle in and by the time eight-thirty rolls around they are all accounted for. Dad hands out morning assignments and just my luck I’m paired with Will for check-in. But so is Lily, Skye and Tyler. Lily gives a little pout when she realizes she won’t have time with Aiden that morning, but I remind her she has a whole summer with him.
“I don’t need a whole summer.” She eyes Aiden’s bobbing head as if he’s rocking out to music in his head.
Tyler and Will prop open the doors and already there is a crowd. Lily nudges my arm. “And so it begins.”
Hadley
I take a breath, inhaling the fresh morning air that streams in around the campers and their families. The beginning of the end. I shake away the negativity and smile warmly. No second will be wasted in what is to be the best summer of my life. Even if Carter nearly ruined it for me.
The kids rush the table and we sort them by age group. Will returns to the table, taking the space next to me. He’s grinning, one of those melt your heart kinds. I’m not sure if it’s for the benefit of the campers or he’s genuinely happy. I hope the latter.
Harry and Oliver Yates are the first in our group. Their black hair is cut exactly the same, but they’ve been in my group for three years now, starting when they were in the eight to tens group. And unlike most of the people in town I’ve picked up on the subtle differences between the twins.
“Will!” Harry bellows.
Will leans over the table and high-fives Harry’s outstretched hand. “Hey buddy.”
Harry’s blue eyes find mine, “Did Carter get fired?”
Mrs. Yates, a tall olive-skinned woman, steps up to the table. My spine straightens. I overheard Dad on the phone speaking about Mrs. Yates and her reluctance to send Oliver to the camp this year. He’s behind his brother, looking up at us with big brown eyes. He’s always been a shy boy, but his shyness progressed as he aged, almost as if Harry’s exuberance had sucked it out of him. Polar opposites in personality but they were both amazing kids. Without being asked, I knew I had to work on Oliver a bit to ensure he had a great summer. Pulling a camper out in a small town would be devastating to the program, especially since Mrs. Yates tended to be quite vocal about her thoughts.
“Will,” Mrs. Yates says in a breathy whisper. “I didn’t know you were back.”
He nods politely. “Just for the summer.”
Her
