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.”
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
