Dylan

Dylan walked Bonnie to the door of her cabin, sad that the night was already ending. She paused at the door and flashed him a huge smile before disappearing inside. He smiled and waved before turning to head back.

The sky was bright with stars. The afternoon storms had been short today, and now the sky was clear and full of tiny lights as he walked back to his car.

He had butterflies in his stomach. They were dancing around with excitement from being around her all evening. He couldn’t believe how long they’d talked. The two of them had shut Sandy’s down. He watched as the light in her room flickered on. He liked knowing that she was safe.

He had been worried that the ex-boyfriend was going to be a problem. He’d been worried that she was going to be still hung up on the guy, but that didn’t seem to be the case. She seemed barely able to remember him, other than the fact that he was out to get her.

That was a good sign if he wanted to ask her out on a real date. He was going to do it, and just the thought made him nervous and happy at the same time.

She made him feel light. When she smiled, he wanted to smile too. When she spoke about her passion for kids and helping them with their needs, he wanted to help them too. She made him want to do more.

She was a perfect fit for the ranch. Mia had been right to hire her. Her experience with special needs kids would be incredibly helpful at the ranch. There were so many kids in the system that needed a little bit more help, and she would be able to do that here. It felt almost like fate.

He hoped she was going to stay. He could tell himself it was because she was good for the ranch, but really he wanted her to stay because she was good for him.

He opened the car door, and a drop of water from the big pine tree sprinkled onto his cheek. He wiped at it absentmindedly, but the water on his face made him think of Tyson and what she’d said at dinner.

An idea formed in his head. She said to do something fun, so that was exactly what he was going to do. He grinned and hopped into his car and drove quickly to the garage. He had things to do before morning.

* * *

“Okay, are you ready Tyson?” Dylan asked the boy.

Tyson stood before him in his swim trunks and a rash-guard shirt that was a little too big for him, but a smile plastered across his face. Dylan couldn’t help but like the kid.

“Do you think she’ll be excited?” Tyson asked. His smile faltered slightly. “I don’t want her to get mad.”

Dylan put his hand on the kid’s shoulder and gave him a gentle squeeze. He thought of what Bonnie had said the night before. “No, she won’t be mad as long as you’re having fun. Follow me.”

Tyson nodded and carefully tiptoed behind Dylan as they circled around the pool shed in the direction of Bonnie’s cabin. She would be coming out any moment, and they had to be ready.

They hid in the shadow of the shed as she approached. She had on a bright blue full piece swimsuit with her gray sweats from the day before. The suit accentuated the soft curves of her hips and bust, and he found his mouth going dry. He was glad to see she didn’t bring a jacket today and just had her towel wrapped around her shoulders.

He stepped out of the shadow, leaving Tyson ready for their surprise.

“Hi, Dylan,” she greeted him with a smile. He loved the way she said his name. “You’re coming to the swim lesson, right?”

“I am. You don’t have anything on you that can’t get wet, do you?” he asked.

She frowned and shook her head. “No. Why?”

“No reason.” He handed her a small squirt gun he had hidden behind his back. “You may want this.”

She took it, looking completely baffled. “A squirt gun? What...”

That was when all the kids came out. Tyson and most of the other kids at camp all emerged with squirt guns and began an all-out epic water battle.

Dylan had planned it all. It was a water free-for-all. He had large plastic storage bins full of water balloons and filled squirt guns placed around the pool area. He’d gotten all the camp hoses and had them spraying sprinkler style to create a water playground for the kids to run through as they squirted and threw balloons at one another.

The air around the pool filled with the sounds of water and shrieks of laughter. He looked over at Bonnie and for a split second was terrified he’d done something wrong. But, then her beautiful brown eyes lit up. She dropped her swim towel and aimed her gun directly at his chest, letting out a long stream of water and drenching him. With a laugh, she then ran to squirt Tyson next.

He tried to follow but was ambushed by a group of kids with squirt guns. He emerged a few moments later, completely soaked and his squirt gun empty. He needed to reload and get back into the fight. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bonnie trying to sneak up on Tyson to get him with her squirt gun.

Dylan ran to the nearest bin of water balloons as and threw one at Tyson. The kid ducked, and the balloon sailed over Tyson’s head and landed squarely in on Bonnie’s chest. She narrowed her eyes and ran at him, with her gun pointed directly at him once again. She squirted him until her gun ran out.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her to where he had several loaded squirt guns ready to go. They each grabbed one, and he made sure to squirt her before she could get him this time. She laughed as the water splattered against her swimsuit.

Dylan couldn’t remember the last time he’d had this much fun. He was laughing so hard his chest hurt, and he was fairly sure his face would be frozen into a smile for the rest of his life.

A water balloon smacked square into his chest. If his shirt wasn’t already drenched, he certainly was now. He looked up to find the attacker and saw Tyson reach for a second water balloon. But, Dylan didn’t care about the balloon.

He cared that Tyson was soaking wet. His hair was drenched, and water was streaming down his cheeks. And the best part was that Tyson was having so much fun, he didn’t care. Dylan found Bonnie grinning as she noticed the same thing. Their eyes met, and she smiled.

She gave him a thumbs up, and her eyes told him he’d done a good job.

Dylan had been having an amazing time, but her smile sent him to the moon with joy.