Drew

Seriously? She just accepted a date with Alex right in front of me? I should have known that I would be chopped liver compared with the rich and smiley Alex Gorski.

Hadn’t Sarah taught me this lesson? It didn’t matter if you had a connection. What was important was how nice a vacation you could take. I grunted, mostly to myself and I saw Chloe cringe. I didn’t actually think she only liked Alex for a vacation. But I also didn’t understand why she was ignoring what was happening between us. Alex would never talk to her the way we did and I had to believe she understood that.

But maybe she only wanted conversation with her friends? I know I’d said we’d be friends but could I hang out with them while they actually dated? And what was happening that I cared so much? Everything was getting so messed up.

“Are you all right?” Chloe asked softly.

“Ducky,” I said, practically spitting out the word. But then I took a breath. It wasn’t her fault, it was mine. I hadn’t asked her out or even told her how I felt.

“Oh,” was all she managed before she made it to the front of the breakfast line and began loading up her tray.

I followed behind, grabbing food, but I didn’t have much of an appetite, honestly. Not knowing what else to do, I continued to trail behind her like a puppy or a duckling, as she made her way to the table where Alex and Millie sat across from one another.

My gut clenched as I watched her approach the table and I only took a breath when she walked around to the other side and sat next to Millie.

Plunking my tray next to Alex, I sat down, suddenly glad I had actually gotten food. I’d only made it three bites in when Alex started talking. It ruined my appetite all over again. Sometimes I wished he could be quiet. “So the fire tonight is a date thing. Everyone’s going in pairs.”

Chloe’s spoon clattered onto her tray, sending milk and cereal cascading across the table. “What?”

“Yeah,” Alex breezed on, completely oblivious as usual. “So I was thinking Millie and Drew should go together so that they can join us. Double date. Could be fun, right?”

“Join you?” Even I could hear how annoyed I sounded and Millie winced across from me. Had Alex upset her or had I? Crap. I didn’t want to irritate another person I actually liked.

“That’s okay. You don’t have to go with me, I know you don’t like me like that,” Millie said as her eyes cast down to her plate.

I drew in a long breath. There was no reason for me to be a jerk to Millie. In fact, I shouldn’t be losing my temper at all. Chloe was free to accept a date with Alex I reminded myself. I’d helped set it up. Sometimes having a conscience was a real pain. “I think you’re great, Millie.”

Chloe dropped her spoon again, her eyes going wide as they met mine.

“Thank you,” Millie whispered her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink.

“Seriously,” I leaned over and waited for her to look up at me. “You’re very pretty, nice, and a great listener.” Even as I said the words, I felt everyone still. Alex had stopped eating and talking. A miracle in and of itself. Chloe hadn’t bothered to pick up her spoon, her stare fixed on me. Everyone was waiting to see what I said.

“I think you’re great too.” She gave me a small, shy smile.

I paused for a second. I wanted to choose my words very carefully here because I liked Millie. I just didn’t like-like her. “But these couples parties almost always have spin the bottle and--” I stopped because I heard Chloe make a sound that I was pretty sure was eep.

Looking over, her eyes had gone so wide, they looked like they could be coffee cup saucers. All the color had drained from her face and she was holding the spoon again, but this time it was in a death grip. Her knuckles were white as she clutched the handle.

She hadn’t known this was a real date thing either. Somehow that made me feel loads better.

“So, I’d totally go with you, Millie, but can we just go as friends? Otherwise, it seems like too much pressure.” I could only hope I hadn’t hurt her feelings.

But her smile was that of relief. “That sounds perfect.”

The rest of breakfast passed without incident but the whole group was quiet. And when it was finally time to go run our first classes, I swear all four of us sighed with relief. The whole vibe was off and I didn’t think it was just me.

Millie and Alex said goodbye at the cafeteria doors. They were headed to the rec hall, where crafts were taught. But I did music groups under a covered patio by the beach right next to where Chloe gave lessons for swimming.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to, but, as we stepped out the doors, we started walking together. We were going to the same place after all. She stuffed her hands into the pockets of the hoodie she was wearing. “Hey,” she said hesitantly. “Thanks for your help with Mason earlier.”

“Mason?” I laughed a little. I had thought she was going to talk about Alex and it was a relief to discuss something else entirely.

She shrugged. “I will never admit this to anyone else, but Alka Seltzer was a funny nickname, you know, if you’re not the one being called that.”

I winced, giving her a quick glance. Her hands were still in her pockets and she looked down at her flip flops. I gave myself a mental shake. She was probably going out with Alex instead of me because Alex was actually nice. I’d given her a hated nickname. It was moment of clarity that made me slightly nauseous.

And that meant I needed to apologize specifically for the nickname. “It wasn’t funny and I am probably going to purgatory for saying it.” I gave her a little push on the arm with my hand in a pathetic attempt to ease some tension.

She was still looking at her feet but I saw her grin a little bit. “No, seriously. You are really good at coming up with quick retorts. I wish I was. People just walk all over me. My only weapon is to ignore them or double down on my bubbliness. But I am sure you’ve noticed it isn’t all that effective.”

She wasn’t wrong. It made me a little angry to think about, honestly, realizing that people might hurt her and she didn’t fight back. I wanted to wrap my arm around her. I wanted to go back and punch Jason in the face. That was a little strong but at least I could kick him right in the seat of his pants. Instead, I did what a friend would do. Because that was what we were. “I think you do great. I like how nice you are to everyone.” I gave her another little push on the arm. “And I am your wing man in the war of words. Just call me in.”

Her head lifted then, her smile as sparkly as the ocean water, and she gave me a little push on my arm. “Careful. I will, for sure, take you up on that offer.”

I stuffed my own hands in my pockets. They needed to be restrained because it was an actual struggle to keep from touching her.

I finally reached my pergola and waved goodbye. Though I’m not sure why. From where I was teaching, I would see her the entire day.

She waved back and then trotted over to where she was starting the lesson, many of the campers already sitting in the sand, waiting.

“Are we ready?” she yelled in that perky little voice I was starting to find so cute. I mean, it made me warm inside just hearing her.

“Ready,” they yelled back.

She jumped up and down waving her arms in the air. I should have been starting my own class but I watched her, grinning. “It’s time to get cold!” she yelled and they all cheered again.

Then, she pulled her sweatshirt over her head so she was just in her shorts and suit. I nearly fell off my stool. She had a red, lifeguard bikini top underneath the sweatshirt. My mouth hung open for a second as my brain tried to work again. She looked amazing. I mean, just…wow!

The sound of someone plucking a guitar string finally tore my gaze from her. If not for the noise, I might have just watched her all day. One of the kids had picked up my guitar, where I’d left it this morning, and was trying to play. “Hey,” I gave him a stern look. “First rule of music class is that no one touches my guitar but me.”

“Aw,” the kid said as he handed over the instrument. “Can we at least sing ‘Camp Winni?’”

I shook my head like I didn’t approve but the thought of that song made me happy instead of annoyed as I thought of Chloe belting it out. I swear, she was making me a different person and, honestly, I liked this guy. “Yes, yes we can.”

* * *

Chloe

I heard Drew play the first strains of “Camp Winni” and I grinned. I loved that he was diving headlong into his least favorite song.

What I couldn’t figure out was why I wasn’t excited about my date with Alex tomorrow night. A real date. He’d said it himself. That made me kind of sick to my stomach and not in a good way.

But I pushed it aside and focused on my campers. We were going to have fun. They were going to learn. Close to lunch time, my director, Mitch checked in. I was just finishing up the second lesson of the day. I said goodbye to my campers and sent them off to lunch.

“How’s it going?” Mitch asked me.

“Great,” I gave him a big smile. “Thank you again for allowing me to take this position. I am really excited about it.”

He waved to Drew to join us and then turned back to me. “You deserve it. You always come with an amazing attitude, you’re a great swimmer and I know you’re going to be studying education. I think it’s a perfect fit for you.”

I’d always liked Mitch. He ran a tight ship, to use an oceanside metaphor. But for a kid like me, it had always made me feel safe. And he did it in a nice way. With a lot of praise and not very much yelling. “I really appreciate that.”

“And this guy,” he turned toward Drew. “Going to Boston Conservatory. Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” Drew ran his hand through his hair. “It’s going to be intense.”

“You’ll do great. You’re a hard worker and super talented.” Mitch gave Drew a clap on the shoulder. “You’ve grown a lot. Both of you. I’m proud of you.”

We nodded as Mitch walked away to talk with other counselors. I watched him start up a conversation with two other swim instructors, my gaze following them for way longer than necessary rather than look at Drew. I mean, I’d been aware of him all morning. But now that he was here, I felt awkward again. “That was really cool of Mitch.”

“Yeah, for sure. He’s a good boss.” Drew picked up my sweatshirt, handing it to me. “Want to go get some lunch?”

“Sure,” I said, holding the sweatshirt but not putting it on. The day had heated up and I would have been way too hot in that thing.

“Do you, ah, want to put that on?” he asked me.

I looked over at him trying to figure out why he would ask that. I did slip on my jean shorts as I answered. “No, I’d be too hot.” Tons of people spent their entire summer at camp in their suits. It got so hot and we were always in the water.

“Yeah, being hot might end up being a real problem for you,” he said softly. It was quiet enough that I thought I might have misheard him.

“What?” I asked, turning to look at him.

He shook his head, rubbing his neck. “Nothing.”

Shoving my feet into my flip flops we started back up the path side by side. It was then that a couple of the other male counselors went by. They gave me a long look which was weird because they’d never noticed me before. One of them was grinning while the other winked.

Drew’s hand came to my waist so abruptly it kind of startled me as he pulled me closer. I looked over at him to see what was going on but he was glaring at the other two guys. I glanced over at them and they quickly looked away and kept moving.

Drew hadn’t been kidding when he said he had my back. Though, he didn’t remove his hand. “What was that?” I asked.

“Chlo,” he leaned down. “You look amazing in that suit. But seriously, you should put on a t-shirt or something or we’ll risk a cafeteria riot.”

“What?” I stopped walking, my brain was only able to process his words. I’d lost the ability to think and walk.

“You look hot in that suit. Seriously hot.” One of his eyebrows rose as he gave me a crooked smile.

My cheeks heated despite the cool shade of the path. “Oh,” I whispered. “All right.” It was embarrassing in the most pleasant way that he’d noticed. “I’ll grab a t-shirt on the way by the cabins.”

As we stopped by my cabin, I ran inside to pick out a tee. Drew waited on the other side of the door, knowing that he wasn’t allowed in. It was the first time I’d been alone all day and there was a nervous sick niggling in my stomach. It wasn’t pleasant like it had been earlier walking along with Drew. I searched my mind to try and figure out what was happening when I realized that I was dreading lunch. More specifically, seeing Alex again.

The whole day had gotten strange with the Alex asking me on a date. But that was crazy because a date with Alex was what I had been waiting for. Even more odd was that I was glad Drew was going to be next to me as I walked into the cafeteria. Like he was going to shield me from the weirdness.

But maybe that was the normal part. Isn’t that what friends did? But I’d also loved to feel his arm around me when we walked up the path. That physical comfort was so nice in a really exciting way and I didn’t think that was a normal part of the friend gig.

I stepped back outside and Alex and I started down the path to the cafeteria.

“You all right?” he asked.

“Fine,” I answered. “Why?”

“You got really quiet.” I looked over to see him staring fixedly at my profile.

Yep, I had. “I think it was really cool the way you told Millie this morning it was a friend hangout at the fire without hurting her feelings.”

“No big,” he answered with a shrug. “I like Millie. She’s really sweet and I wouldn’t want to hurt her.”

“Do you like like her?” I winced as I asked, holding my breath till he answered.

He scratched the stubble on his jaw. “I thought it was pretty clear I wanted to be Millie’s friend. But friends don’t hurt each other’s feelings right?”

Who was this guy and what had he done with the Drew I’d known? “What happened to you this past year?”