Page 102 of Never Will I Ever

“It’s just different.”

“Yeah, well,” I muse, ruffling his hair. “I don’t think I’m the only one smiling a lot lately. From where I’m standing, you’re actually having a pretty great time here this summer.”

His little nose crinkles up and his cheeks turn a little red. “Yeah, I guess.”

“You guess,” I echo, arching a brow.

An indignant huff leaves him, and he rolls his eyes. “Fine, you win. I’m having fun.”

“And?” He grumbles out something I can’t quite make out, andI knock his shoulder with my arm. “Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.”

“I said I liked camp too, okay? But I wouldn’t if you weren’t here.”

A few deep chuckles break out from my chest as we reach the edge of the clearing. Kaleb’s already over unlocking the shed, and I motion to where the other boys are all gathered, chatting and fucking around with each other.

“I’m sure you’d be just fine. Now, go hang out with your friends. I’ve gotta help Kaleb anyway.”

After a lot of hiking over the past few days, we’ve decided to do something a little more relaxing post-lunch: spending the day out at Glass Lake. The kids are thrilled with the change of pace as we break out the paddleboards and kayaks, letting them choose whichever their preference is.

No canoes, though. Thank God, because I don’t think I’d survive a repeat of that particular incident…even if I’d love nothing more than to get Kaleb dripping wet again. Especially when I know just how good those swim trunks look hanging low off his hips when they’re saturated with water.

One by one, we get the kids fitted into life vests and launched off the dock in their watercraft of choice. Only the twins are left now, and I easily get Dayton situated on his paddleboard before giving him a proper send off into the water. However, when I turn around, it seems Kaleb is having slightly less success with Colton.

Colton’s straddling the edge of his kayak, one foot in the watercraft while the other is still on the dock, and his legs are damn near shaking while he reaches for his paddle resting on the seat.

Kaleb’s holding the edge of the kayak against the dock and notices his brother struggling. “Here, let me grab the paddle while you—”

“I can do it myself, Kaleb. I don’t want your help,” he snaps, glaring at his older brother.

The kid haphazardly climbs the rest of the way into the kayak, somehow managing not to fall in or tip it in the process.

Kaleb winces but releases the kayak once his brother is sitting safely in the seat and then rises to stand beside me.

Colton glances at me warily before moving his gaze to Kaleb. Distrust is written all over his face when he looks at his brother, lingering there before he inevitably paddles far away from shore.

While Colin may have insinuated that a ton of the kids love me during our meeting earlier this week,one thing remains evident: Colton LaMothe is not in that category. What’s not so clear is whyKalebseems to be on the receiving end of his brother’s ire.

From what I’ve noticed since arriving at camp, Kaleb might be Colton’s favorite person on this planet. All three of the brothers are close, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something different about Colton and Kaleb’s relationship. So while it’s not really any of my business, I can’t stop the question from slipping out as we watch them all from the dock.

“What’s been up with Cole the past couple days?”

Kaleb’s gaze is fixated on his brother, who is currently using the kayak paddle as an extension of his arm to push Dayton off his paddle board. An attempt that becomes successful moments later, with the help of Max and Jordan, when Dayton goes crashing into the water.

I chuckle softly at the antics, but Kaleb doesn’t so much as crack a smile. An unreadable emotion flashes in his eyes when he looks back at me, and I wouldn’t have to read his mind to knowsomethingis up.

“Maybe he’s just realizing that having his big brother around all summer isn’t as great as he thought it would be.”

It doesn’t feel like the entire truth, but I don’t press him on it. Instead, I slowly reach over and let my fingers graze his; afeatherlight caress that has goose bumps popping up over his arms. It’s meant to be more of a sweet gesture than anything, but the second my skin connects with his, an electric current sparks between us.

From the way his eyes flare when he looks at me, he feels it too.

“I guess his loss is my gain.”

His brow arches imperceptibly before he murmurs a gruff, “Is it now?”

I nod, swallowing hard as our gazes stay locked together.

The urge to haul him against my chest and kiss the daylights out of him is damn near overwhelming, and I have to pull my hand away before I do just that. Kaleb’s gaze breaks first, moving back to the kids for a brief second.

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