Page 37 of Never Will I Ever

Never would I ever have thought I’d get anything from this experience, especially when my father laid out his hair-brained plan. But I feel like I’m making a tiny difference with Elijah, and that’s pretty much the only thing keeping me sane.

It’s not lost on me that the same advice could very well be applied to my situation with Kaleb, but that’s something I’m choosing to think about later. My issues aren’t something that can be solved as easily, but Elijah’s? His will be a lot simpler.

Everything is when you’re that young.

After another half an hour of hiking at the back of the pack with Elijah—all the while listening to him animatedly talk about the video game he’s dying to play once he goes home—we reach the area where we’re meant to set up camp for the night.

The second Kaleb catches sight of us bringing up the end of the pack, relief crosses his face, only to be quickly replaced by an impassive mask. The two of us did fall a little behind, taking our time on the way up, and it’s likely he thought we got lost along the way. Maybe even thought he’d have to come find us.

Though, at this rate, I’d be willing to bet my inheritance that he’d sooner leave me on this mountain to die of starvation than be the one to round up a search party.

“Set up camp, lunch, then group activities, right?” I ask, confirming the schedule I already memorized this morning. Honestly, I just want to see if he’ll acknowledge me, or better yet, maybe explain what his issue is.

But all I get is an emotionlessyepin response before he walks right past me. Almost like I’m not even there. Little does he realize, it’ll be nearly impossible to pretend I don’t exist when we’re sleeping a foot apart in the same tent tonight.

Because, of course we are.

Because God fucking hates me.

A quick glance around reveals most of the groups, if not all, seem to have their tents handled, already working with each other to put the poles together and run them through the fabric. Even Elijah’s keeping his word, pulling out tent pieces and handing them off to Dayton. Or maybe that one is Colton?

Regardless, I have to admit, the kid is taking my challenge for him in stride, and it’s got me thinking…maybe I ought to do the same.

Attention flicking from each set of kids at various steps in the process, I determine it looks easy enough. If anything, I’ll give it the good ol’ college try and hope it somehow earns me brownie points with my infuriating co-counselor.

I can’t believe I’m about to take the advice of a freaking tweenager.

Shoving down any lingering self-doubt, I head to where Kaleb’shiking pack is resting near the east side of our campsite. He usually packs the tents down at the bottom of the packs, so it takes me a minute of rummaging around some of the food and other supplies we’d brought up for the night before I find it.

That’s when Kaleb turns, catching me red-handed with my hands in his backpack.

Eyes widening slightly, he closes the few yards between us and snatches his bag out of my hand. “What are you doing?”

“I was gonna set up the tent,” I tell him matter-of-factly. Rising to my full height, I look him dead in the eye and force my tone to remain calm and even when I ask, “Is that all right?”

“Considering you’ve probably never put a tent together in your life and I can do it in my sleep, I think I’ll pass.”

He moves to walk away, backpack and tent in tow, but my hand wraps around his wrist before he’s out of arm’s reach. I ignore the way his skin seems to crackle with electricity beneath my touch, instead focusing on the blazing green eyes currently pinning me with a death glare.

“Let go of me,” he says in a deadly whisper.

I don’t let go. Because fuck him if he thinks I’m gonna take this shit lying down.

“Do you really have to be this much of a dick?” I snap.

A sharp scoff fills the already charged air between us. “I’m the one being a dick? You clearly didn’t look in the mirror this morning if you honestly think that’s the case.”

“I haven’t done anything to you, LaMothe, and you damn well know that. But you, on the other hand? You’ve had it out for me since the moment you saw me sitting in Colin’s office the very first day.”

He rolls his eyes. “That’s not—”

“Really? So you weren’t trying to get me fired just this morning?”

Kaleb goes as still as a statue with a complexion to match;stone cold and marble white. A poker face if I’ve ever seen one. But it’s his eyes that give him away—the slightest flicker of worry in them—confirming I’ve hit the nail on the head.

“That’s what I thought.” Grinding my teeth together, I release his wrist before I do something stupid. God knows touching him has led to some pretty stupid choices recently. I do step in closer, though, lowering my voice enough so any of the kids nearby won’t hear. “I can’t show you that I belong here if you won’t let me. And after this morning, I’d say you owe me this chance.”

He holds my gaze for what feels like a lifetime, nostrils flared in opposition.But rather than fighting me on it, he relents and holds the backpack out to me.

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