Page 14 of Until Next Summer

“You don’t think I’m fun?”

Aaron inhales a quick breath. “Being serious isn’t a bad thing. It’s a great quality for a wife.”

Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Awife? Is this your idea of a proposal?”

“I’m not proposing—not yet, anyway.”

“Good,” I say, folding my arms. “Because a proposal requires at least a little romance.”

And it shouldn’t involve sleeping with other people, I add silently.

“Noted,” Aaron says, and the sincerity in his voice astounds me. “But, Hill, you should know I’m planning to spend the rest of my life with you. That’s why it makes sense to take a break this summer. A lifelong commitment is a big deal, and I think we should both bereallyready. You know?”

He says all this like it’s perfectly reasonable, like I should be flattered. Instead, I’m…I don’t know what this feeling is. It’s like someone dropped a bomb on the path that was so clearly laid out ahead of me, and I’m not sure whether I should find a detour and keep going, or turn back.

“And you think after this summer you’ll bereallyready?” There’s an edge to my voice that he either doesn’t pick up on or chooses to ignore.

“Absolutely. We’re both turning thirty soon. It’s the perfect time to have one last summer of freedom before we officially step into adulthood.”

I sit silently for a while, trying to process this seismic shift. On the one hand, he’s not wrong. If we’re going to settle down together, it’s smart to be sure. But something about hissuggestion doesn’t feel right. Maybe because I’m not very fun, like Aaron said. I’m a boring monogamist.

“Listen,” I say, standing up. “I’ve got an early flight. I think you should go.”

“So…we’re good?” Aaron asks.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I need to think about it.”

He nods, slipping his hands in his back pockets. “Until then…”

“Until then, we’re on a break. Do whatever you need to do.”

A smile lights up Aaron’s face until he remembers himself and tamps down his excitement. He gives me a quick kiss goodbye and heads off into the night, eager to get a start on all the adventures waiting for him and his completely average penis.

As soon as the door closes behind him, I sit back on the love seat, wishing I had a girlfriend I could call. Someone to ask advice about what I should do—now, and in two months when camp is over. What I should doatcamp. Probably nothing? Like Aaron said, I’m not the type to have hot, meaningless sex with strangers.

But that’s okay. The relationship I need to focus on this summer is a platonic one.

One more sleep until I’m reunited with my best friend.

six

Jessie

After months of prep work, we’re one week away from the start of adult summer camp. Today, my summer staff arrives. Nathaniel and Lola always said that training week was the most important week of the summer, that it sets the tone for the year.Iset the tone.

Here we go.

I’m wearing khaki shorts, hiking boots, a green polo shirt with the Camp Chickawah logo across the left breast, and my wide-brimmed sun hat. I’ve braided my hair in two French braids, sprayed myself with bug repellent, and slathered SPF 70 across all exposed areas of my body.

Sunscreen and DEET: the aroma of summer camp.

Years ago, one of my camp flings told me that I’d be a solid six out in the real world, but I’m a nine at camp. I doubt he meant it as a compliment, but I took it as one. All the qualities that make me a good match for camp life—my height, my strength, my Energizer Bunny personality—are “too much” in the real world. No one is impressed that I can heft three duffel bags in each arm, that my loud voice carries over a crowd, that I can stay up until two a.m. comforting ahomesick camper, then wake at dawn and work all day with a smile on my face.

But here? I was designed for this.

I head to the dining hall, a big log building with a green shingled roof. It’s one of the busiest buildings on the property, the site of three meals a day and other large group activities—plus, it’s next to my office and personal cabin.

As I heave open the door, I’m happy to see the lights on for the first time in months. Mr. Billy and his seasonal crew have been busy getting the wooden tables and benches in place. On the far end is the kitchen, its two big serving windows currently closed. I can hear the thump of bass coming from inside.

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