Page 65 of Class Clown

“Oh, that’s definitely it. I’ve known for years and been sworn to secrecy. I’m relieved, honestly, that it’s out in the open.” Cole chuckled.

“Don’t you need to roast another marshmallow?” Nico retorted.

Speaking of marshmallows, I took the final bite of mine and chewed while Nico and I watched each other. He didn’t say a word, and I wasn’t that surprised.

When I swallowed, I licked my fingers clean and said, “It’s really great that we could have this talk. I’m heading to bed. It’s been an interesting week, and an even more interesting night, and I need sleep.”

“I’ll walk you back,” Nico said, without any hesitation.

I pointed to outside the firelight where Quinn was waiting. “I have an escort. The forest creatures will mind their manners.”

He shook his head. “It isn’t the forest creatures I’m thinking about.”

“Are you going to walk all the ladies home, then?”

He looked around the fire and frowned. “All the others are partnered up and use the buddy system.”

I playfully opened my eyes wide. “Are you saying you’re my buddy now? We go everywhere together?”

His mouth pinched, but his eyes crinkled around the corners. “That’s not at all what’s happening.”

“I call dibs on the face mask. I’m oily.”

“Rubes,” he sighed on a laugh. “Are you ready to go back to the cabin?”

“I guess.”

“Can I walk you?”

“Yeah. But bring your singing voice because I expect you to serenade me. Do you know the songCan You Feel the Love Tonightfrom Lion King?”

“No.”

I patted his shoulder and gave it a tiny squeeze. “Is that because you were an angry child who was afraid of me and you couldn’t watch Disney movies without feeling empty inside?”

“I wasn’t born when Lion King was released.”

That nearly stopped me in my tracks, but then I remembered. “You weren’t born when the Beatles playedLet It Be.”

“True. But the chicks really go for that one.”

I laughed at his retort, and we headed away from the group toward our cabin. Our steps were slow as we walked side-by-side, the sounds of talking and laughter behind us growing dimmer.

As we shuffled along, I could feel a shift in him, and I waited to see if he’d say anything, but by the time we were climbing the back steps of Funky Bunks I gave up on patience.

“What’s on your mind, Nico?” I asked, turning to face him where he’d stopped on the gravel path, rather than following me up the steps.

“Why are you trying to matchmake me?” he asked.

“Originally it was because Kristy and Gina were crushing on you and I thought it would be fun to watch you squirm under their attention.”

“Oh.”

“Kind of like the world’s funniest episode of The Bachelor. Only it would be The Bachelor. That was when we first got here, though. I got over that and started to think that you’re not too bad, and maybe you’d be happy with some romance in your life. But now . . .”

He prodded. “Now?”

“Well, now I think you should just, I don’t know, choose one for yourself, I guess.”

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