Page 96 of Class Clown

For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to share. I wanted to hoard away every time our eyes caught across a cafeteria, or fire pit, or the craft table, or wherever we happened to be. Each time we passed and he let his arm slip sideways just enough for our hands to touch, it was for me alone. I didn’t text my friends, or tell Kristy, or do anything to give away what was brewing between us, and I loved it.

We did tell Cole, which sort of dampened the experience because for nearly every secret smile Nico sent my way, Cole did the same. However, he was our boss, and my brother, and our roommate, and while the rest of camp needed to be kept in the dark, Cole deserved the truth.

As predicted, Cole acted like he’d come up with the entire situation himself, and was a proud papa bear, watching us benevolently behind knowing eyes. It was ridiculous, but he had been good to allow us some privacy in the evenings by not following us out onto the porch.

A week or so later, I was summoned to my brother’s office in the lodge and met the request with raised eyebrows and deep curiosity. Cole hadn’t summoned me all summer. In fact, I hadn’t seen a lot of him as we’d been busy with very different responsibilities. Could be good news, could be bad, but I’d never know until I got there.

I snagged my phone off the desk in the health center, figuring I’d bring it along and sneak a quick text in to my friend group while I had WiFi access. I may be keeping a little secret, but it didn’t mean I was avoiding them altogether.

Cole was sitting in his chair, his back to his desk and the door, looking out the window when I knocked on the door frame. His dark hair was mussed, and his shirt today was some awful shade of orange that bordered on abuse, but when he turned with a grin, his happiness had me beaming back at him.

“You have to see this,” he said without a greeting, and spun in his chair, beckoning me forward. He held his phone in his hand and turned the screen to face me. “Quinn is a people porcupine, and he’s adopted one of the rangers as his new person.”

On the screen was a picture of a male park ranger walking down a path, with a porcupine waddling after him. Under the picture it said, “Quinn has a new best friend.”

I snatched the phone and held it closer, using my fingers to zoom in. The ranger had a smile on his face, and Quinn looked even pudgier than he had while stalking me. I couldn’t believe how happy it made me that he was chasing someone new.

“This is adorable,” I smiled. “I love that he sent this.”

“I thought it would be good for you to see that he’s fine.”

I nodded, and used his phone to send the picture to mine. When the notification ding came through, I handed him back his phone and hurried to send the pic to my friends.

Me: Quinn is thriving with a new man.

I bit my lip, thanked Cole, and flew down the hall and out the front door of the lodge. I had to show Nico. He’d been there when I’d cried over Quinn, comparing myself to the lonely little porker, and now Quinn had a happy new life with someone who liked having him around. The parallels were undeniable. The problem hadn’t been me, it had been finding the right partner.

Plus, I wanted to share all my things with Nico now.

I spotted him at the tent pole in the big open area near the lodge, preparing for tonight’s final flag ceremony and skits. He had on his usual quick-dri shorts and a t-shirt that fitted him in a way I could truly appreciate. His ball cap shaded his eyes, but I knew they’d be warm and welcoming when he caught sight of me.

He was alone, so I didn’t tamp down my enthusiasm like I would have in front of other people. I jogged closer and when he heard my footsteps pounding down the trail he straightened and took a few quick steps in my direction, concern evident on his handsome face.

To be fair, me jogging was a definite signal that something was up.

“Look at this!” I called before I’d come to a full stop.

I shoved my phone in his face, making him take a few steps backward before he found his footing. He took my phone in his hand, but I didn’t stop until my palms were pressed up against his chest. He steadied me with his free hand on my waist, and I nudged my face into his space so that we were both looking at the screen.

“Quinn has a new man in his, or her, life,” I sighed happily. “It wasn’t me or Quinn who were the problem. It was us together. We weren’t a good fit. But, look at how happy that ranger is to have a little shadow. The universe has righted everything.”

His smile tugged at his mouth. “This is great, Bee.”

“I know.” I looked up at him, pressing a light kiss to his jaw. “The right person is the key.”

He squeezed my waist and nodded, understanding that I wasn’t only talking about the critter. “That’s true.”

He looked down at me and his expression gentled and opened in the way I’d come to realize was for me alone. He was so aloof with others, and I ate it up, having this secret warm side of Nico all to myself.

“I’m glad you came to tell me.”

I nodded rapidly, our eyes met, his head dipped closer, and then a gasp had us pulling apart.

Kristy stood several feet away, her eyes large, her face pale. “Oh my gosh,” she hissed. Then, she spun on her heel and ran back to the health cabin.

I stepped back from Nico and bit my lip as he handed me my phone. “Well, that spells trouble.” I watched her hustle away. “I’m going to have to talk with her, and that sucks because I’ve been lying to her for a while.”

He tucked his hands in his pockets and nodded. “Want me to come with you to talk to her?”

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