Page 98 of Class Clown

“They took me by surprise.”

“When? What changed?”

I shrugged, feeling helpless and terribly guilty. “I don’t know. It came on so slowly. He started doing little kind things for me, and talking to me more, and I guess I got to know him for the first time.”

Her shoulders slumped. “The worst part is that if you’d told me, told us, we’d have been cool with it. It’s sort of romantic, your brother’s best friend, your surprise summer roommate.”

“Perfect romance novel stuff,” I agreed sadly.

“I knew a long time ago I didn’t have a shot with him. He’s polite, but standoffish, and I got the message. But it was still fun to be silly and daydream a little. Now I’m embarrassed about the things I said in front of you.”

I lightly rested a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be, please. I was never making fun of you or Gina behind your back.” Was I? Now I couldn’t remember exactly, and worried that I had maybe been unkind in my thoughts. I’d definitely been unkind in some of my actions.

“I can see it, you know? You and Nico. He watches you a lot.”

I released my hold on her. “I’m so sorry, Kristy. I didn’t say anything because it recently happened and I was selfishly keeping it for myself. Plus, we’re not supposed to date coworkers, and I didn’t want to cause a stir, or any issues, when camp is almost over.”

She laughed, but it wasn’t amused. “Everyone dates everyone all summer long. That’s not a real rule.”

I licked my lips. “I haven’t even told my friends.”

“The Thornbacks?”

I grinned. “So, I’ve talked about them?”

She managed a small smile. “Only all the time. They’re the sisters you chose.”

“Yeah. And they don’t know about Nico.”

“But the two that were here for a few days, they have to know.”

I shrugged. “They told me I should date him, but I was still trying to figure it out when they left. None of them know we’ve decided to give it a shot.”

She sniffed, and I was grateful to see her body relax slightly. “Why not?”

I sat on one of the waiting chairs and was gratified when she took a seat too. “I’ve been so frivolous in my dating life and I think Nico might be for real. I’m terrified to speak it out loud and make it puff away. No one has ever treated me how he does, and it feels magical and precious, and I’m hoarding it all away in a secret place. Protected from the real world.”

She thought silently for a moment and I didn’t interrupt her, although my insides were churning. As a highly social person, I hated it when I felt like someone was upset with me. Being in good standing with the people in my life was really important to me.

After probably two minutes, which felt like at least sixty-three hours, she leaned back and crossed her arms.

“Alright, I don’t care that you and Nico are together because you didn’t steal him from anyone or whatever. What I do care about is that you hid it, lied to me, and made me and Gina think that you had no interest in him.”

“That’s fair.”

“I’m going to try to get over this fast, but I’m going to tell Gina and you shouldn’t be surprised if we don’t eat with you for a while.”

I swallowed hard. “I deserve that, and understand.” Man, this hurt.

She stood with a nod. “Okay. Anything else you want to tell me?”

I had pocketed my phone and pulled it out to show her. “Quinn found his, or maybe her, person.”

She looked at the screen and nodded. “Glad to hear it.” She moved back into the exam room and I stood to follow as she said, “We have a patient to check on.”

By the time dinner rolled around that night, camp was abuzz with news of me and Nico and our clandestine summer affair. It had been blown so totally out of proportion that some whispers had us secretly engaged before camp had even started.

I managed to roll my eyes at the gossip, but my heart hurt over the rejection I had to endure from many of the young women at camp who’d been cheering Gina and Kristy on. They felt betrayed too. I understood. I was the Trojan Horse of Camp Windsong.

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