Page 33 of Camping with the Boss

Am I looking for suspicious behavior? Do I seriously think someone on my team is out to get me? The Tim thing was bizarre but nothing more. The guy was manipulative and a terrible employee. But there was something…all the documentation disappearing. And Meredith knowing things, but she always seems to know things. Is my brother the reason for that?

Now I’m not so sure.

Canyon knocks his shoulder against mine. “Hey there.”

“Hey.” I smile and get caught up in how much the sunshine loves him. Turning his hair golden. His eyes liquid jade. His cheeks pink.

He laughs. “Stop staring.” Okay. Maybe the sunshine isn’t responsible for all the color in his cheeks. “Jared’s been trying to get your attention.”

“Has he?” I ask, not taking my eyes off him.

“Oh my God.” He turns away, but he’s still smiling. This happiness feels foreign. No. That’s not right. There’s a familiarity to it. One I haven’t felt in a while.

I watch the game. Jared glances at me every time he gets someone out. It’s a challenge. He wants me in the game so he can beat me. His gaze also strays to Ander quite often. But that might be because Ander is also getting a lot of people out. He’s Jared’s competition.

Ander kicks the ball at Jared, and Jared tries to move out of the way but isn’t fast enough. My brother throws his hands in the air. “Yes. Take that, Jared. I win!”

“No one likes a gloater.”

“You can’t take this away from me, Jared. I beat you!”

My brother laughs as the other guys—all except for Jared—congratulate him. He’s been smiling more than I’ve seen in a while. This retreat is good for everyone. How did that happen?

Canyon runs another activity in the afternoon, and it goes well. There are several heated discussions, but it’s mostly friendly banter. Everything is going well. It feels fragile.

I push those thoughts away. Al is pessimistic enough for all of us.

I’m just not used to things going well. And is this turnaround entirely due to Canyon?

Later that evening, we roast marshmallows over the campfire. “At Boy Scout camp, we used to tell ghost stories,” Canyon says. “Does anyone have a scary story to tell?”

We’re sitting close together but not too close. I study his face. “You were a Boy Scout?”

“Is it that hard to believe?”

Yes, but I’m not sure why? Was that before his parents died? Before the problems with his heart? There’s no good response, so I go for the joke. “You love—” being a brat. Nope. Can’t say that.“—breaking the rules.”

“Really?” Vivian asks, studying him. “I don’t see it.”

“Just something I’ve noticed.”

Canyon isn’t saying much. But his face is red. Probably from the fire.

We trade ghost stories for a while. When Al tells yet another story about his neighbor burning trash, Canyon leans closer. “Stop, Wade.” His eyes drop to my lips. “I’m trying to resist you.”

“Maybe stop trying?” The words slip out. But I wouldn’t take them back even if I could.

“I’m going to bed now. If you’re willing to put your money where your mouth is…or just put your mouth…wherever, don’t take too long.”

He says goodnight to everyone. I try to focus on what’s going on around me, but I can’t. I’m fucking hard for one thing, and I’m trying to talk myself out of making a huge mistake.

But I can’t. I want this too much. So, after an appropriate amount of time—who am I kidding. I have no idea how long it’s been—I wish everyone a good night.

“No worries, bro,” Ander says. “I’ll make sure the fire gets put out.”

Oh. Right. But I’m not taking his bait. “Thanks, bro.”

I use the small flashlight included with our bags to find my way back to our cabin. Hoping desperately that Canyon isn’t asleep.

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