Page 59 of Camping with the Boss

“What’s true?” I ask, but River ignores me and glares at Wade.

“What are you paying my brother to do, exactly?”

I gasp. What the fuck? My initial outrage changes to dread. He knows about us.

“Careful, River,” Wade says in a dangerous voice. “I’m still your boss.”

He scoffs, waving his hands at me. “You think my job is more important than my brother?”

Oh hell. This is getting out of hand. “Hold on. I’m an adult?—”

“You’ve known him for three days.” River holds up his fingers as if emphasizing his point and stares at me like he doesn’t recognize me. Fair. I don’t recognize myself. But that’s not a bad thing. He turns to Wade. “Does he know?”

I look between them. “Know what?”

Wade glances away. “We need to get out there. The team is waiting.”

“You’re something else. This isn’t the first time, Canyon.”

“What do you mean?” My body tingles uncomfortably. A pit opens in my stomach. I shake my head, rejecting my body’s assumption. “What is he talking about, Wade?”

The muscle in his jaw ticks, but his eyes are locked on River. “Don’t do this.”

They stare at each other, and I want to break them apart or knock their heads together. River points back at me. “Tell him, or I will.”

I grab Wade’s arm. “Tell me what, Wade?”

“I…can’t.” He shakes his head. “I’m not being evasive. I can’t legally talk about it.” His eyes plead with me to understand. “Butit’s not the same thing, Can.” He reaches up to touch my face, but I push his hand away.

My eyes feel gummy and my chest aches. I’m seconds away from breaking down. “Tell me, River.” I don’t want to hear it. I’m not ready. Yet it’s not entirely a surprise. Good things never last.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” Uncertainty flashes in my brother’s eyes, and I clasp my hands to keep from shaking him. “This is what he does, Can. I didn’t believe it at first. Didn’t want to believe it. But now…” He swallows, but then his face hardens. “You’re not the first employee he’s slept with. Not the first to call him— Fuck, I can’t even say it. You’re my brother.”

“No, that’s not— Can, please,” Wade says, but I shake my head. This can’t be happening.

“He’s going to get bored and drop you too, Can. You’re not his first, And you won’t be his last.”

“Stop it,” Wade says to River. Then he turns to me. “It’s not true. Not all of it anyway.”

But some of it is. Pain slices into me. Down the center. Cutting me in half. I press my hand against my chest, desperately holding the pieces together.

“Can, sweetheart…” His words are filled with anguish, but I can’t focus on that.

I rush out the door—falling into that pit of pain and grief.

The darkness is familiar.

Endless.

Clasping a hand over my mouth, I rush past the people in the dining hall and escape through the main door. The humid air smacks against me, stopping my progress. I turn and vomit into a bed of vibrant daylilies.

Chapter Fourteen

Wade

Thursday, June 12th, 9:45 a.m.

I stare at the green door, too stunned to move. The hurt on Canyon’s face plays on repeat. Pressing my thumb against my hand, I take a breath. He wouldn’t leave, right? I can still fix this.

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