Page 66 of Camping with the Boss

“I know, dear.” She turns to me. “Is it my turn?”

I nod and wave my hand for her to continue.

“Never did I ever mean to hurt anyone.”

Al scoffs like it’s a stupid thing to say, and Lydia smacks his arm. Sheila stares into the fire. Her thin shoulders slump as she wrings her hands.

“Sheila?” Wade asks, “What’s wrong?”

She sighs, dapping her eyes with a handkerchief. “I’m the one taking the desserts from the breakroom refrigerator.”

There’s murmuring as everyone reacts, but Vivian is the loudest. “But you didn’t drink,” she says as if that’s the important part.

Sheila scowls. “You specifically said eat. I didn’t eat them.”

Lydia looks horrified by that thought.

“What did you do with them?” Wade asks.

Sheila sniffs and dabs her eyes again. “My Bernard was a lovely man. But he loved his sweets, and in the end, that’s what killed him. Diabetes, heart disease, all of it. I just didn’t want that happening to any of you.” Another sigh. “So I replaced your sweets with healthy snacks. I really didn’t think anyone would care this much.”

“Sweets are sacred,” Vivian says.

“Exactly,” Lydia says.

And for the first time during this entire retreat, they finally agreed on something. Score a point for River.

Thursday, June 12th, 10:00 p.m.

My stomach feels weird after the game, like it knows something I don’t. But it doesn’t click until people start going back to their cabins.

Where am I going to sleep?

“I’m going to the cabin. Are you joining me?” River asks.

“Um…no.”

“Why not?”

What can I say? I had a panic attack the last time I was there. I don’t want to be in the same cabin with Al and Owen?

Why didn’t I think of this earlier? Maybe I can stay in the bigger room with Ander and Jared. There are plenty of bunk beds. I go into the room I’ve shared with Wade to get my stuff. I’m stuffing my clothes in the bag when he walks in.

“Can…”

I shake my head. I’m not ready to talk to him.

“Listen, I can sleep somewhere else.”

“No. It’s fine. I’ll stay in the other room with Jared and Ander.”

He nods with a sad look in his eyes.

But when I open the door to the bigger room, Jared and Ander jump apart and Ander turns to face away from me.

“Hey, Can,” Jared says, darting a glance at Ander. “What’s up?” Then his eyes widen and his gaze goes to the wall that separates the two rooms.

“I… Nothing.” My smile feels forced, but it’s all I’ve got.

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