Page 69 of Camping with the Boss

The room is quiet as I slip out of bed and stretch my back. I sneak a look at Canyon, expecting him to still be sleeping, but the bed is empty.

My stomach drops.Did he leave?

Was this how he felt the other day? Like the world is ending?

Christ. What is wrong with me? Ander is usually the dramatic one.

He’s probably at the lake. The tightness in my chest eases a bit. He promised to help Carol fish.

As I get ready for the day, I wonder how Canyon is doing. He didn’t seem as angry after I told him about Tim. More resolved. His conclusions aren’t wrong. And that’s what hurts the most.

There’s no sign of Jared or Ander in the main area of the cabin. They’re probably still asleep. It’s early and the soundmachine didn’t turn off until late. Did they have that on last night so they wouldn’t hear us? Or to mask what they were doing? I push those thoughts away. I have enough to worry about.

My body feels heavy as I retrace the steps Canyon and I took each morning as we traveled from the cabin to the dining hall. The sky is awash with color. Reds and oranges and yellows as the sun peeks over the lake. Birds sing, promising a beautiful day, but I don’t believe them. A squirrel scampers by and stops at the base of an oak tree. He stands perfectly still, his beady eyes on me, mocking me as he plans my demise. I stumble and catch myself and then dart a glance at the squirrel. He’s gone, and it’s not comforting at all.

The lake is still as if waiting for the day to begin.

Click. Whiz. Plop.

Carol. She pulls the line tight and sits in a blue camping chair, holding her fishing pole in her hands. I step through the grass, avoiding the muddy spots as I search for Canyon. No sign of him.Shit.I slip—the grass is wet with morning dew—and barely catch myself before finally reaching her fishing spot.

“Are the fish biting?” I’m not sure what else to ask. I hold back my burning questions about Canyon. Her gaze doesn’t waver as she stares at the bobber gently floating on the water.

“Eh,” she says, waving a hand from side to side in a so-so gesture. She holds the pole with both hands again and ignores me.

“I see Canyon got you all set up.”

She looks at me. Her eyes narrow as if she’s trying to figure me out. “No. River got me set up.”

“Oh. Okay.” I nod. Not sure why I’m disappointed.

Carol’s focus is completely on me now. Yelling at her to watch her fishing line instead wouldn’t be helpful. “But he was here.”

“River?” Which makes no sense because she already said that.

“No. I mean, yes, River was here. But I meant Canyon. He tried to help me, but then he freaked out and River showed up.”

Was he upset because of me? Her eyes are still on me. As beady as that squirrel. I watch the water instead. It doesn’t judge— Oh God. It’s the water. Didn’t his parents drown?

“I like Canyon.”

My gaze returns to Carol, and I blink at her words. “I’m…glad.”

She huffs. “I’m saying don’t mess this up, boss.”

My heart pounds so loud I can’t think. “What?”

“I like River too. But Canyon’s a little nicer.” Her gaze darts to the bobber, still gently moving, and back to me. “Can we keep them both?”

I sag in relief. She’s talking about work, not Canyon and me. Thank God.

“Unless there’s a reason he might not want to work for you. He seemed upset this morning.”

“Did he?” I try to keep the frustration and worry off my face.

“All I’m saying is, if you did something, you need to fix it.”

“Oh hey!” I point to her bobber, now dipping wildly up and down in the water.

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