Page 79 of Camping with the Boss

He swallows, shaking his head in rapid little shakes. “Is that what you think? I didn’t get punished?”

I clasp my hands together. He knows my scars are there. I don’t need to hold them up. Rub it in his face. “Emotionally, yes?—”

“No. You still don’t get it.” He drags his hands over his face a few times. “I lost my parents, Wade—no, fuck, don’t interrupt. I need to get this out—they were my world. Barely a year later, I lost my uncle. You were the only thing I had left.” His hands tremble as he presses his palms against his eyes and takes several deep breaths. Then his eyes, shining with unshed tears, find mine and he holds my gaze. “You getting punished for everythingwasmy punishment. I have every scar you have, Wade. Mine just aren’t visible.”.”

Chapter Nineteen

Canyon

Friday, June 13th, 11:30 a.m.

The rest of the day goes by too fast. And not fast enough. I eat lunch with Jared and Ander. They’re no longer fighting, but they aren’t talking either. Ander picks at his lunch while Jared gives him worried looks.

Wade sits by himself, and it’s as if the last few days haven’t happened. As if nothing has changed. But it has. He’s not the bosshole I thought he was.

But the evidence of change is there if you’re looking for it. Carol interrupts his lunch, showing him something on her phone that I suspect is a picture of the fish she caught this morning. She showed it to me earlier. She’s animated and so unlike the person unable to talk around him. Sheila stops by his table to give him what looks like a list. Healthy snacks to add to the breakroom?

I catch Wade looking over but not at me. He gives Ander a worried look, and then our eyes catch. He sucks in a breath but doesn’t look away. Can we fix this thing between us? Does he want that?

Al says something to him, and the spell is broken. I press my hand against my chest, ready to be done with this. Needing to know if we have a chance.

After lunch, everyone packs up their stuff. Wade hangs back, shuffling the papers he brought with him and gathering supplies. Is he doing that for me? Giving me a chance to pack my things?

I try not to dawdle as I pack. The memories are too fresh. Too intense. My life has changed completely. But has it really? My time with Darian Enterprises will end after I leave here. I could slip back into my old life like this adventure never happened. No, my life hasn’t changed much at all.

But I have changed. And tonight is my chance to prove it.

Friday, June 13th, 4:00 p.m.

Excited chatter fills the dining hall as everyone piles food on their plates. The final camp meal consists of light finger foods. Easy cleanup to get everyone on the road and home faster. Even Sheila is happy with her plate of vegetables and fruit. I grabbed a cherry pie when I was in Plevna. It’s not homemade, but Lydia seems happy with store-bought pie.

Meredith is not sitting alone. Two men and a woman are also with her. I’ve never seen them before, but their nice clothes—too nice for camp—and snooty attitudes suggest they might be board members. My hand tightens around my fork at the audacity of this woman. Earlier, Wade and Ander had, at different times, stopped by the table and shaken their hands.

I search the room for my brother and find him at the dessert table with Jet. They’re both laughing, and Jet places his hand on River’s forearm. It probably means nothing, but the smile on my brother’s face and the way they stand close together tell me something different.Jet and River are together. And quick after that,Jet was in contact with River the entire time. That’s how River knew about Wade and me.

It doesn’t change anything. I have to do this. And thankfully, River agreed. The consequences of it going wrong are steep. He could get fired. My employment will be up, but they could decide not to pay me. I’d have no way to fight it. With no jobs and no money, River and I could lose everything. The car. The house.

The fear is still there, twisting in my gut, but I can’t let it win. This is the right thing to do. Our only choice. After the telephone game, I knew exactly who to talk to. It didn’t take much for them to crack.

Meredith stands and my stomach decides it no longer wants the muffin I just ate. I shut my eyes and swallow the bile in my throat.

“Thank you all for being here today,” she begins, a bright smile on her face.

There are a few murmurs as the campers look at each other. They’ve been here all week and didn’t have much of a choice.

But her comment isn’t for them. It’s for the other board members.

“As you know, I arranged this retreat to encourage inclusion and diversity in our company. I appreciate all of you.”

Wade stiffens, a frown on his face confirming my suspicions. She just took credit for his idea.

“That fucking bitch,” Ander whispers harshly.

Meredith goes on for a bit, highlighting her good work without thanking anyone else, and I tune her out. I have everything I need. Is River ready for this? Will Wade be thankfulor pissed that we didn’t come to him? But my plan is to draw the attention away from him.

“Canyon?” Jared asks in a quiet voice. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “I’m good.”

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