Page 15 of Kiss and Tell
“Looks like she got more booze,” I whispered to Sawyer.
“Legendary,” he said, but he didn’t sound impressed. There were a handful of counselors who were legally old enough to drink, but it was against camp rules. They did it anyway, and always offered it to the rest of us, but most of us never took them up on it. I didn’t have any practice holding my liquor, and the last thing I wanted to do was get sent home by Director Warren for being too blitzed to do my job. Plus, dealing with nine-year-olds in the heat all day while nursing a hangover sounded brutal.
“Guys, I have an announcement,” Brinley said, her S sounds slightly squishy.
“She found the lake monster,” I guessed in a low voice.
Sawyer shook his head. “She’s changing her name to Jackie Daniels because she loves it so much she wants to marry it.”
That made me laugh, and Brinley squinted in our direction, but the campfire flames seemed to confuse her, and she weaved a tiny bit. “We’re playing a game,” she said.
“Great.” That was Ben. He didn’t mean it.
Natalie shushed him. “Give her a second. Could be fun.” Raising her voice she asked, “What game, Brinley?”
“Truth or Dare,” Brinley announced triumphantly.
This met with groans around the circle.
“Guys?” Brinley’s voice wavered like we were about to deal with impending tears. “We’re all going to be adults in the real world soon—”
“Or in rehab,” Sawyer muttered. I nudged his knee with mine to shut him up and regretted it when the hair on his leg tickled my bare skin.
“—and we won’t have many chances like this to just be goofy.”
“You’re right,” Natalie said, always encouraging. “I’m down for Truth or Dare.”
This time, there was a softer grumble, but no one flatly rejected the idea.
“I’ll start,” Brinley said, her voice happy again. “Merrilee, truth or dare?”
I was almost positive I heard Merrilee sigh before she said, “Truth.”
Brinley pouted for a second, then brightened. “How many times have you made out at Moon Rock?”
“Counting as a camper too?” Merrilee asked, and everyone laughed. “Seven.”
“Wow,” Natalie said to us beneath the noise of the crackling fire. “Go, Merrilee. I didn’t know she had it in her.”
I squinted at her through the flames, and a small smile played on her plain face.Get it, Merrilee.
Merrilee challenged the next counselor, and the next four rounds were more truths. The only half-interesting one came when Deandre Wilson revealed he’d caught the director and Nurse Debbie skinny-dipping one night and hid their clothes before running away.
“I’m glad I didn’t see that.” I rubbed my eyes, trying to banish even imagining the pale, pale scene.
Ben chose truth, which elicited boos and another pout from Brinley, but he didn’t back down.
“Fine,” Deandre said. “Tell us what’s up with you and Natalie.”
Another softball question, but instead of answering, Ben looked over at Natalie and laced his fingers through hers.
“I’m going to need a minute to consult.” He pulled her to her feet, keeping a firm grip on her hand amid catcalls from the circle.
They vanished beyond the reach of the campfire light, and Sawyer and I exchanged glances.
“What’s that about?” he asked.
I had no idea. A couple of minutes passed, then a couple more before they reappeared, this time Natalie tucked tightly against Ben’s side.
