Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Piper

It's hot for fall but not nearly as hot as summer was. It's a good temperature for the campers. They can get one more swim in the lake, and one more night to pleasantly sit around the campfire stargazing together. This is a camp for kids who are on fall break. And I love it here. They do summer camps too, but I missed the deadline to be part of that this year. Hopefully next year I won't miss out on all the summer fun.

I love camp so much because I didn't have that growing up. I barely had food to eat most days. Camp was not even on the radar and if I had said anything about wanting to go, my mom would have had a shitfit. I would have been told how ungrateful I was, how spoiled, and how self-centered it was to want to leave your family so you could party it up with other kids while your family suffered at home. No, best to suffer with them and stop being childish. After which she would light another cigarette and bring her latest flavor of the month another beer. She could have sent ten kids to camp with the money she blew through. Believe me, the irony was not lost on me.

"Hi, Piper?" The woman who comes out to meet me is about the same height as me…which is short. But the smile she is rocking is so warm it's impossible not to give her one of my own.

"Yeah, that's me."

"I'm Annabelle. But the campers call me Annie. The owner chose me to show you around and it will be my pleasure."

I can already tell we're going to be good friends.

"Let me show you where you can put your things first."

"That'll be great. Thank you."

After she shows me where I'll be laying my head for the next week and a half, she takes me around and introduces me to all the other counselors. Most of them are nice. One of them is a little…too nice. I don't trust males very easily, especially the ones with easy smiles and wandering eyes. My mom was always hooking up -and getting left- by those kinds of men. I learned quickly most men want what I'm not willing to give them.

I make a mental note to stay away from him if I can and focus on the others.

"The only one you haven't met is our fearless leader and owner of the camp, Merrik. He should be back sometime later tonight, and tomorrow the kids will be here."

"That sounds great. Thank you so much for showing me around. Am I the last counselor to come or will more be coming?"

"Not for this fall, but we hire more in the summer because we have more kids. I saw on your sheet that you already signed up for summer so now you'll know where everything is, and you won't have to go through the three-day training session we put our newbies through."

One of the other counselors comes up and throws his arm over Annie, "Hey, how about we go for a swim before we have to figure out dinner? Introduce the new girl to our lake."

"I can't, but feel free to take a swim, Larry. I'm sure the two of you won't be the only ones interested."

"You want to come with me to ask everyone else? I promise," he gets a little closer, "I'm not super creepy like Doyle. He even creeps me out a little bit."

I can't help but give him a smile as he throws his arm around me like he did Annie. I don't get the same icky feeling I get from the other guy, Doyle, with Larry. Something about his easy manner and quick smile puts me at ease. It doesn't hurt that his eyes get all hot and steamy when he looks over at Annie.

Our eyes meet and he sighs and rolls his eyes, not at me. I think the eye roll is more for himself. "I know what you're thinking. I'm pathetic, chasing after a woman that is several levels out of my league but, what can I say…I've loved her from the moment I met her."

"That's not pathetic. That's sweet. I wish I had someone like you who is sweet and kind and looks at me with hearts in his eyes."

"Stick around Dire County long enough and you just might get your wish, Piper. This town is crazy big on romance. It must be something in the water."

We quickly get a group together and make our way to the lake. I make sure to hang out with Larry and some of the others to keep Doyle a good arm's length away. Larry must realize it because he never lets him come too close.

I'm having a wonderful time when Larry cries out, "Look, everyone! Our fearless leader has returned!"

I look up at where Annie and a man who appears huge even from a distance is standing. I've never seen a man as…massive. A thrill goes through me at the sheer thought of his eyes being on me. Then I scold myself. The last thing I need is to be lovesick over someone like Larry. And as close as he and Annie are standing together it would seem like me and Larry would have more in common than I am comfortable with.

I spare one more look at the tall man and push the need to see him better -up closer- out of my head and turn back to the others. I don't have time for a man, especially one that large.