“No, it really doesn’t. He probably only did that because he couldn’t find anyone else to take home,” she said spitefully as she laced up her shoes.
“That isn’t true, Jordyn. You know that. Steve loves you,” Dora argued. “We all see it.”
“I don’t think he knows what that word means,” Jordyn said, not looking at Dora because she didn’t want to cry again. “I don’t want to talk about this right now, okay? I have to go.”
“He loves you, and you know it!” Dora insisted, following Jordyn to the front door. “Stop being stupid and talk to him! You love him even though you won’t say it.”
“Look, I told him I loved him, and he didn’t have a damn thing to say. I wrote him that note, and he said nothing.” Jordyn whirled around to look at Dora and groaned immediately, regretting the swift movement. She held out her hands steadying herself and then took a deep breath before she continued on. “He said nothing. I’m done.” Turning much slower, she pulled open the door to leave, but Dora's voice stopped her.
“Jordyn...”
Closing her eyes, Jordyn tightened her grip on the doorknob before she spoke. “I thought he was different, but he’s not. You saw him last night. He’s fine without me, and now that I know what he’s doing without me, I can try and let him go.” Jordyn paused to look at her friend. “I know you mean the best, Dora. I do. But, I can’t. I have to go. The kids and Alex are waiting on me.” Then she turned and hurried to her car, grateful that she had packed her bag and already had it stored in her trunk. She just hoped that her hair didn’t smell too much like smoke. Without a second thought, she donned her sunglasses before she sped off to the church.
* * *
“You have an eventful night last night?”Alex’s chastising voice made Jordyn lift her head from the cool glass of the charter bus window she was leaning against. She held in the groan his presence brought up in her, and instead, only shrugged and pulled her hoodie around herself tighter. Of course he would be here to see her hungover and heartbroken when all she wanted to do was sleep.
Alex slid into the seat next to her and sniffed at her hair. “You smell like an ashtray, Jordyn,” he said, softly.
Jordyn grunted in reply and closed her eyes, desperately trying to ignore Alex. Just because she had agreed to hold up her end of the bargain by coming to the camp did not mean that she needed to talk to him.
“Here,” Alex said, holding out a travel size bottle of air freshener to her. Jordyn raised a skeptical eyebrow but sighed and took the bottle before she hastily sprayed it over herself and thrust it back at him.
“Thanks,” Jordyn said begrudgingly, patting her hair back down. She closed her eyes again before leaning her forehead back against the window. Maybe if she was quiet and still, he would finally take the hint and leave her alone.
“I’m still here for you, Jordyn,” Alex said, quietly, a hand coming down to rest on her knee. She opened her eyes and glared at where he was touching her. “I know things haven’t gone like you hoped with...Steve,” he said, and Jordyn’s eyes flew to him when she heard him say Steve’s name.
“How did you know about that?” Jordyn asked with narrowed eyes.
Alex removed his hand from her knee and crossed his arms with a shrug. “It’s really not that hard to know what’s going on with the more colorful citizens of the town, Jordyn. And Steve attracts more than his fair share of female attention. It’s no secret he’s single again.”
Jordyn’s back went stiff at Alex’s words and she looked away from him and out the window. “So you’re here to gloat, then? Is that it?”
“No, I’m not,” Alex said, settling back into his seat. He looked like he wasn’t going anywhere, a fact Jordyn hated. All she wanted was for this conversation to be over and for him to go back to whatever it was that he had to do while she nursed her hangover in peace. But, just like always, Alex didn’t seem to be inclined to give her any peace. “You genuinely care about him, don’t you?” he asked.
Her throat went tight at his question. Not because of the question itself, but because of the understanding she heard in it. He wasn’t here to gloat, he was actually asking her, and seemed concerned. Who was this man and what had he done with the shit head she’d broken up with?
She swallowed hard, and after another moment of consideration, decided to answer the question. “Yes. More than anyone,” she admitted.
“There’s no shame in it, then.” Alex shifted his gaze from her to look towards the front of the charter bus where a movie was playing for the youth group on the multiple screens throughout. “Don’t beat yourself up about it. We can talk if you want, and it’s not too late to come back.” Alex looked around the bus and nodded to the people around him. “You could come back to all of this if you ever wanted to. You’re missed, Jordyn.”
“Thanks,” Jordyn whispered, jamming her hands into her sweatshirt’s pockets. She turned her gaze back to the road that was speeding past. She was surprised by Alex’s understanding, and for that reason, she didn’t ask him to leave.Even so, she didn’t want to ask what he meant by ‘come back’, not when he seemed to be turning over a new leaf.
Jordyn must have dozed off because when she woke, it was to the gentle shaking of her shoulder and the excited squeals of children.
“Hey, up and at ‘em,” Alex said, leaning over her with a smile.
Jordyn blinked and jerked back when she noticed how close Alex was to her, his face only inches away and his hand resting with comfortable familiarity on her shoulder. It was like the past couple of months hadn’t happened, and in her sleep addled state, it was almost as if it hadn’t. She brought up a hand, shrugging off his touch and ducked her head.
“Thanks,” Jordyn mumbled, tugging her duffel bag out from underneath her seat. She was grateful that when she looked back up,Alex was in the aisle. Shrugging the bag onto her shoulders, she smiled at the kids who were swarming around her and pushing their way off the bus. She waited for them to pass by before doing a headcount and a final sweep to make sure no one had been left behind. After a last sweep of the bus, looking for lost items, Jordyn hopped off after them.
“Ok, girls, ages 9 to 13!” Jordyn yelled, waving a hand as she walked up the familiar trail to the bunks they used each and every summer. “Let’s move out! You’re with me!”
Jordyn was grinning as fifteen girls swarmed around her and an excited Cora pressed against her side hugging her. “Jordyn! I’m so excited you’re here. We’re going to have so much fun!” she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes.
“Cora! What color are you wearing today, hmm?” Jordyn smiled and nodded approvingly at the fuchsia nail polish the girl flashed her. “Good choice.” She winked before turning back to the other girls.
“All right, beauties. We are going to be in the Songbird bunkhouse this year. That’s the two story one!” Jordyn clapped her hands, and the group of girls around her started to buzz with excitement. Songbird was the Dilinger Camp’s best bunkhouse, and this year it was all for the girls. It seemed no better way to spend the next three-day weekend for the girls, and Jordyn was happy to spend it with them, or at least she was until she heard a familiar voice to her right.
