Mom whispered as she hugged me goodbye.
“Make the most of this summer.” Then, tighter, her lips brushing my ear: “He likes you.”
I pulled back, flustered. “Mom—No.”
“Okay,” she laughed. “What do I know?”
But her eyes said something else as she walked away. She briefly looked around her, staring a long time at some of the senior counselors before walking off to her car.
It was weird. Her behavior was off. But I didn’t think much about it because Max was crowding my space.
“Wait… no way. You got a cell phone?” Max’s voice was rough, almost amused, as he grabbed my hand and lifted it like a trophy, eyes gleaming with something unreadable. “Look at you. Finally, one of us.”
I scoffed, snatching my hand back like it burned.
“Says the imposter who’s taken over Max,” I shot back, already moving toward the check-in. He slid beside me, shadowing my pace.
“When did this happen?” I asked, twisting my hand on his bicep, feelingthe muscle tense under my fingers.
His grin split his face, part cocky, part dangerous.
“Told you I had to bulk up for the scouts. Worked like a charm.” He lowered his voice, lips curling into a playful smile. “Jealous?”
“Jealous of your fake muscles? Hardly.” I grinned, challenging him. “I could still make you eat dirt.”
His eyes flickered, sharp and calculating. He leaned in, breath hot and low.
“Careful,friend. Keep talking like that, and I might have to make you eat dirt.”
The word ‘friend’ rolled off his tongue differently this time, awarning disguised in a casual tone. We were talking like childhood friends.
But we both knew we were holding back. His tone was different. It wasn’t entirely playful; it wasflirtatious.My breath caught before I recovered.
“Please,” I shot back, stepping closer, voice dropping with something reckless. “Too bad for you, I’ve been living dangerously since day one. I don’t care that you’re a fucking giant, standing there at six-foot-three, or whatever. I’ll beat your ass.”
He chuckled low, a growl deep in his chest that scraped something raw inside me.
“Six-four, Trouble. I had a growth spurt.”
I leaned in too close, standing up on my tiptoes. His eyes immediately went to my lips.
“Six-four? Huh? Guess I’ll need a step stool to smack that cocky smirk off your face.”
What the hell was I doing? I was flirting back with him.
He opened his mouth to say more, but I spun away, heart pounding too loud. “I’m going to check in.” My voice was shaking, betraying me.
At the check-in, we split lines. I could hear his rich voice carry as he told the staff he was glad to be back.
“Great to see you again, Mackenzie,” Graham greeted. He was older now, in his late twenties, but still as eager as ever. He was now full-time staff.
“Great to see you, Graham,” I said, rifling through my folder. “Am I in Cabin 5 again with the girls?”
He glanced up, fingers tapping keys.
“Didn’t get the email? We had to adjust cabins this year. Renovations.”
“You sent the email to my mom?” I blinked, confused.
