Page 59 of Mr. B

“Assure them that all is well.” When he seemed hesitant, she added. “But if you think it might ruin your nice guy Mr. B rep, then I could go home, I suppose.”

“No.” She raised her eyebrow at his quick response. He took a moment. “I don’t want you to go home. Unless you want to go home.”

She moved closer to him and took his hand. “Wes, I’m not sure what’s going on with us. But I like the direction it seems to be going in. Do you feel it too, or is it just me being…hopeful?”

“There’s definitely been a shift.”

“I don’t want my staying here with you to force you into a situation you’re not ready for.”

He touched her face for a moment, then pulled his hand away and took a step back. “I’m a big boy, Cass.”

She smiled. “Cass? That’s the second time you’ve called me that.”

“Old habits resurfacing.”

“You’ll let me know if it’s too much? You say the word and I’m gone.”

“I’ll let you know.”

“Okay.” She looked at him for a moment. “You look tired.”

“Restless night last night.”

“You should take a nap.”

“I stopped taking naps about thirty years ago.”

“Don’t you want to be all rested for the flag football game this evening?”

“Oh, damn. That’s tonight.”

“How about you lie down and rest. You don’t need to sleep. Read a book or something. The campers are all out on a hike with Lester. I’ll make sure everyone is happy when they get back.”

“Fine. What are you going to do until then?”

“I’m going to sit by the lake and take in some nature.”

“I’ll rest, but I’m not going to sleep.”

“Okay. That’s a good boy.”

“Go be one with nature.”

Cassandra left, and Wes lay down on the bed, determined not to fall asleep. He woke up two hours later. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, then swung his legs over and sat on the edge of the bed, trying to decide whether he felt better or worse.

“Definitely…I have no idea.” He went to the bathroom and splashed some water on his face, then left the cabin to look for Cassandra. She was sitting on a camp chair near the end of the dock.

Wes walked out to her, and she looked back when the dock swayed with the movement of his footsteps. “Feel better?”

“Still trying to figure that out.”

Cassandra stood up and stretched. “Well, I do.”

“You’ve been sitting here for two hours?”

“No. I took a short walk along the shore, then I went to check in with May and June. They basically threw me out of their kitchen, so I came out here.”

“Everyone should be back soon.”