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“Aren’t you close with your family?” she asked, swerving to miss a fallen branch.
“I’m pretty close with my sister now, but we weren’t growing up, and I love my nephew to pieces. Other than that, I don’t really have anyone.” My lips turned down at the realization. Had I gotten so used to being alone with my words that I’d lost the friendships I’d formed over the years?
Jasmine didn’t say anything, but I could feel her pity. Okay, maybe pity was a strong word, but I could definitely feel her sadness at the thought of not having a tight-knit family. I’m sure it was hard for her to co
mprehend, what with her being part of the Swiss Family Robinson and all, but I didn’t want her to feel sorry for me.
I had a great life.
“As a writer, I guess I tend to keep to myself,” I explained, for some reason needing her to understand. “Not that I’m a hermit or anything … I love people. Watching them, talking to them, studying their characteristics … but I spend most of my time alone, writing, so I guess I haven’t made the effort to be close to anyone other than my sister and her son.”
“That makes sense,” Jasmine replied, her tone gentle. “Dillon and I work in the family business, retail, so I’m surrounded by people constantly. I feel like I’m always on display, and have to present a positive and enthusiastic image at all times. It can get exhausting. Working in solitude sounds nice.”
I smiled at her attempt to make me feel better. She was obviously a very sweet person, and I was beginning to feel happy about getting the dates of camp wrong. Maybe I’d have the opportunity to have meaningful conversations and make friends with these people. Maybe it would be good for me to get out of my cave and interact with real live people…
“Well, working in a family business sounds nice too. Do all of you work there?”
Jasmine shook her head as she pulled up next to my car and parked, then turned to me.
“No, just Dillon and I. Gabe was always more interested in sports, and Serena was more creative. She’s an artist and creates the most beautiful pieces … Ass followed his father’s footsteps and studied law. He’s the only one, along with Dillon and I, who are still in Cherry Springs full time.”
Curious, I asked her the question that had been on my mind since she first burst onto the scene, “Why do you call Reardon, ass? Is he a real jerk or something?”
Jasmine’s laugh was soft and sweet.
“No, Reardon’s the nicest guy I know, certainly more so than Gabe, or even Dillon. It started when we were kids … We gave him the nickname, Rear. Once we got a little older, it morphed into Ass. I’m sure the one of the guys started it, but it caught on, and we’ve been teasing him with it ever since.”
I laughed as she told the story, picturing them all as kids, running around and teasing each other affectionately. It made a nice picture.
“Well,” I said hesitantly, for some reason not wanting to get into the solitude of my own car. “I guess I’ll follow you back.”
As I did just that, I thought about the dynamic of the group I was about to be a part of for the next few days. They would be interesting to be around, to study, as they’d all probably make fascinating characters. Not that I’d be so bold as to model one of my characters out of the people who were so kind as to let me stay, but I was sure to find some unique characteristics to explore.
There was also that flash of sexual awareness that I felt around Gabe. It would be interesting to see if it was still there throughout the week, or if it was just a flash in the pan, so to speak.
He had no idea who I was, none of them did, which was a nice change. Not that as an author I was usually recognized on site, but I’d be surprised if they hadn’t at least heard my name before. It would be nice to have a little anonymity.
Being famous made it hard to judge whether people were interested in me for me, or if they were more interested in my name and paycheck.
I liked the thought of just being a woman for a little while … seeing where things could go naturally.
Of course, I had no idea if he was single, or even remotely interested, but I was curious enough to find out…
Chapter Five ~ Gabe
Dinner had been a festive affair, with my cousins and me laughing and joking as we caught up with each other after a few months apart.
Zoey hadn’t seemed uncomfortable. She’d been quiet, but had watched our interaction with rapt attention, a small smile on her lips as she took it all in.
Reardon, Dillon, and I had hung out, drinking beer and talking shit, while Jasmine went off to take a shower and turn in, and Zoey begged off to get some writing done.
I hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to her, not more than casual, group conversation, and I hoped to remedy that today. She intrigued me. The way her big eyes watched each of us, seeming to crave the dynamic that we naturally shared after growing up together. I sensed a sadness there, and longed to find out what was going on in that obviously churning brain of hers.
I woke refreshed, as I always did when I was at camp.
I don’t know what it was … the fresh air, the lack of technology, or just the knowledge that I would be surrounded by people I loved, doing the thing that meant the most. Probably a combination of everything. Add to that the knowledge that there was an intriguing woman on the premises, made waking up all the more joyful.
I brushed my teeth, threw on my running shorts, and laced up my sneakers, eager to get out and enjoy the morning before my cousins began to wake and search out breakfast.
