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“Director Marshall,” I say, keeping my tone as even and professional as I can manage. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
His lips quiver a moment with a hint of amusement before he releases my hand. “The pleasure’s all mine. Let’s get you in my office to go over a couple things before we get you settled in.”
Not one to argue with my new boss, I follow him through the doors to the lodge and down a hall to the immediate left, not stopping until we reach the final door labeled Director Marshall. He pushes the door open before motioning for me to enter, calling through a walkie talkie as he does to ask for a grounds escort to meet us at the lodge in ten minutes.
“Take a load off,” he says, nodding to the chair across from his desk. “We can chat for a bit while we wait for the rest of your welcoming committee.”
I do as he says, sliding into the chair as the door falls closed with a soft snick. When he takes a seat opposite me, I’m immediately taken back to the moment I was sitting across the desk from another Mr. Marshall. When my entire future unraveled before my eyes.
It only serves to remind me how important being here is.
“Thank you for making time for me this morning,” I start, doing my best to feel him out. See what he knows or what he’s heard—if anything. “I know things are set to kick off tomorrow, and I was hoping you could give me a better feel for things before I’m—”
“Thrown to the wolves?” he supplies with a wry grin on his face, and when I wince at the idiom I used verbatim this morning, he lets out a deep laugh. “I’ve spoken to your father at length, and believe me, you’ve got nothing to worry about when it comes to working here. The kids are great—the counselors too. I have no doubt you’ll ease into the job just fine.”
I’m left staring at him, taken aback by the ease and comfort radiating from him. Like a warm hug or something. Regardless, it’s the exact opposite impression I made of Dean Marshall, and it’s not what I expected.
“Thank you, sir,” I manage, after finding my voice again. “It certainly makes me feel a bit better about spending the summer here.”
There’s a moment of silence while he studies me before he gives a quick nod. “I have to say, I was surprised when your father contacted me about getting you the job. Especially with how last minute it was.”
“Trust me, it was last minute for me too, sir.”
He waves before leaning back in his chair. “Call me Colin. There’s no need to stand on formality here, and I certainly don’t require any kind of power trip.” Another smile forms on his lips, this one a little more knowing. “If there’s one thing you learn in your time here at Alpine Ridge, it’s that I’m not my brother, Avery.”
Mention of Dean Marshall sets my nerves on edge all over again; constricting my lungs and causing my heart rate to ratchet up a notch. “I’d never begin to presume you and Dean Marshall are the same person. Brothers or not.”
One salt-and-pepper brow arches dubiously. “Really? So then you aren’t just here for the summer in hopes I’ll put a good word in for you with him so you’ll be reinstated at Foltyn come fall?”
Once again, I’m left speechless. Mouth hanging open, ready to defend myself, but the words just won’t come out. They can’t; whether it be from pure shock or unwillingness to lie to my boss in the first five minutes, I’m not sure. Either way, Colin doesn’t wait for me to give any sort of answer before continuing.
“I’ve known your father for a long time, Avery, and Jason Reynolds isn’t one to beat around the bush. Quite frankly, neither am I. So when I asked him why in the world you wanted to come work at a summer camp, he laid it all out for me.”
Fuck a motherfucking duck.
A wave of nausea hits me, and it’s like I can see my entire future go up in smithereens all over again. Because if all entails every piece of this plan Dad cooked up, then I’m screwed before we even begin.
“Colin, I—”
He holds his hand up. “I know it’s not your idea to be here. Even without your father telling me, it was obvious from the moment I saw you walk up those steps; you’ve never spent a day of your life at a summer camp. But that doesn’t matter to me.”
“It doesn’t,” I say slowly, to which he shakes his head.
“What does is—while you’re here—you’ll not only give these kids your all, but you’ll also make the most of it for yourself.”
The tiniest bout of relief hits me, and maybe I’m not as fucked as I thought.
“Absolutely,” I tell him, my tone earnest. “I have every intention of making the most of my summer here. You could tell me right now that you’re estranged from your brother or something, and I’d still make the decision to stay.”
A deep chuckle comes from him. “We’re far from estranged, though I don’t know how much help I’ll be in your quest to be reinstated as a student at Foltyn. If I know anything about Ian, it’s that he isn’t one to change his mind or give second chances. And if he does, the number of times it’s happened in the time I’ve known him can be counted on one hand.”
My heart, which had just started to soar with hope, is immediately shot down, falling into the pit of my stomach as it’s weighed down by the realization that this all might be in vain from the start.
Is it too late to take back what I said about staying no matter what?
He must take my silence as defeat, and he leans back in his chair. “I’m not trying to burst any bubbles for you, kid. But just like you’ve chosen to be up front with me, I’m choosing to be up front with you. I think there’s always hope. And that’s why I plan to give you the best shot I can by assigning you to Elijah’s group.”
“Elijah?”
