I wink one eye open to see he’s over at the dresser, grabbing clothes.
“If you don’t get up,” he continues, “you’ll be late for work.”
“You were hogging the bathroom,” I point out tartly, a little embarrassed to have been caught.
“Well it’s free now.”
I grind my molars and jerk the blankets off me, moving to the ladder. He doesn’t move out of the way, and I don’t bother asking him to. I start to climb down and the backs of my bare legs brush across his shoulder and arm. I’ve been sleeping in oversized t-shirts lately, foregoing the sweatpants. It’s the only way to keep cool now that spring has given way to summer, at least temperature-wise.
I hurry the rest of the way down and he steps back, trying to give me space. It only makes the problem worse. We’re fumbling in that tight corner, trying to get around each other. His warm skin seems to envelop me. His body wash is almost overpowering and yet intoxicating. My arm brushes his abs. Our feet dance around each other. I let out an exasperated laugh at the same time his hands lock onto my biceps. Then he plucks me up off the ground and deposits me in the bathroom, out of his way.
“Sorry,” I squeak lamely.
He grunts and turns, leaving me frowning at his back.
We get ready in silence and he’s about to head out the door before he speaks up again.
“This weekend, I have friends coming to visit. Since you’ll be here, I thought you’d like to know.”
I gulp.
He’s not leaving?
The only thing getting me through the last few days was the knowledge that I’d soon have a three-day weekend without him, a few days to regroup and put a lid on this boiling pot of tension.
I have no choice. I have to leave. Scram. Hitchhike. Walk. Staying here at the camp this weekend with Ethan is not a scenario I want to play out. There would be no survivors.
I hurry to finish getting ready and then rush to find Max at breakfast. He’s smack dab in the middle of a sea of guys, and every one of them greets me with a warm smile and a friendly wave.
“Taylor! You hungry? Want me to grab you a plate?”
I fend off their generous offers and nod my head toward the door.
“Max, do you have a second?”
Everyone’s brows shoot up.
They’re intrigued about why I’d need to speak with Max privately. No doubt they’re reading too much into the situation, about to start singing Max and Taylor sittin’ in a tree, but I don’t have time to care because I need to speak with Max now.
“What’s up?” he asks once we’re outside. His blond hair has grown longer in the weeks we’ve been here. He looks more boyish than ever—the antithesis of my bunkmate.
I wring out my hands. “You’ve been catching a ride home on the weekends with Nolan, right?”
He nods.
“And his truck is full? Even this weekend?”
“Yeah, we’ve even got one more than normal…but if you need a ride, we can shuffle some people around, or maybe see—”
I cut him off, feeling uncomfortable enough as is. I don’t want to be a burden and I don’t want to take anyone else’s spot. “No, no. Don’t worry about that. I’m going to call and see if my mom can swing by and pick me up.”
“All right, but let me know if she can’t and we’ll figure it out.”
Throughout the day—as I run around working—I try to reach my mom. I don’t want to ask Ethan to borrow his phone since he expressly told me I wasn’t allowed to use it anymore. In fact, I’d rather use a carrier pigeon or some kind of smoke signal, but in the end, I don’t have to because I finally reach her in the late afternoon.
Relief swells within me as soon as the call connects. I don’t have time to chitchat though.
“Is there any chance you’ve been able to get the car out of the shop?” I ask, talking a mile a minute, scared our connection will be lost at any moment. “Like maybe the mechanic was wrong and the car doesn’t need any repairs? In fact, it’s in perfect working order and you can come pick me up here tonight?”
“What are you talking about? What’s wrong?” she asks, her voice concerned. “The car’s still in the shop, but if you need me, I’ll find a ride and come get you.” I squeeze