Last Chance Summer - Shannon Klare Page 0,42

door.

“You know, that was a rhetorical—what the hell?!” Brie said, crossing the threshold.

I picked up my pace, the shock in her voice making my pulse increase. “What’s wrong?” I said.

Jess stepped out of the way, pointing at the scene inside. My heart stopped; a white wonderland of toilet paper covered every square inch of the room.

“I’m going to kill him,” I said, turning the opposite direction.

I brushed past the other three girls, heading straight for Grant’s door. My fists beat against the screen, louder than they should have.

Grant opened the door, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “Welcome back,” he said.

“Welcome back my ass,” I said, pointing at my door. “What is that?”

“What is what?” he said.

I shook my head, trying to keep my own smile at bay. “Cut the crap, Grant. We both know you toilet papered my cabin. Own up to it and save me the trouble of dragging a confession out of you.”

“What would dragging out a confession entail?”

“I swear,” I said, laughing.

He leaned against the door frame, shirtless and wearing a pair of athletic pants. “I’ll have you know I was hanging out with my guys most of the night,” he said. “We stayed in, unlike you and your girls.”

“Uh-uh. You encouraged that outing,” I said, poking him in the chest. “That didn’t give you permission to do your own cabin bonding in the form of toilet papering my side. Now get a broom, get a trash bag, and get yourself over there to clean up your mess. I’m exhausted, and I’m not sleeping on a bed covered in toilet paper.”

“Your cabin, your responsibility,” he said, grinning. “Besides, it’s against the rules for any boys to step foot in there. I’m not going to be a bad example for these impressionable youths. One of us has to be the responsible one.”

“Grant, shut up and go clean it.”

“Hard pass. Thanks, though.”

I crossed my arms, sighing as I glanced at my girls. “The longer we stay out here debating this, the bigger chance I have at getting caught,” I said, looking at him. “Stop being stubborn and get over there.”

“I’m serious,” he said. “I’m not going in there after dark. That’s a major risk to my position. A risk I’m not willing to take.”

I pulled my lip between my teeth, trying to keep my smile from making the situation less serious than it was. “If you make me spend the rest of my night cleaning up that toilet paper, I’m going to get you back,” I said. “Think long and hard about whether it’s worth it.”

“It’s worth it,” he said, shutting the door.

My mouth fell open as I glared at the screen in front of me. If Grant thought for two seconds his charming smile and occasional moments of help would spare him from payback, he had another thing coming.

10

Therapy

“Do you think they intentionally crammed it in every corner?” Steff said, leaning against a broom handle.

I paused, standing in the middle of my mattress with a handful of two-ply. “Yes,” I said. “I think the whole thing was done to make our lives as difficult as possible. Don’t be surprised if they also crammed it in your shoes, shampoo bottles, or any other random place they could find.”

“Found snippets in my makeup kit this morning,” Brie said, nodding. “Ruined the only foundation I brought out here. My face is the real victim.”

“You stole that foundation from me, anyway,” Jess said, scrunching her nose. “Guess karma finally rolled around.”

“You never wore it,” Brie said.

“Maybe I never wore it because you took it before I could,” Jess said.

“Okay,” I said, flickering my attention between them. “You two are supposed to be thinking up revenge plans, not arguing over foundation. We’ve got breakfast in approximately ten minutes. Please tell me you’ve thought up something by now.”

“I have something in mind,” Jess said, grabbing toilet paper off the ground. “But it requires some baby oil, some duct tape, and a large tarp.”

“We aren’t trying to kill them,” Brie said, laughing.

“I’m not trying to kill them,” Jess said. “I just want to harm them a little.”

“With baby oil, duct tape, and a tarp?” I said, arching a brow.

“Slippery floors,” Jess said.

“And how exactly does the—” The bell rang outside, drawing my attention. “Never mind,” I said, setting a trash bag near the door. “Hold that thought and tell me later.”

“But it’s brilliant!” Jess said.

“I’m sure it is, but those boys will be heading for food and I don’t want any of our plan leaving