own.
“Which translates to weekly,” he said, looking at Loraine.
“Not sure I heard those words come out of her mouth, but sure,” Loraine said, walking to the driver’s side.
I headed toward the passenger side, sliding onto scorching leather seats that burned the backs of my legs. Closing my eyes, I sucked in a shaky inhale and released it in one long breath.
Loraine’s been driving for years. It’s like my mom driving. I’m fine.
Dr. Heichman hadn’t been able to get much out of me, but I didn’t need him to know what triggered reactions and what didn’t. New cars. New drivers. Unknown roads. Speeding. Anything resembling danger set my nerves on fire.
Grant slid into the back of the truck a few minutes later, his knees knocking against my seat. I scooted it up farther, putting my purse on my lap as I gauged the distance between me and the dash.
“All right,” Loraine said, climbing into the driver’s seat. “Music requests?”
“Nope,” Grant and I said in unison, his tone substantially deeper than mine.
We merged onto I-45 a few miles later, Houston’s scenery drowned by banjo-ridden classic country blaring from the radio. I should’ve made a request.
I slumped my head against the window, watching towns roll by while trying to ignore the terrible twang of some old-school country singer rambling about his love. It wasn’t until we passed the massive Sam Houston statue outside Huntsville that I couldn’t take it anymore. I adjusted the knob, glancing at my aunt over the console.
“So, what job have you and my parents decided to stick me with?” I said. “Resident janitor? Pool girl? Arts and crafts guru who does nothing but paint all day?”
“If I put you in arts and crafts all day, I would be wasting your amazing people skills and sparkling personality,” Loraine said.
“You clearly don’t know me,” I groaned.
“But I know and trust your parents, which is why I’ve decided to make you the counselor for girls’ cabin two,” she said. “Grant is your co-counselor. He can show you the ropes.”
Dread and excitement mixed, churning something similar to nausea in the base of my stomach.
“We currently have the girls’ side at full capacity,” she said, looking at me. “There are two spots open on Grant’s side, but I’m ninety percent sure those spaces will fill before camp starts. We still have a few days.”
Grant pulled a pair of earbuds from his ears for the first time and leaned forward. His face hovered over the console, his brows pulled together in a deep V. “What is up? Are you talking to me?” he said, staring at her.
“More to Alex, though it does pertain to you,” Loraine said, staring at him. “Cliffs Notes version: This is your co-counselor. Her side of the cabin is full. Your side will probably be full. I’ll expect you to show her the ins and outs, while I’m trying to finish prepping for camper arrival.”
Grant’s jaw tightened. Had it not been for a staggering fear of death by car, I might have stayed more focused on his jaw.
“Not trying to offend anyone,” he said slowly, “but don’t you think Alex would be better off in one of the younger cabins? I mean, has she ever been a counselor before?”
“No, but I’ve gone to one,” I said.
His brow furrowed. “Loraine,” he said, shaking his head.
“What?” she said, smiling at him in the rear-view mirror. Loraine drifted onto a rumble strip, and I cringed.
“Putting her with you seemed like my best option,” she said. “You’ve been around the longest. You know the rules like the back of your hand.”
“And I’m arguably the most impatient counselor on your staff,” he said. “I know I seem cool and shiny because I’m the counselor OG, but put her with Linc. He’ll be much more equipped to answer her questions and deal with stupid things like camp tours and debriefings.”
“Camp tours?” I groaned.
“I already put Linc with Kira,” Loraine said, shaking her head. “Besides, I have full confidence you’ll be the leader I know you are and will help her manage those campers to the best of her ability. Linc is a great counselor, but he lacks structure. She needs structure.”
“She needs for you to not talk about her like she isn’t here,” I said, crossing my arms. I glanced over the console, staring at Grant. “For what it’s worth, I’m totally down to just skip all the stupid welcome to camp stuff. I don’t need a rundown on the rules. I don’t need much of anything