Wait (The Fast Series) (2 page)

I don’t know if he’s kidding around with me or he’s actually annoyed. But his one and only attempt should have been a year ago, not now. Not when in two months he’ll be gone. Gone. I feel my eyes fill and quickly blink them dry. I can’t think about him leaving.

Mark cast his reel back into the water. He sits down resting his elbows on bent knees. I inch over next to him and nudge him softly with my elbow. “I’m sorry,” I say resting my head on top of my own bent knees. “Me and you, we’re just not, ya know.”

Mark’s blue eyes twinkle as he looks down at me and grins. “Trust me I know.”

“Good, so we’re okay?”

“We’re okay.” The muscles in his tan arms strain as another fish tugs at the line. He pulls up but the fish slips away stealing his bait.

I grab a worm, waiting for him to swing his hook over to me.

“What do you say we just pretend the kiss thing, never happened?” He gives me a half smile taking the baited hook and casting it far out in the water. “And I meant what I said before. Not even if you beg me,” he laughs shaking his head.

Not a problem. We’re just friends. At this point we have to be. Begging Mark for a kiss is never going to happen.

CHAPTER TWO

Tessa

If I had to describe this place in colors it would be green and blue. Tall green trees surround me opening up to the bluest sky. This is exactly what I wanted, an opportunity to rough it and embrace all of this magnificent nature. Shoulders up and a deep breath in, I step forward right into a swarm of little gnats breathing in at least one, possibly more, right up my nose. No flipping way.
Yuck
, I think I even taste one. My bags drop down to my feet and my arms swing flailing away the horrid little bugs. Coughs, gags and more coughs. Nature? Really? What was I thinking? I don’t do nature. I certainly don’t do roughing it.

Instead of picking the suitcase up, I park my butt down on top of it, needing a moment to sulk. The suitcase I’m sitting on and the small duffel bag next to it are only two of ten bags I have to bring up to my cabin. It’s easier if I bring these two bags back to my car and go home. Eyes focused on the ground I need to make a decision.

“Are you lost?” A deep voice asks.

I look up to see one more bright color before me. Orange. The face is hard to make out with the sun shining behind him.

“No. I just have a lot of bags and I swallowed a bug. I just need a minute.”

“Was it a big bug?” I still can’t make out his face, but I heard the chuckle when he said it and I know he’s making fun of me.

“I’m fine.”

“How ’bout I help you carry your bags?” His voice has the sexiest accent and I have no idea where he is from, but I’m guessing it isn’t Pennsylvania. I know it’s somewhere much cooler.

“Really, I’m fine,” I say picking up the duffel bag tossing it over my shoulder. “But thank you.” I lift the handle on my suitcase and begin rolling it away from the sexy talking guy in the bright orange shirt. The wheel gets caught on a rock, twisting my wrist and sending the bag thumping back down to the ground. Me, my fancy rolling suitcase, and nature – this is not a good mix. I’m not going to make it.

My heavy suitcase is snatched up like it’s weightless. “I got these.” He slides the duffel bag from my shoulder and tosses it over his own. “Lead the way.”

I’m not a hundred percent sure where I’m even going. “The guy in the front office just told me it’s on top of the hill.” I walk next to him feeling bad I’m not carrying anything, especially knowing how many more bags I have waiting in my car.

“So you’re new here, what’s your name?”

“Tessa.” I use the sweet voice I always do when I meet new people. “And you are?”

“Tucker.”

Cool name, cool accent, I’m dying to know. “Where are you from, Tucker?”

“Jersey.”

I knew it was somewhere good. Jersey. I love it. “By the shore?”

“Yeah, I live close to the water,” he replies.

Walking up the big hill has me quickly winded and gasping for air. I’m too winded to even talk. This is embarrassing. The more I think about it, the harder it is to catch my breath. I’m horribly out of shape. Surely he’s waiting for me to say something else, but if I do I’m going to sound pathetic like I’m hyperventilating or something.

When we finally reach the top of the hill we’ve barely spoken. I scan around the area searching for the cabin with the number thirteen posted on it. I spot it at the very top of the hill, an enormous amount of stairs leading up to it.
Fantastic
.

Once I open the door I’m awaiting a cool rush of cold air to greet me.
Holy crap!
Stepping inside, it’s hotter in my cabin than it is outside. The musty scent wafting through the large wooden room causes me to cough immediately. I can actually see dust floating in the stream of sunlight shining in through the door. “What did I do to myself?” I mutter under my breath.

“You okay?” Tucker asks from the doorway, the bright sun still glistens behind him making him one big orangey shadow. I’m still not even sure what he looks like.

“I’m good. It was so nice for you to help me. Thank you,” I say dismissing him.

“Tessa, been a pleasure meeting you. I’m sure I’ll see you later.” Just normal words but the way he says them, I don’t know, make it sound serious and sexy. He nods in my direction stepping from the room, closing the door behind him.

I look back over at my disgusting new living quarters. All I see is dirt covered wood and empty stained mattresses on metal frames. How am I going to spend the summer here? The three large tubs of Lysol wipes I have stashed away in my duffel bag are not going to cut it. I reach into my bag and grab my phone. No service.
Take a deep breath, Tessa, you can do this
.

Cassie

This is the mountains. This whole camp is one big continuous mountain. You can either go up or down. My cabin, of course, is up.

“Do you want me to help carry your stuff up?” Mark offers. Lucky for him, his cabin is down the steep hill. Girl’s cabins are on top of the hill, boy’s cabins on the bottom.

“No, you go, I’ll manage.” I grunt repositioning the duffel bag over my shoulder and start the trek up to cabin thirteen. “I’ll see you later.”

My bags get heavier with each step. I look up at the cabin I’ve been assigned. It’s set back the furthest and at least twenty old wooden stairs lead up to the door. Why? Why are there so many steps? It was hard enough lugging these bags up the bumpy steep hill but now I have to deal with this. I can hardly breathe hiking my way to the top and I still need to make a second trip to get the big fan I brought with me. Why didn’t I say yes when Mark offered to carry it up for me?

Sweaty and out of breath I finally reach the top step. Once the door is open I see a perky blonde sitting on one of the beds waiting for me.

“You must be Cassie.” Her ooey-gooey syrup voice matches the rest of her. Blonde curls come bouncing over to me and I drop my bag down to the floor. “I’m Tessa,” she introduces herself.

Oh wonderful, her name is just as sweet and perfect as the rest of her. How come girls who look like this always have cute names? She’s tiny, dressed in crisp navy shorts and a pink tank top. Her make-up is perfect and instantly I’m hit with a sweet fruity scent. She smells as pretty as she looks. I glance down at my faded jean shorts and equally faded black shirt and suddenly I feel like a big ole’ sweaty man standing next to her.

“Hi, nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand, but get hugged instead. Of course she’s a hugger.

“You’re so tan, I feel like a ghost next to you.” Tessa sticks her pale arm next to mine for comparison. A thick gold bracelet with a diamond T dangles from her wrist.

“I spend a lot of time outside I guess.” I eye Tessa up and down carefully, either I’m going to love this girl or hate her. By this time tomorrow I’m sure I’ll know.

“This is my first time here. I don’t know anyone yet, do you?”

Here we go, I smirk. I can try out my plan. “My brother is here, Mark. It’s our first summer as counselors too.”

“Oh, that’s awesome. How old is he?”

“My age, eighteen. We’re twins.”

Tessa’s face lights up excitedly when I say the word twins. This is fun already. People love twins.

I make the long second trip to Mark’s car and return lugging my fan up the obscene amount of stairs. By the end of the summer, I should be in the best shape of my life from all the walking and climbing I’ll be doing here.

Back at the cabin, I clunk the fan down and officially check this place out. The dingy log cabin is set up for ten campers in the main space with two counselor’s beds off to the side in an alcove. Tessa calls “heads” and gets the bed closest to the window. As we unpack we give each other the rundown of family, hometown, college plans and relationship status. We’re both single. I’m glad, that makes it more fun. A partner in crime.

“Alright, let’s go see how hot the guys here are,” I announce already sick of unpacking. “If we get to the counselor’s meeting early we can check everyone out as they come in.”

I get ready by tightening the rubber band around my ponytail, while Tessa gets ready applying fresh pink lip gloss, rubbing scented lotion on her arms and legs and finishes off applying some mist all over her body from a very fancy bottle. Once again I feel like a dude next to her. I kind of wish I had a fancy spray.

The hall where all the counselors are meeting is hot and muggy. Heat I can handle, but all this humidity is a whole other thing. I grab Tessa by the hand and sit us down in a prime spot next to the rusty dust covered fan so we can stay cool. Three days until camp actually starts and the kids begin arriving. The next few days are for orientation, training and hopefully a ton of partying.

Immediately, my eyes scan the room checking out the guys. Sorta cute, not as great as I hoped for. But maybe everyone still isn’t here yet.

“Which one’s your brother?” Tessa whispers leaning into me, her own eyes skimming the room.

I point at Mark, who’s sitting next to a stocky guy in a pair of tan shorts and a bright orange shirt. Mark flashes his amazing giant smile at me and waves.

“Wow, your brother is gorgeous,” Tessa giggles. “Not that I’m surprised or anything because you’re so pretty,” she adds quickly.

Oh yeah, sure, I totally believe her. I roll my eyes. Maybe I’m wrong but I get the feeling the only girl Tessa thinks is pretty…is
Tessa
.

But she is right about Mark. His dark features and light blue eyes do make him
gorgeous
. His skin and hair are so dark and then that pop of blue just…yeah, he’s good looking. Unfortunately so far, none of the guys here even come close to being as good looking as he is.

I turn towards Tessa ready to say something and I’m a little uncomfortable when I notice she is still staring in Mark’s direction. She’s eyeing him hungrily. I can see right through her Miss Innocent act. Mark doesn’t seem to notice her leering in his direction but the bright orange shirt guy next to him does. Ha!
Good
. Let the orange guy think she’s checking him out.

A guy and a girl burst into the room full of energy and clapping their hands together.

“I’m Julie!” the girl announces in a cheerful sing-song voice.

“And I’m Vinny!” the boy cheers. “We’re your camp guardians.”

My eyes dart across the room and meet Mark’s. We give each other the same knowing look. I know he’s thinking exactly what I’m thinking…What did we get ourselves into? I bite back a laugh and he actually lets his escape out. He makes a small cheer gesture and raises his eyebrows. I nod my head and shake an imaginary pom-pom causing Mark to bust out another laugh.

“Oh my God.” Tessa leans in and whispers. “How cute are you two with your own secret language. Is that a twin thing?”

“I guess.” I raise one shoulder and laugh. It’s so easy to fool people. I’m just close with Mark. We get each other is all.

The “camp guardians” ramble on about the camp philosophies for thirty minutes. The words safety and fun are repeated every few sentences. Camp rules come next, followed by counselor guidelines.
Relationships of a romantic nature are frowned upon
. A few people in the crowd snicker.

What? No summer fling? I start to grumble, one more glimpse around the room and I realize it isn’t that big a deal. Where are all the hot guys?

“Alright, let’s start off with a round of introductions. I know some of you have been here before and others are brand new. When I point to you stand up, tell everyone your name and give us a quick sentence or two to tell us a little about yourself.” Vinny pumps his fist in the air and gives a “woo-hoo!” He points his finger right at me.

Crap, no one likes going first. I stand up and face the circle. A quick smile from Mark eggs me on and I decide to go for it.

“Hi, I’m Cassie and I’m all about safety and fun. Yay, summer.” I squat down raising my leg to the side when I stand back up.

“Woo-hoo!” Mark yelps into the air applauding wildly. I smack my hands together, point at him and give him a woo-hoo right back.

“Excellent spirit guys!” Vinny encourages everyone to clap for us.

By the time we’re halfway through introductions my hands are sore and red from clapping, my enthusiasm inspiring others to do the same. Didn’t anyone catch on that I was joking? Anyone besides Mark?

A few more bored glances around the room and I’m still checking everyone out. Looks like I won’t be having a summer fling after all. Time is going so slow and it’s about a bazillion degrees in here. I hold back my laugh when I look over and see Tessa with her hands folded in her lap. She’s taking in every word as if she’s actually interested in all these boring details no one cares about.

The double wooden doors clunk open echoing through the sweltering room. Everyone turns to face the distraction clambering in.

“Sorry ’bout that,” says the hottest guy I have ever laid eyes on.

He’s tall, tan, dark hair with amazing blue eyes. HOT. My summer fling has arrived. I drag my eyes away from him for one second to notice Tessa checking him out too. Not good.