Either way, it’s not the second opinion I was looking for.
The class goes by without a hitch, the flirtation percentage certainty reducing every time I think about it. By evening, I’ve survived another round of dining hall chaos, a disco and making sure everyone gets ready for bed. The day is over and I’m totally exhausted, which significantly reduces the chance of me getting myself into mischief. Emilia went to bed an hour ago after her nightly phone catch up with Poppy and I’ve been trying to summon the energy to get out of this very comfortable chair beside the campfire for twenty minutes.
Salmon is snoring on my chest, the heat of the fire is keeping us both warm and, therefore, there’s a chance I could just fall asleep instead. My eyes are fighting to close and I’m fighting to keep them open, knowing if I fall asleep here, someone will definitely draw on my face.
“Are you asleep?”
Opening one eye, I spot Russ standing over me, looking as fresh as he did this morning. “Yes, go away.”
He chuckles and it’s annoying how great he looks all the time. I know how little sleep he gets and I know how hard he works all day and yet here he is—bright eyed and bushy tailed. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your cabin. You can’t fall asleep here. Xander said he’s going to draw a dick on your face if you do.”
“But I can’t disturb the puppy,” I groan, gesturing to my fluffy stomach warmer. “I think she’s doubled in weight in like, a week, so I’m not sure I could get her off me if I tried.”
“Xander taught her to do tricks for turkey bacon. I’ll pick her up, come on.”
“Can’t you pick both of us up? I’m asleep.”
I try not to shiver when his hands brush my stomach as he scoops up the golden retriever, positioning her on his chest like you would a baby. I don’t manage it but he’s polite enough to pretend not to notice. “You have legs and you don’t have a belly full of bacon.”
He holds out a hand for me, pulling me to my feet gently. “How do you know that? Rude presumption.”
“You’re a vegetarian, Rory,” he laughs. “If you’re learning tricks for turkey bacon we have bigger problems than you having a dick on your face.” He makes it so easy. There are so many things I could say, but I bite my tongue to keep them in. Russ shakes his head, ushering me away from the firepit and in the direction of my cabin. “Don’t say a thing.”
“It’s fine. You’ve made it clear who your favorite is. Salmon has legs too, but whatever. Just know if I manage to befriend a real brown bear, you’re dropping to second choice like that,” I say, clicking my fingers.
“I . . .” he starts and stops and when I look over at him, as we continue the walk to the cabin, even I can’t read the look on his face. My watching snaps him out of whatever daze he was in and he laughs, but it sounds forced. “I think I can cope with being your second choice, but we don’t have brown bears in California. I haven’t been able to work out how it fits in with Hedgehogs, Foxes and Raccoons, since I read the brochure.”
“Orla introduced it when she took over from her dad. She thought it was more fun than being divided by age or something and she let Jenna pick the names when she was like five or six. I can’t remember the full story but yeah, baby Jenna doesn’t know her bears apparently.”
“Jenna came here as a kid too?” he asks, running his palm down the puppy’s back. “It’s pretty cool she works here now.”
“What? Jenna is Orla’s daughter. Did you not know?” I say. “I thought everyone knew that, sorry.”
His expression is hard to pinpoint, somewhere between amusement and despair. “Of course my boss is the owner’s daughter.”
We finally reach the cabins and I wish there was a reason to keep walking and talking. He stops as I reach the steps. I take the first one and stop too, reluctant to say goodbye.
He takes a step closer and lowers his voice, presumably not wanting to wake Emilia, but I’m closer to his height on this step and his body is dangerously close to mine. “Jenna said we have to stop carrying the puppies everywhere, because soon they’ll be too big, but they’ll still expect it. She also said they’re dogs not babies but I can’t help it.”
My jaw drops. “I’m sorry, are you telling me that you’re breaking rules?”
“It was more of a suggestion . . .”
“It’s a rule and you’re rebelling. Oh my God.”