Class Clown (The Thornback Society #4)

16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Ruby’s Truth: I usually avoid cliches, but it’s true that you really don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.

An entire week passed and it went like this.

I complained to Cole about the rats. He told me he’d take care of it. A maintenance man with a bad attitude spent the entire week rat-proofing cabins while glaring at me. Like it was my fault there were rats.

Quinn grew bolder until even Cole admitted it was getting strange. The forest rangers had promised to come on Saturday.

Three kids with a stomach bug, two kids with some sort of bug bite issues, one sprained wrist, and about a million sniffles.

Saturday morning, I laid in my bed listening to the sound of Cole and Nico hamming it up as they talked about some sports game they’d watched before leaving to come to camp. It was a peek into their relationship that I hadn’t had much of in the past. Most mornings they were hustling off, and I wasn’t around them during their daytime duties. I’d often wondered how sunshine, fluttery Cole had been besties with military-style Nico, but I heard it now. They had a similar core and sense of humor, and balanced out each other’s weak spots.

I had that too, with my Thornback friends, but I also wanted it with a man of my own. Which meant that I needed to firm up my convictions about waiting for Mr. Right instead of constantly falling for Mr. Right Here .

One of my biggest past weaknesses had been going for a handsome face and charming smile, with no thought about the quality of the person behind the fa?ade. I needed to go in with my eyes open and my logical brain engaged. In fact, I should remember that I didn’t need a man to survive, I wanted a man. Everyone knows there’s a difference between want and need.

In the spirit of keeping it real and firming up my new resolve, I decided to list reasons why I didn’t need a man in order to be satisfied in my life.

They eat all the leftovers before you can get to them.

No sharing a bed and listening to snoring, or getting bounced around by tossing and turning. No blanket stealing.

No working with someone else’s schedule.

The bathroom is always available.

Get to manage my money how I want to.

“Ha ha,” I said out loud to myself. “What money?”

“Rubes?” Cole called. “You awake?”

“Yeah.”

“What are you doing?”

“Listing the reasons I’m better off single than with a romantic partner.”

There was no response for a beat and then Cole asked, “So, what’s number one?”

“No one steals my leftovers.”

They laughed. “Good point,” Cole said. “Hey, the rangers radioed and they’re coming in about an hour to trap Quinn and relocate him. Do you want to be around for that?”

I thought about it and sat up, throwing my fluffy bubblegum comforter aside and stood. I looked down at myself and wondered if I really should go out there wearing Cole’s too big camp uniform shirt over a pair of sleep shorts. Cole didn’t seem to know I’d commandeered his spare shirt as a sleeper. Did I want to out myself?

I pushed the sheet curtain aside and ran fingers through my long hair as I emerged. It always fell past my back bra strap, but it had gotten longer over the past couple of weeks and my fingertips caught in the snarls at the ends. Nico watched me and I flushed as he took me in, his expression giving away nothing even as his eyes tracked the movement of my hair falling around me. Was he remembering braiding it? Or was he noticing the imprint of my pillow case on my cheek?

“Is that my shirt?” Cole asked.

I tore my eyes away from Nico and dropped my hands from my hair to hold out the bottom of the shirt to look at it.

“This? No. I’m pretty sure it’s mine.”

Ah, gaslighting. A sibling’s best defense.

“Rubes, come on. That thing is huge on you,” he argued. “And I’m down a shirt.”

I rounded my eyes. “Yikes. Sounds like a you problem.”

Nico covered a laugh and turned to pick up a mug of what I was assuming was tea. That’s all I’d ever seen him drinking at the cabin. And that was like the fifth time I’d heard him laugh this morning. Curiouser and curiouser.

Cole rolled his eyes. “I told Nico you could borrow it until you got the right size, which was weeks ago, so I need it back.”

“Do you need it, or do you want it? Because if you needed it then you’d have been looking for it over the past weeks that I’ve been using it as pajamas. I’m forced to question your choice of words.”

“It’s a uniform, not pajamas.” I held his gaze. “Ruby.”

“Cole,” I responded in kind. Another sibling tactic.

Followed by the stare down.

“I’m your boss.” He tried a new tactic.

I blew out a big breath. “That’s a dirty card to play. Fine. Here.”

I went for the big guns, reaching for the hem of the shirt as though I was going to strip right there. Brothers hated that. It was how I’d always gotten him and our older brother, Porter, out of the bathroom when I needed it.

“No, no, no. Stop,” he called, holding up a hand. I gave him my most innocent look. “Just, wash it and give it to me for the Sunday camper arrival.”

I nodded. “Still not sure it’s yours, but if you’re going to make such a big deal about it.”

He looked to Nico who was studiously looking out the rear window of the cabin. A neutral party, smart man .

“Maybe I need to make my own list about why staying single is the best option. Starting with no one steals my clothes,” Cole groaned.

“You are single, and someone has stolen your clothes.” Nico cracked.

I laughed and Cole threw us both a look.

“Fine.” I shook my head with a grin. “I will give you back your shirt as thanks for handling the rat situation and for getting Quinn removed. I think I’d like to say my goodbyes to him. How long do I have?”

“About fifty minutes, give or take,” Cole replied.

“Is there a boat oar, or an ax handle I can offer him as a going away present?” I asked. “I could rub my sweaty hands on it.”

Nico grinned and Cole rolled his eyes. “No. There will be no going away gifts for your rodent stalker.”

“It occurred to me that maybe all the rats were around because of Quinn. Maybe he was Lord of the Rodents and when he disappears, they’ll go too, in search of a new town and a new lord to serve.” I moved to the back window, and peeked out. “Seems feasible.”

“Or, the maintenance guy did his job and got rid of them,” Cole stated.

I tried to shoot him an irritated look, but Nico was standing next to me and blocked my view. I put a hand on his biceps and pushed a bit. He willingly backed up and I shot that sister-specific look at my brother.

“Who killed your imagination?”

He pointed at me. “You and Porter. Mostly Porter, but still. I am the product of my upbringing.”

I tried to fight it, I really did, but a laugh bubbled up at the look of exasperation on his face, and I slid past Nico, my shoulder brushing his chest before he backed away, to launch myself at Cole and wrap my arms around his shoulders. I kissed his cheek and hugged him close. He laughed and hugged me back.

“I just love you,” I said.

“You too.”

“Thanks for getting me this job, and giving me this shirt.”

“You’re a thief.”

“Shhhh . . .” I squeezed. “Let’s not ruin this beautiful moment.”

His shoulders shook with mirth and we released each other as he said, “I’m heading out. I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Okay. ”

I turned and Nico was standing directly behind me with an amused expression. “Sibling relationships are something I’ll never fully understand.”

“Do you know much about the animal kingdom?”

“A little. Survival of the fittest, alphas, that sort of thing.”

“Yes. It’s just like that,” I joked. Then, because I was feeling free and silly, I snagged his mug out of his hand and lifted it to my nose. “Ooh, this smells good.” I took a sip and sighed. “It is good. Thanks.” I took another gulp before handing his mug back, and did my best to not fall over laughing at the shocked look on his handsome face. “And that is what it’s like to have a sibling,” I sing-songed as I made my way back to my sleeping area to get clothes and prepare for the day.

Cole’s arm was tight around my shoulders as I watched the ranger truck drive away from the lodge with Quinn safely inside an hour later. There had been no fight, no chasing. Quinn had simply waddled into the cage as I stood next to it, tempted by both me and the bait. Now, the crunching of rocks and gravel under the ranger truck was the sound of heartbreak to me.

“I’m picturing his pink little nose pushed against the bars of the cage as he watches me growing smaller and wondering what he did wrong,” I sobbed.

Yes, I was crying. Over a creature that had haunted me for weeks.

“I thought this is what you wanted,” Cole said, confusion lacing his tone.

“It is. But don’t you see? It’s me. I’m the porcupine. Always stalking attractive things and then wondering why they leave me. He was my spirit animal and I didn’t see it until it was too late.”

“Oh-kay.” Cole hugged me tight. “This has taken a turn.”

“It was dangerous for Quinn to remain here.” Nico’s voice joined from my other side. “The more comfortable he got around people, the more likely he’d get killed. He needs to be protected.”

His confident tone helped, and I nodded with a sniff, wiping at my eyes. Nico handed me a tissue from one of the many pockets on his quick-dri pants .

“Do you keep these things on hand?” I asked.

“I’ve recently started to,” he responded.

“Because of me?” I looked at him through blurry tears. “Because I’m either crying or sniffling?”

“No.” His forehead furrowed. “Because I’m surrounded by kids who get cuts, or sneeze, or cry, and I’ve found it useful to have tissues on hand.”

“Totally,” I agreed. “Very reasonable.” The two men exchanged a glance over my head and I took a deep breath, which stuttered slightly when Nico took my hand in his. It was meant as a comforting gesture, which it was, but I also held on because it felt so good to be connected to him. I took in another deep breath. “Okay, that was a weird reaction, but who knows where I am in my monthly hormonal cycle.” When they both remained silent another batch of tears welled up. “I mean, he was pretty adorable once I realized he probably only wanted to lick my skin because I’d taste so good.”

“There is no possible right way for me to respond to any of that,” Cole said, which made me laugh but it gave me the hiccups.

“Something has happened to me up here, and I’ve unlocked an emotional side of me that I didn’t know existed, so I’m also scaring myself if it makes you feel better,” I hiccoughed.

Cole’s arm around my shoulders tightened. “It does make me feel better that I’m not the only one worried about your reaction.”

I swatted at him with my free hand. “Alright, alright. Go back to running this place and let me blubber in peace.”

“You sure?” Cole asked.

I nodded, swallowed down a hiccup and tried to smile. “Yes. I’m okay. I’ll think on happier times, like when I found out they could climb trees and scream. That stuff gave me the heebies.”

Cole bit his lips together and I knew he was trying not to laugh. “He was kind of creepy, the way he waddled around watching you.”

“Sitting outside whatever building I was in, like a puppy dog who just wanted to gnaw at my leg,” I agreed on a giggle.

“His eyes were truly beady and I never could get a read on his intent. Love or hate? I still don’t know.” Nico ruminated.

Cole finally laughed and it gave me the boost I needed to put my meltdown behind me. I shrugged out from under his arm and pushed softly at his side .

“Go work. I’ll see you for dinner,” I said with a wobbly smile.

Cole walked toward the lodge and made short works of the steps up to the porch. Once he’d disappeared inside, I turned toward Nico and he released my hand. I used his tissue to blot at my face and blow my nose.

“There, sir. As you can see, I have recovered my senses. I think I’ll go find something a little less sad to occupy my time. Maybe I’ll flirt with a ground hog and see where that gets me.”

“Are there ground hogs around here?” he asked.

“Are there not ground hogs around here?” I countered.

We stared at each other until he cracked a grin. “Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to learn how to shoot a gun. I have a concealed carry permit and there’s a shooting range that the camp doesn’t use anymore. It’s about a mile and a half hike from here. I’d be happy to take you.”

I took a deep breath. “This is a bucket list item for me, you know. If I learn to shoot a gun I will be able to stop lying to my father.”

He looked over my head and back to me, attempting to make sense of that pronouncement. “So, that’s a yes?”

“Yes. But first, let me see if they have adult diapers inside because I think the gun shot sounds might make me pee my pants a little.”

Nico’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “I’ll get some stuff ready at the cabin. Meet me there when you can.”

“Nico,” I put a hand on his forearm before he could walk away. “I was kidding about the diapers.”

“I wasn’t going to judge.”

I laughed. “How valiant of you.”