Class Clown (The Thornback Society #4)

23. Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Ruby’s Truth: Telling people the truth about who you are is the kindest thing you can do.

It turns out that even after thirty-two years of living with myself, I can still take me by surprise. Normally, I have zero ability to chill. I’m not good at keeping secrets, I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I happily advertise every little bump and celebration that occurs in my life. This was a truth that was fundamental to who I was.

Until Nico.

For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to share. I wanted to hoard away every time our eyes caught across a cafeteria, or fire pit, or the craft table, or wherever we happened to be. Each time we passed and he let his arm slip sideways just enough for our hands to touch, it was for me alone. I didn’t text my friends, or tell Kristy, or do anything to give away what was brewing between us, and I loved it.

We did tell Cole, which sort of dampened the experience because for nearly every secret smile Nico sent my way, Cole did the same. However, he was our boss, and my brother, and our roommate, and while the rest of camp needed to be kept in the dark, Cole deserved the truth.

As predicted, Cole acted like he’d come up with the entire situation himself, and was a proud papa bear, watching us benevolently behind knowing eyes. It was ridiculous, but he had been good to allow us some privacy in the evenings by not following us out onto the porch .

A week or so later, I was summoned to my brother’s office in the lodge and met the request with raised eyebrows and deep curiosity. Cole hadn’t summoned me all summer. In fact, I hadn’t seen a lot of him as we’d been busy with very different responsibilities. Could be good news, could be bad, but I’d never know until I got there.

I snagged my phone off the desk in the health center, figuring I’d bring it along and sneak a quick text in to my friend group while I had WiFi access. I may be keeping a little secret, but it didn’t mean I was avoiding them altogether.

Cole was sitting in his chair, his back to his desk and the door, looking out the window when I knocked on the door frame. His dark hair was mussed, and his shirt today was some awful shade of orange that bordered on abuse, but when he turned with a grin, his happiness had me beaming back at him.

“You have to see this,” he said without a greeting, and spun in his chair, beckoning me forward. He held his phone in his hand and turned the screen to face me. “Quinn is a people porcupine, and he’s adopted one of the rangers as his new person.”

On the screen was a picture of a male park ranger walking down a path, with a porcupine waddling after him. Under the picture it said, “Quinn has a new best friend.”

I snatched the phone and held it closer, using my fingers to zoom in. The ranger had a smile on his face, and Quinn looked even pudgier than he had while stalking me. I couldn’t believe how happy it made me that he was chasing someone new.

“This is adorable,” I smiled. “I love that he sent this.”

“I thought it would be good for you to see that he’s fine.”

I nodded, and used his phone to send the picture to mine. When the notification ding came through, I handed him back his phone and hurried to send the pic to my friends.

Me: Quinn is thriving with a new man.

I bit my lip, thanked Cole, and flew down the hall and out the front door of the lodge. I had to show Nico. He’d been there when I’d cried over Quinn, comparing myself to the lonely little porker, and now Quinn had a happy new life with someone who liked having him around. The parallels were undeniable. The problem hadn’t been me, it had been finding the right partner .

Plus, I wanted to share all my things with Nico now.

I spotted him at the tent pole in the big open area near the lodge, preparing for tonight’s final flag ceremony and skits. He had on his usual quick-dri shorts and a t-shirt that fitted him in a way I could truly appreciate. His ball cap shaded his eyes, but I knew they’d be warm and welcoming when he caught sight of me.

He was alone, so I didn’t tamp down my enthusiasm like I would have in front of other people. I jogged closer and when he heard my footsteps pounding down the trail he straightened and took a few quick steps in my direction, concern evident on his handsome face.

To be fair, me jogging was a definite signal that something was up.

“Look at this!” I called before I’d come to a full stop.

I shoved my phone in his face, making him take a few steps backward before he found his footing. He took my phone in his hand, but I didn’t stop until my palms were pressed up against his chest. He steadied me with his free hand on my waist, and I nudged my face into his space so that we were both looking at the screen.

“Quinn has a new man in his, or her, life,” I sighed happily. “It wasn’t me or Quinn who were the problem. It was us together. We weren’t a good fit. But, look at how happy that ranger is to have a little shadow. The universe has righted everything.”

His smile tugged at his mouth. “This is great, Bee.”

“I know.” I looked up at him, pressing a light kiss to his jaw. “The right person is the key.”

He squeezed my waist and nodded, understanding that I wasn’t only talking about the critter. “That’s true.”

He looked down at me and his expression gentled and opened in the way I’d come to realize was for me alone. He was so aloof with others, and I ate it up, having this secret warm side of Nico all to myself.

“I’m glad you came to tell me.”

I nodded rapidly, our eyes met, his head dipped closer, and then a gasp had us pulling apart.

Kristy stood several feet away, her eyes large, her face pale. “Oh my gosh,” she hissed. Then, she spun on her heel and ran back to the health cabin.

I stepped back from Nico and bit my lip as he handed me my phone. “Well, that spells trouble.” I watched her hustle away. “I’m going to have to talk with her, and that sucks because I’ve been lying to her for a while. ”

He tucked his hands in his pockets and nodded. “Want me to come with you to talk to her?”

“You’d do that?” I blinked. “Like, a unified front?”

He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Said like a person who didn’t understand that relationships could be fake, and guys could leave someone to face the music alone, and not everyone was gentle with a woman’s heart.

I debated the pros and cons quickly. Pro, I wouldn’t be alone and Kristy would probably be easier on me with Nico around. Pro, Nico having my back. Con, Kristy clamming up in front of Nico. Con, further rubbing it in her face by having Nico with me.

I smacked my lips. “I think since I’m the liar here, it has to be me.” I turned back to face him fully. “I love that you were willing to come with me.”

“I’m in your corner, love, always.”

Dang these quiet guys were a zing a minute. It was exhilarating to be on the receiving end of it. I wanted to plant a big kiss on him for being so amazing, but it for sure wasn’t the right moment, and so I settled for offering him a big grin.

“I’m in your corner too, big fella.”

He arched a brow, something I hadn’t known he could do. “Big fella?”

“I’m still workshopping the nickname thing.”

“Keep workshopping,” he responded drily.

“Snookie? Pookems? Marshmallow Daddy?”

“Maybe I don’t need a nickname.”

I laughed, waved the phone at him in goodbye, and hurried after Kristy.

I found her sitting at the desk in the exam room, with a patient on the table. That must have been why she’d been looking for me. She didn’t make eye contact, but pointed at the little boy and gave me a quick report on his symptoms.

He’d been vomiting all day and appeared to be dehydrated. In a perfect world I’d have a doctor on site to give an order for IV fluids, but at camp we did what we could. So, while I made sure the vomiting had ended, I had Kristy go to the storage room to get some electrolyte fluids for me.

Falling into the care routine took the initial buzz off Kristy discovering my little secret, and focusing on the camper to get him back in top shape seemed to help her settle as well. While I didn’t want Kristy upset, I was sort of grateful for this buffer time.

We got the camper settled in the recovery area, sipping on a drink, wrapped in a blanket comfortably, before Kristy finally met eyes for the first time. I tilted my head toward the empty waiting area, and in unspoken agreement we moved together until we were clear to talk.

“You probably have a few questions for me,” I said sheepishly.

She tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and folded her arms, shooting me a look of betrayal and hurt. “How long?”

I swallowed. “Not long, actually. Officially, a week or so.”

“I don’t buy it.”

“Don’t buy what?”

“That it hasn’t been going on this whole summer while you sat and listened to Gina and I talk about how we wanted to date him. It’s humiliating.”

I shook my head. “I know you have no reason to believe me, but when this summer started I did not like Nico. I was mad about bunking up with him. I loved the idea of setting you or Gina up with him.”

“Because you didn’t like him? That makes it even worse!” Her voice raised. “You don’t set up friends with a guy you hate. Why?”

I shook my head again. “No, no. It wasn’t like that. I didn’t hate him. I just didn’t see him as someone I’d be interested in. You two thought he was so cute, so I thought it would be fun to matchmake a little.”

“And yet, neither of us had a shot, did we?”

“I thought you did.”

She huffed. “Yeah, well, I thought you were our friend, and we were on the same team. We crushed on him all summer and you never hinted that your own feelings were involved too.”

“They took me by surprise.”

“When? What changed?”

I shrugged, feeling helpless and terribly guilty. “I don’t know. It came on so slowly. He started doing little kind things for me, and talking to me more, and I guess I got to know him for the first time.”

Her shoulders slumped. “The worst part is that if you’d told me, told us, we’d have been cool with it. It’s sort of romantic, your brother’s best friend, your surprise summer roommate.”

“Perfect romance novel stuff,” I agreed sadly .

“I knew a long time ago I didn’t have a shot with him. He’s polite, but standoffish, and I got the message. But it was still fun to be silly and daydream a little. Now I’m embarrassed about the things I said in front of you.”

I lightly rested a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be, please. I was never making fun of you or Gina behind your back.” Was I? Now I couldn’t remember exactly, and worried that I had maybe been unkind in my thoughts. I’d definitely been unkind in some of my actions.

“I can see it, you know? You and Nico. He watches you a lot.”

I released my hold on her. “I’m so sorry, Kristy. I didn’t say anything because it recently happened and I was selfishly keeping it for myself. Plus, we’re not supposed to date coworkers, and I didn’t want to cause a stir, or any issues, when camp is almost over.”

She laughed, but it wasn’t amused. “Everyone dates everyone all summer long. That’s not a real rule.”

I licked my lips. “I haven’t even told my friends.”

“The Thornbacks?”

I grinned. “So, I’ve talked about them?”

She managed a small smile. “Only all the time. They’re the sisters you chose.”

“Yeah. And they don’t know about Nico.”

“But the two that were here for a few days, they have to know.”

I shrugged. “They told me I should date him, but I was still trying to figure it out when they left. None of them know we’ve decided to give it a shot.”

She sniffed, and I was grateful to see her body relax slightly. “Why not?”

I sat on one of the waiting chairs and was gratified when she took a seat too. “I’ve been so frivolous in my dating life and I think Nico might be for real. I’m terrified to speak it out loud and make it puff away. No one has ever treated me how he does, and it feels magical and precious, and I’m hoarding it all away in a secret place. Protected from the real world.”

She thought silently for a moment and I didn’t interrupt her, although my insides were churning. As a highly social person, I hated it when I felt like someone was upset with me. Being in good standing with the people in my life was really important to me.

After probably two minutes, which felt like at least sixty-three hours, she leaned back and crossed her arms .

“Alright, I don’t care that you and Nico are together because you didn’t steal him from anyone or whatever. What I do care about is that you hid it, lied to me, and made me and Gina think that you had no interest in him.”

“That’s fair.”

“I’m going to try to get over this fast, but I’m going to tell Gina and you shouldn’t be surprised if we don’t eat with you for a while.”

I swallowed hard. “I deserve that, and understand.” Man, this hurt.

She stood with a nod. “Okay. Anything else you want to tell me?”

I had pocketed my phone and pulled it out to show her. “Quinn found his, or maybe her, person.”

She looked at the screen and nodded. “Glad to hear it.” She moved back into the exam room and I stood to follow as she said, “We have a patient to check on.”

By the time dinner rolled around that night, camp was abuzz with news of me and Nico and our clandestine summer affair. It had been blown so totally out of proportion that some whispers had us secretly engaged before camp had even started.

I managed to roll my eyes at the gossip, but my heart hurt over the rejection I had to endure from many of the young women at camp who’d been cheering Gina and Kristy on. They felt betrayed too. I understood. I was the Trojan Horse of Camp Windsong.

Not wanting to cause more of a kerfuffle, I took my dinner tray down the hall to Cole’s office and sat behind his desk. Dinner alone was fair payment. I’d also avoid the flag ceremony and skits tonight, which to be fair I rarely showed up to anyhow. I didn’t want attention taken away from the campers on their last night.

As soon as I entered Cole’s office and my phone connected to WiFi, it started dinging like crazy, reminding me that I’d sent off that text to my friends about Quinn and never gotten back to fill them in. I hated vague, attention-seeking texts and social media posts, and here I’d gone and done it myself. I also hated liars and cheaters, and fibbers, and shady people, and I’d been shady for weeks .

I shoved my food away and rested my forehead on the desk, wondering who I was anymore. Summer camp had rocked my world, offering me the highest of highs and lowest of lows, and I wasn’t sure I liked it one bit.

With my phone on my lap, I scrolled through messages and a wave of homesickness hit as I saw their replies. They’d often circled the wagons around my antics, and I wanted to be circled again.

It was an hour later in Utah, on a Friday night, but I knew they’d be waiting for me to respond with more info, so I did.

Me: Sorry about that. Yes, Quinn has a person. He’s a forest ranger and really likes his little shadow. Also, I’m dating Nico. We’ve decided to give this thing between us a shot. Not sure I’d call him my boyfriend quite yet – doesn’t that require actual dates? So far all we do is sneak around and break young hearts. Word got out today and I’m the black sheep of the forest. I miss you guys so much.

Within a few seconds my phone rang, showing Aryn’s number, and I fumbled to answer quickly.

“Hey,” I said, and then my voice immediately broke on the emotion of the afternoon.

“Oh, Rubes,” she said kindly. “That was a really dramatic text.”

“Things have been pretty dramatic.”

“Hold on, I’m getting others on this call. You need your dragon sisters right now.”

The line went silent as she put me on hold to call the others, and I managed to dry away the tears that threatened and sit up straight in my chair. This was good. They’d make it better.

“Spill it,” Meredith’s voice came across the line, letting me know that others had joined.

I laughed. “Is everyone here?”

“No. Lizzie is camping out of range,” Aryn replied. “A hazard of being married to an off-grid tour guide. I have Meredith and Hailey here.”

“Hi, Ruby.” Hailey’s gentle, cultured voice came through and those tears were back.

“I need psychotherapy,” I whimpered.

Meredith laughed. “I always knew it would come to this. I have a few ideas.”

“Oh, shut it, Mer,” Aryn stated, and we all laughed. Even me.

“What’s going on?” Hailey asked .

I spilled it all. The kissing during Mission Impossible, his nightmare, him admitting his long-standing yearning for me (my words), me not telling Kristy and Gina and then getting busted, and so many other things I’d discovered about myself along the way. An entire novel’s worth of information was dropped at their feet, tear by tear, unfiltered thought by unfiltered thought, until ten minutes had passed and the fatigue had me slumping back to put my head on the desk.

“Okaaaaayyy,” Meredith responded, and I could picture her leaning back into the cushions of her couch, staring up at the ceiling. “I officially hand this one off. I’m listening only.”

Aryn giggled. “Finally, Rubes. You broke Meredith.”

“My silence is the supportive kind,” Meredith responded.

“Thanks, Mer,” I sniffled.

“So, Kristy is mad and word has spread?” Hailey clarified.

“Yeah.”

“And you’re eating dinner alone in Cole’s office, and missing the festivities tonight?” Aryn asked.

“Yeah.”

“Oof,” Meredith mumbled. “Welcome to my entire middle school experience. I’m sorry, Rubes, that stinks.”

“I’ve never been unpopular before,” I muttered. “I’m a delight.”

They agreed, as best friends must do.

“Have you talked to Nico about Kristy and how you’re feeling right now?” Hailey asked.

I shook my head even though it was still resting on the desk, and my skin pulled as it shifted back and forth. “No. I’ll talk to him tonight when he’s free. He has to be there for dinner and all the other things.”

“Plus, you’re avoiding being seen with him again, am I right?” Aryn asked.

“Yeah.”

“Middle school 101, avoid, avoid, avoid.” Meredith chuckled. “A classic play.”

“A necessary one.” I defended. “We are at work.”

“I’m agreeing with you,” Meredith stated.

“So, you have, what, one more week of camp?” Hailey asked.

“Yes. ”

“Do you think things will smooth over by the time the last round of campers comes on Sunday?” Aryn asked.

“I have no idea. I was open and honest with Kristy, but she’s hurt, and she has a lot of allies here,” I replied.

“Classic middle sch- . . .” Meredith started

“Seriously, Mer, I thought you weren’t talking,” Aryn griped teasingly.

“This is me, zipping it,” Meredith huffed.

“What do I do, guys?” I asked. “I have apologized, and tried to explain. I’m worried about Nico too. He’s probably so embarrassed right now. He’s such a private person.”

“Look, in life we’re really good at doing the negative what-ifs. But there are positive what-ifs too,” Hailey said firmly. “What if he isn’t upset? What if he’s totally unaffected by this?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, stumped. “Every other guy I’ve been with would have been really upset.”

“What if he’s not?” Hailey pressed.

“What if he’s more worried about the fact that he hasn’t seen you since Kristy busted you guys, and he’s hoping you’re okay?” Aryn threw in.

“What if he’s served in the military and worse things have happened to him than a few gossipy camp counselors pouting because they didn’t get to play ‘love in the mountains’ with him?” Meredith said.

“Love in the mountains?” I gasped out a laugh.

The rest of them started laughing too, and before long the absurdity of it all caught up with me, until I was laughing hard.

Here I was, in my thirties, at a summer sleep-away camp, fighting with the other girls over the cute guy, and then feeling terrible for catching his eye and causing gossip.

“I still feel awful that I lied to Kristy and Gina and hurt their feelings,” I said when the laughter died down, “I don’t want to be that person. But I’m gaining some perspective here.”

“Of course we’re never out to hurt people,” Hailey agreed. “However, in two weeks from now none of this will matter much. That camp is a separate world, and soon you’ll all be back in your normal cities, back to your jobs and families, and camp will become a memory.”

“Too true,” Aryn cheered.

“So, speaking of normal cities . . .” Hailey drew it out, “are you brining Nico to yours? Because I need to meet the man. ”

I cleared my throat. “I have no idea.”

“How do you not know?” Meredith pushed.

“I’m not you, Meredith, I don’t inform guys of what we’ll be doing and how they’ll fall into place,” I joked.

Meredith huffed. “I’ll have you know Brooks is very happy and gets a vote in his life.”

“Well, Nico gets a vote too. So, I don’t know,” I replied.

“Do you hope to bring him with you at some point?” Hailey asked, kindly.

I nodded, feeling some of those tears sneak back into place behind my eyes. “Yeah, I really do.”

The door to Cole’s office opened, and I sat up in my chair to find Nico standing there. I knew he had other places to be. The sun was still up, and I could hear campers calling back and forth to each other, yet there he stood, his dark eyes taking me in, his ball cap missing.

“Hey, Bee,” he said gently.

“Is that him?” Meredith asked.

“Bee?” Aryn asked.

I nodded, and he stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. A couple more of those tears trickled loose and I swiped at them.

“Yeah, that’s what he calls me,” I whispered to them as he crossed to stand next to me.

“That’s adorable,” Hailey sighed.

“We told you he’s awesome,” Meredith stated. “You’ll love him, Hailey.”

“We should let you go,” Aryn joined in. “There’s some love in the mountains brewing.”

I giggled, my chin wobbling, and we all said our goodbyes. When I put my phone down, Nico reached out a hand, helping me to stand, and then pulled me close to his chest.

“Why the tears and the disappearing act?” he asked, rubbing a warm palm down my back.

“I had a really hard conversation with Kristy. I hurt her and Gina,” I replied shakily. “The whole camp is talking about it. I feel bad and didn’t want to cause more gossip.”

“Mmm. I wondered why I was getting so many looks at dinner.”

I laugh-sniffled. “You always get looks. You’ re a hottie.”

He squeezed me close and nudged his nose against my temple. “The closest I ever come to giggling is when you say sweet things like that.”

A smile bloomed across my face. “I’m sorry to make things weird for you at camp. You’re the assistant director, and I know you like to maintain your dignity.”

“I’m glad you think I still have dignity, or worry about that kind of thing. A few tours with the Marines will humble a guy really fast. Camp gossip only bothers me because it’s making you cry.”

“I’m mostly crying because I’ve always been so popular and now I’m not,” I joked, with one last sniff.

He held me closer. “You’re still my beautiful prom queen.”

“Nico?”

“Hmmm?”

Nerves pounded in my chest as I wrapped my arms tighter around his waist and leaned close to whisper the truest thing I’d probably ever let past my lips. “Be careful with me. I’m pretty soft on the inside, and I think you’re getting farther in there than anyone has before.”

His head tipped, his lips replacing his nose along my hairline. “Same here.”