Sunkissed, Kasie West [best authors to read TXT] 📗

silence. He turned into the camp and followed the road until he came to a sign that said Employee Lot and turned left. We’d driven this part of camp earlier, on our way out. It took us along the back side of the property. Away from the pools and tennis courts and to a dirt lot filled with a dozen or so dusty cars. He pulled next to a pickup truck and turned off his engine.

We both sat there for several moments in absolute silence.

“Thank you for driving,” I said at the same time he said, “Thanks again for everything.”

We both looked at each other and laughed.

He put his hand out, palm up, and said, “We did it.”

I slapped his hand as if he wanted me to give him five. “Yes, we did.”

He laughed a little and shook his head, then opened his door, climbing out. I collected the bobby pins and the tank top and got out as well.

He retrieved his guitar from the trunk. I pulled out the backpack and took out my shoes, then replaced all of Maricela’s things back inside. “Do you mind if I follow you up so I can return this to Mari and fill her in on everything?” This backpack couldn’t reside in my cabin for any length of time or our cover would be blown.

“Do you have time?”

I nodded. “I have like five minutes.” I pulled my shoes on. “I’ll hurry.”

He shut the trunk and we walked through the camp. It was quiet in the employee section. We reached Maricela’s cabin and I stopped.

“Okay…good night,” he said.

“Yes, good night.”

He hesitated for a moment. “Some of your hair is wavy.” He reached out and picked up a piece as if I could see it.

“The braids,” I reminded him.

“Oh yeah.” He dropped the hair and I took a breath, wondering if he was going to give me a hug right here in the middle of employee village.

The door swung open and Maricela stood in the square of light. “What are you guys doing out here?” she asked.

“About to knock,” I said, holding up her backpack.

“Well get your cute butts in here and tell me how it went.”

Brooks gave Mari a quick wave, then said, “Avery will fill you in. I should probably do the same for Kai and Levi.”

“Fine.” Maricela took me by the hand and pulled me into her cabin, shutting the door on Brooks. “So?”

“Where is Tia?” I asked.

“Oh, she’s working the campfire tonight. Actually, now that I think about it, Kai and Levi are there too.” She opened the door, looked both ways, then shut it again. “Wow, Brooks is fast. He’ll figure it out when he gets to an empty cabin.” She turned to face me. “Tell me everything.”

I filled her in on the day and she literally jumped for joy when I told her we made it. “I knew it! That’s so amazing! I’m so happy for you!”

“Me too! Thank you for all your help with everything.”

“Of course.”

“I’d love to stay and celebrate but I really need to make sure I’m back before my parents.”

“I get it.” She gave me a hug. “I can’t wait to watch you perform. In two weeks! That’s crazy!”

“I know!”

“And I can’t wait to get me some amazing food-truck food at the festival!”

I laughed. “Which one are you more excited about—the performance or the food?”

“It’s too close to call. Probably the food.” She held her thumb and finger up, a millimeter apart. “But just barely.”

“Funny.”

“Good night,” she said.

“Night.” I turned and stepped off the porch. The door shut behind me with a click.

I walked down the path, past a cabin where I could hear its occupants talking, past the Employees Only sign. The whole day—staring at Brooks as I sang, sleeping beside him in the hall, being scooped up in his arms when we made it, riding on his back through the parking lot—played on repeat in my mind. I stopped and turned, sliding on some gravel. I stared back up the hill to Brooks’s cabin. No, I really did need to get back before my parents found out I’d been gone all day. I faced the path again and took one step, two, then a third before my rapidly beating heart kept me from going any farther.

“Oh, screw it.”

I rushed back up the hill, trying not to make any noise as I walked past the talkative cabin, then Maricela’s. The lights in Brooks’s cabin were on, shining through the thin curtains and water-stained window. By the time I stopped on his porch, I was breathless, my heart in my throat. And it wasn’t from the walk.

I placed my hand flat on the door. I didn’t do things like this. I wasn’t the type to make the first move. To grab what I wanted. To go after things that scared me. But maybe today on that stage, I had realized that doing scary things and actually succeeding was the best feeling in the world. I rolled my shoulders once and knocked quietly on the door.

The twenty seconds that followed felt like an eternity. Then the handle turned and the door swung open. Brooks met my eyes with a questioning look. I held his gaze as I walked into the room; then I closed the door, holding the handle behind my back and walking it backward until it clicked into place. As if he wanted to make sure the door was closed himself, he placed his hands against it on either side of my head, his eyes not once leaving mine. I kept hold of the door handle, because I was sure it was the only thing keeping me upright.

Then, ever so slowly, as if he might back away if I moved too fast, I let one hand leave the handle and find his chest. He took in a deep breath and my hand rose with the inhale. His movements were slow, too, deliberate, as