Wait (The Fast Series) (12 page)

“Hey, Princess.”

“Hey, Daddy.”

“How’s camp? You ready to come home yet? Swallow any more bugs?” her dad teases.

“I’m good. The bugs are getting better.” Tessa rolls her eyes.

“What about your roommate? Is she being nice? Any more fights between you two?”

“No Daddy, we’re good. She’s in the car with me right now and can hear you,” Tessa says through clenched teeth and a smile.

“Hello.” I feel compelled to say and give a little wave even though he can’t see me.

“Hello,” her father greets me back. So awkward.

“Alright Dad, we’re out right now and we’re almost at the place, I gotta go, tell Mom I said Hi. I’ll call her later.”

“Wait,” her dad stops her. “Your sister wants to tell you something.”

“Hey, Tess, guess who I ran into?” a girl’s voice fills the car. “Josh. He asked about you. Told me to tell you he said hello.”

I watch Tessa process this for a few seconds. I’m not sure how it’s even possible but her foot hits the gas a little harder.

“Yeah, well if you see him again, don’t tell him I said anything. In fact if you see him again, just walk in the opposite direction.”

“He seemed nice, Tessa.”

“Yeah, that’s his game. He always
seems
nice. Don’t be fooled by it, Quinn.”

“I’m just passing along what he said. Should I tell him you have a hot new boyfriend up at camp?” Her sister giggles. I think Tessa mentioned she’s sixteen.

“I gotta go. Bye.” Tessa disconnects the call and the music plays again. She glances over at me apologetically. “I shouldn’t have answered that call.”

Hot new boyfriend at camp? I don’t know anything about this. Is it Tucker? I know she’s interested in him and he
is
turning down invites to the hut. But I didn’t think anything had actually happened between them. Maybe there’s more to them than I know about.

Once we arrive and Tessa has been sprayed with a fake glow she plops down in the seat next to me. The washing machine acts like a television, both of us sit staring at the clothes swish back and forth through the suds.

My chin rests propped up on my hand. “Now that I told you everything, can I ask you something? Are you the girl Tucker is interested in?”

Tessa sighs, her own face resting on both of her hands. “No, he made it all up. There’s no girl he’s interested in.”

“He came looking for you last night. Asked me where you were, where he could find you. Did he find you?”

“Yeah, he found me, but it wasn’t for anything good.”

“You know, the word is he still hasn’t hooked up with anyone this summer. I didn’t see him come back after he went looking for you. Maybe he didn’t make it up.”

“Trust me, I know his type. A guy like that is interested in one thing.”

“People change.”

Tessa rolls her eyes. “No, they don’t.”

I hope that’s not true. In order to fix things with Mark, I need to change.

Tessa

The next group we’re assigned is more exhausting than the first. They’re up late every night, over-tired the next day, dragging through the daily activities. The girls are spoiled, cranky and think it’s cool to end every sentence with a hash tag.
I don’t want to go for a hike, hash tag – so lame
. Thursday night after I break up a heated argument between the girls over some tween nonsense, I flop on the bed. “We’re going away this weekend,” I announce. “Hash tag - My treat.”

“Where?” Cassie asks in a daze.

“Anywhere, as long as it is far away from here.” Between Cassie dreading awkward run-ins with Sawyer and Mark, and me painfully avoiding Tucker since the night of our one-sided amazing kiss, we need to get the hell away from this place. I still can’t stop thinking about Tucker and know seeing him this weekend is only going to make it worse.

“Sounds good to me. Hash tag – Peace out camp,” Cassie says and we both laugh.

Friday night after all the campers are gone we go into town and make plans for our overnight escape away from camp. I search hotels while we snarf on a huge plate of Disco fries.

“Thank God for all the walking we do around here or I would be like a thousand pounds right now.” I toss down the fry I was just about to chow down on and opt for a small sip of my unsweetened tea instead.

Cassie shrugs it off and shoves the cheesiest fry on the plate into her mouth. “Mark never came the next day to talk with me like he said he would,” she says through chews then licks her fingers. “Not surprising, what did I expect after the way I acted? Ending the night running off with Sawyer, making sure he saw.”

I stay quiet and sip my tea slowly. Every time she brings the subject of “Mark” up I try my best to not say anything. What am I supposed to say? Her going to the hut with Sawyer, even though nothing happened, was a ridiculous move. You don’t tell someone you love them and then run off with another guy.

“This weekend is gonna be all about making a plan. I told Mark I loved him and he doesn’t love me back. Either, I have to accept it and hopefully we can go back to being friends. Or I have to let him go.” Cassie looks to me for approval.

“I think I found a place. It looks clean and has a pool. I’m booking it,” I say ignoring her. I’m the last person who someone should be discussing love with.

CHAPTER TEN

Tessa

It feels like we’re running away. We giggle excitedly carrying our overnight bags over our shoulders. The morning dew on the grounds causes our flip flops to flop loudly as we walk. It’s later than I wanted to leave, but Cassie had a tough time getting up early. Eight thirty isn’t too bad.

A few people are already up and about. We pass Courtney who’s obviously coming from an overnight visit. She smiles, says hello to us and Cassie returns the friendly greeting. The greeting is fake as hell and I try not to laugh. I really miss Ashley.

Right before we reach the parking lot I see him.
Grr, so close
. We haven’t seen each other the whole week, not since he kissed me and left the laundry room. Now, a mere ten steps away from my car; here he is in all his handsome glory.

“Good morning,” he tips his chin up. “You guys going somewhere?”

“What gave it away? The duffle bag I’m carrying or the fact that we’re walking to my car?” My inner bitch surfaces, protecting me. Bitchiness has always been my best form of protection.

“I deserve that,” he chuckles. “Can we talk before you leave?”

Cassie puts her hand out. “Give me your keys and your bag. I’ll go load up the car.”

“I’m sure this will be quick.” I hand my things over to her and face Tucker. “What do you want?” Now that we kissed and I know how great it felt, being next to him without my skin heating up is impossible.

“I’m sorry about the other night,” he says.

“Which night are you talking about? They were both pretty bad.”

“I’m sorry about both nights. I don’t know what I’m doing around you.” He shakes his head as if to clear it. “You’re different than other girls.”

“I’m just different than the girls you’re used to. Unfortunately, you’re the same guy I’m used to.”

“Give me another chance.”

“Why would I do that? I told you, I did this already with Josh. You know how many chances I gave him? I refuse to take more chances with the same exact type of guy.” I hate this. His handsome face, the kiss, I want to take a hundred chances on him, but I know how it will end. I stay strong. “You were right. I couldn’t be with you without feelings getting involved.” I meet his eyes thankful he isn’t wearing his glasses. “And guys like you don’t do feelings.”

Tucker holds my stare and I will him to say he’s going to try and prove me wrong. But of course he doesn’t. Why would he? This is only the third weekend here. Why do I have feelings this strong already? Even though he’s like Josh, my feelings for Tucker are different. I think with Josh part me of always knew he didn’t really like me, but with Tucker a big part of me thought he did. Probably just wishful thinking on my part.

Impulsively before turning to leave I add. “If you knew I couldn’t do it without feelings, you should never have kissed me like that.” I break the stare and walk away from him.

“Like what?” he yells after me.

I throw my head back and laugh. He doesn’t even know how intense that kiss was. The power it had over me, warming me up from head to toe. That’s how insignificant the kiss was to him.

“Like what, Tessa?” He catches up to me, his hand reaches for my arm and spins me around to face him. His eyes stare down at me waiting for an answer. I think I can feel those gnats I swallowed on the first day flying around in my stomach.

“Like nothing,” I say, pulling my arm away from him. “Tucker, the bottom line is you don’t do relationships. And, well, I won’t settle for less.” I walk away with my head down, afraid to look back.

“What did he say?” Cassie asks the second I’m seated in the driver’s seat.

“Nothing.” I start the car. “Let’s get the heck out here.”

Our spirits lift with each mile we drive away from camp. I try hard to empty all thoughts of Tucker from my mind. I even open the windows so we can take deep cleansing breaths as I fly down the highway, racing away from all our troubles.

We’re checked in to the hotel and in less than ten minutes Cassie’s in her purple two-piece ready to check out the hotel’s pool. Her body is amazing, very toned and tan. She has an effortless way about her that I’ve actually grown to appreciate. But I do wonder if I can convince her to do something with that hair. Maybe lighten it up or something?

“I’m going to swim and take showers for the next two days straight,” Cassie vows jumping up and down on the bed making kissing faces at the mirror.

“Oh me too, it’s going to feel so good taking a normal shower.”

“Are you coming to the pool with me?” She jumps from the bed, adjusts her bikini top and grabs a towel wrapping it around herself.

“I’m going to call home and then I’ll meet you down there.” I grab my phone and wave for her to go ahead without me.

Alone in the room I dial the person I’m most anxious to see. Positioning the camera at my face, hopeful my friend’s face will pop up any second. It clicks and she appears.

“Hey!” Ashley exclaims with a huge smile. “How is camp life? Is it disgusting? Are there a lot of bugs? Do they have horseback riding there? I still can’t picture you doing any outdoorsy things,” she jumps right in with the questions.

“Oh please, if you saw the shower I’m forced to use, you would die. And no horseback riding, thank God, you know I can’t stand horses. So, what’s going on at home? How is your perfect boyfriend?” I’m beaming, connecting with the friend I’ve really been missing.

“Good, he’s right here. We just had dinner with the fam. Say hi.” Ashley flips her phone around. Patrick’s handsome face appears. He gives me a wave. This really is not necessary. Then I see Kent. Of course he’s there, he’s Patrick’s brother. He snatches the phone away from Ashley and starts talking.

“Hey, beautiful,” he smiles into the phone. “You having a good time?”

“I am. It’s a weird place, but it’s okay. I feel like I’ve been gone a million years already,” I frown biting down on my lip.

“You alright?” Kent asks.

I throw a smile back on. “Yeah, I’m tired is all.”

Ashley takes the phone back, movement blurs behind her as she walks. “I’m going upstairs so we can talk alone.”

“It was weird seeing Kent. I didn’t even think you might be with him when I called,” I sigh.

“Okay we’re alone. Yeah, Kent misses you.”

“I miss him too.” This call is already making me homesick.

“Too bad that didn’t work out. We could’ve been sister-in-laws one day.”

“Yeah, too bad.” I roll my eyes. “What’s going on with him and Robin?”

“As far as I know, nothing is going on with them romantically.”

“Maybe not now, but they’ll get back together eventually.”

“Where are you? Is that your cabin? It looks nice.”

I laugh at the question. This is nothing like my cabin. “No. I’m in a hotel I needed to get away this weekend.”

“Camp life is that bad?” she cringes. “Is it all buggy? You don’t have to pee in the woods do you?”

“No, it’s not that bad. I just needed to get away from things there for a little bit.”

Ashley raises her eyebrow suspiciously. “What kind of things?”

“Nothing.” I shake it off. “So, what else is going on?”

“Um, well do you see how fat I am?” Ashley pulls the camera back and waves it over her body.

“No.” Alright, I see it a little.

“Yeah, I gained almost ten pounds from all these family dinners. I tried my prom dress on the other night for Patrick, just something stupid I wanted to do, and it wouldn’t zip. What was prom two months ago? I’m a beast.”

“You’re not a beast. I don’t see ten pounds and we both know I’d tell you,” I say honestly because truthfully I only see about five. “How’s your mom doing?”

“Better. I don’t want to jinx anything, but she is doing really good. She goes to her meetings and from what I can tell is taking her recovery very seriously.”

“That’s great, Ashley.”

“Tessa, what’s up? You seem off. Tell me why you’re really spending the weekend in a hotel.”

I might as well get it over with and tell her. “Please, you won’t even believe it. There’s a guy at camp, Tucker.”

“Is he a farmer?” Ashley interrupts.

“No, he’s from Jersey and shut up, ’cause I love his name. Anyway, I sort of let myself fall for him a little tiny bit.” I wince admitting it out loud.

“What’s the problem with that?”

“Turns out he’s just like Josh. Can you believe it? Can you believe I did it again? You told me not to and I did.”

“Honestly, no I can’t believe it.” Her tone gets firm. “What are you thinking? How could you even look at someone who was like Josh after everything you went through last year?”

Yes, Ashley’s being brutal, but that’s why I called her, I need brutal. Ashley knows first-hand the damage Josh could do.

“I don’t know. I’m stupid. I like being tortured. But it’s over now.”