“Because camp is the highlight of the year for many of them. And people need this; they need joy in their lives. They need silliness and fun.”
“I’m not talking about the camp itself. The theme. Why niche down to nerds only?”
His question surprises me. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Not to me.” He flashes a smile. “Explain it to me like I’m a pinheaded jock.”
“We need a safe space to be ourselves. You heard Stefan this morning. Where else can someone express a sentiment like that and not expect people to judge him for it? We all need a place to be our most authentic selves.”
“Shouldn’t that be our homes?”
“Sure, when we’re by ourselves, that might be true—unless you’re Gloria, who looks after her ailing mother. Or Ben, who spends most of his time at home with family members who don’t share his interests.”
“Or someone like you, who lives alone in an isolated area.”
A lump gathers in my throat. “See? You get the picture.”
“What’s it like here outside of the summer season?”
“Not gonna lie, winters can be brutal, but I wouldn’t trade this place for anything.”
His blue-green eyes twinkle. “Not even for a generous sum of money?”
“If you’re here to tempt me with a wad of cash, don’t bother.”
He returns to his feet. “You’re right. Money does crazy things to people anyway. You don’t want that.”
“Money doesn’t do anything except amplify who they really are. If you ever want to truly know someone, give them a million dollars and watch how they behave.”
A smile ghosts over his lips. “I’m trying to give you more than a million dollars, but you won’t take it.”
“Ah, but what you see is what you get with me. No need to throw money at me to extract that golden nugget.”
“I’m beginning to see that.” He drags a hand through his hair. “I can’t pretend to get the whole Viking thing with Stefan, but I can see it’s a big deal to him.”
“Why do you need to understand it? You have empathy, don’t you?”
“Do I? I’m a lawyer, don’t forget.”
“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten.” Not for one second. “I think Monopoly is today’s board game. If you hurry, you can join the game before it starts. Hunter is fairly strict when it comes to latecomers.”
Charlie takes the hint. “Thanks. I’ll check it out.”
My body remains tense until the door closes, blocking any further view of him. Whenever he’s in my orbit, I develop an acute case of brain fog. His presence seems to muddy the waters of the mind I’d made up about him. I was sure he was here to snoop, yet his questions were insightful and even his comment about Stefan seemed to come from a genuine place. He may be here for the wrong reasons, but he doesn’t seem like a terrible person, only a misguided one.
My phone pings with a reminder that it’s snack time. I wander down to the picnic area to join the campers. There’s already a lively group present. The enthusiastic chatter warms my heart. The group chat is no match for the energy when we’re all in person together.
Charlie sits among the campers, which means he didn’t take my suggestion to join the Monopoly game. No surprise. He’s here for the wrong reasons and we all know it.
He waves when he spots me and slides over, motioning for me to sit next to him. I scan the seating area for another available spot, but there isn’t one. Reluctantly, I join Charlie on the bench.
“Granola bar?” he asks, holding out a chocolate-chip-flavored one.
“Sure.”
As I unwrap the bar, Laura appears at the edge of the picnic area, clapping her hands. “Listen up, everybody. It’s time for the big reveal. We need an appropriate soundtrack.”
Music begins to play from someone’s phone, and I immediately recognize the beginning of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.” It’s perfect.
