“You nervous?”
“No,” she answers quickly. “I won’t be here long. I’m getting the penthouse.”
I chuckle at her self-confidence. “Okey dokey.”
“You’ll see.”
I have no doubt this kid can eat a mountain of s’mores, and I also know she’ll throw up by the end of the evening because she won’t know when to stop. Whoever came up with the idea wasn’t too bright because who wants to start camp with a bunch of sick kids? Not me.
“Will you come in with me?” she asks, giving me her big doe eyes.
“Well, duh,” I say, giving her the same answer she gave to Maddy. “I would never just leave you here.”
But as soon as the words are out of my mouth, I feel a burn deep in my chest. How would she know I wouldn’t leave her? Her mother did.
She exhales and gives my hand a squeeze. “As Tone Loc once said, let’s do it.”
I stare down at her in disbelief as we take our first step toward her cabin. “How do you know Tone Loc?”
Hazel giggles. “Grandma loves him.”
“Huh,” I whisper, completely shocked.
“She likes to put it on and dance around the house.”
I would’ve never pegged Cheryl as a Tone Loc fan. Not in a million years. And to think about her dancing around the house, shaking her ass, is on a whole different level. Mind blown.
The cabin door swings open before we make it onto the first step. A little girl comes barreling out, running down the steps so fast, I immediately brace for impact.
“I’m Credence,” she says, wrapping her arms around Hazel and shaking with so much excitement, I’m surprised she doesn’t levitate off the ground. “What’s your name? We’re roomies.”
“Hazel.” She flicks her gaze at me, looking scared.
Credence finally releases Hazel from her grip before throwing her arm around Hazel’s shoulder. “We’re going to have the best summer. Wait until you meet the other girls.”
“The others?” Hazel asks, swallowing nervously.
“Iris and Avery. They’re cool like us, though.”
I smirk, wondering what makes a kid cool these days. They’ve known each other for a few minutes and have already come to a determination.
I follow the two girls as we head up the steps, but I almost trip when I see the most beautiful and elegant woman filling the doorframe.
“Who’s this?” she asks Credence with a smile.
“Hazel. My other roomie.”
“And this?” the woman says as her eyes drag up me with nothing but a look of disgust on her face.
Bitch.
“My dad’s girlfriend,” Hazel answers before I have a chance to say anything.
Am I his girlfriend? We haven’t made any promises to each other. Not that I’d say no, but I’m still trying to hold on to the rules I set forth for myself on my last birthday.
“I’m Tate,” I answer. “A friend of the family.”
“And the mother?” the woman asks, glancing around like someone is going to materialize out of nowhere.
