“Mr. G? Hey, do you know where I can find Morgan’s hair straightener thingy?” Colton pokes his head into my bedroom, and takes a look at me. “Oh shit, are you okay?”
I nod, swiping a stray tear from my cheek.
He scrunches his nose up. “Sorry, I gotta say it. Morgan’s right, man. You lie like shit.”
I let out a bubbly chuckle. “That obvious, huh?”
“Dude, what’s wrong? You want someone to, like, talk to? I can go get my dad or whatever. Or you can talk to me, you know. You listen to me all the time. The least I can do is return the favor.”
I give him a soft smile. “I appreciate the offer. You’re a good kid, you know that?” I tell him.
He grins. “Thanks, bruh.”
I chuckle, knowing he keeps using the lingo to test me. “I’ll be fine. Just messed things up with a friend, is all.”
“Kai?”
I nod.
“Sucks when someone you’re that close with betrays you, doesn’t it?”
“Sucks real bad,” I agree with a grin. “But he didn’t really betray me...”
“Dad told me Kai was throwin’ mad shade at you. He was gonna cut ties with you and sell the camp off. Sounds like a betrayal to me.”
“I think he just said that when he was mad. I provoked him.”
“Then why’s Dad trying to get all of Alder Notch to pool together and help buy Kai’s half for you?”
My mouth pops open in shock. “He…what?”
Colton cringes. “Yikes, I think maybe that was a secret?”
“Ummm, yeah, you think?”
Colton gives me a sheepish smile. “Uhh, whoops. Better call animal control, cuz suddenly I get the feeling the cat’s out of the bag.”
I chuckle. “I don’t have any idea how much money is in your father’s bank account, but I doubt that it’s enough to cover what Kai wants to get for his share.”
“Well, no, but there’s like one of those GoFundMe things going around. Your mom already filled it halfway with the earnings on your postcards and pressed flowers and stuff. Plus, the dude at Notch Sporting Goods said he wanted to donate one of those water obstacle course things, which is super cool. I think the little squirts are gonna dig it.”
“You’re kidding…” I gape.
“No, man. It’s getting delivered tomorrow.”
“Where is your dad right now? I need to go find him and see just what the heck he’s up to.”
“Last I knew, he finished up mowing and went out with Petro to go tie up the rope swing. Petro’s a damn spider monkey, I swear. Dad’s got him climbing that big pine that hangs out over the deep hole. Thatone was my idea,” he says, puffing his chest out proudly. “Don’t be mad, this project was free. You had the rope in the maintenance shed already.”
“Oh, Colton,” I sigh, grinning. “You guys are too much. I seriously feel spoiled.”
“Well, Dad’s simpin’ for you, big, so that explains that. But Morgan said you were really nervous about hiring a bunch of kids our age to help with the place. I just wanted to prove to you that maybe having us here might be helpful to bring in some fresh ideas. Ya know, cuz you and Dad are, like, old and shit.”
On that, I haul him in for a headlock and give his shaggy hair a big old noogie.
“What’d you just call me?!” I ask, laughing.
He’s giggling, wriggling to get free, but I don’t let him. “I called you old, boomer!” he says with a muffled voice, on account of I’ve got him locked in under my arm.
