‘Just a much-needed rest,’ Briar said.
Sierra eyed them suspiciously but dropped it. It was bedtime for the campers anyway, so she and Freddie shuffled them out of the mess hall and to their cabins while Alice and Briar helped Cook clean up.
Afterwards, Briar followed Alice back to the director’s cabin. She stared at her, tracing the lines of her tank top up to her freckled shoulder blades. Briar had done well today, pushing last night out of her head. But it was harder now. Knowing that they would be sharing a room again, having Alice so close, was bringing everything back. She shivered, not able to stop the memories of the night before from flooding back in, a low thrum beginning in her stomach. The lights of the cabin twinkled into view, and Briar opened her mouth to say something – probably something stupid, but being back at camp made her feel like it wouldn’t be.
And then Briar stopped in her tracks, taking in the tall frame lounging on the porch swing.
‘What are you doing here?’
Noah stood, grinning. ‘Sorry, I should’ve called, but I didn’t want you to talk me out of it. I’m here to help, in any way I can. I can teach music, or art, or swimming. Did I mention I’m lifeguard certified…?’
‘Oh,’ Briar said, wondering how long he’d been waiting out on the porch, and how Harper would manage without him. There had been reasons she didn’t want Noah giving up his summer for her, and seeing him in front of her brought them all back up.
And irrationally – because nothing was happening between them – it felt like it would change things with her and Alice now that they had gotten better. As much as she loved Noah, he had always complicated her friendship with Alice.
‘That’s really nice of you,’ Alice jumped in, when it became clear Briar wasn’t going to say anything more. ‘It’s late, so maybe we’ll work it all out tomorrow, and you stay with us tonight?’ She looked to Briar for confirmation.
‘Yes,’ she said automatically.
Noah and Alice headed into the cabin with Briar trailing behind. It was tight when it had just been Briar and Alice, but with Noah’s oversized limbs the place seemed incredibly cramped.
Noah scratched his neck awkwardly. ‘Sorry, I clearly didn’t think this all the way through. Harper said it was a good idea, so I just hopped on the bus. I should’ve called first.’
Seeing Noah looking uncomfortable freed Briar from her stupor, and she pulled him into a hug.
‘Hey, no. I’m really glad you’re here,’ she said into his chest. ‘I’m sorry I’m so weird about asking for help. It just feels like a lot sometimes, when you drop everything for me.’
‘You’d do the same,’ Noah said, pressing his face into her hair. She didn’t reply, because she couldn’t explain how it was different when she did it.
‘Take my bed,’ Briar said instead, gesturing to the cot. ‘Alice and I can share.’
‘No way,’ Noah said. ‘I can take the floor.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Alice said.
‘Yeah, dude, it’s fine,’ Briar said, pulling off her jean shorts and climbing into Alice’s bed.
Noah shrugged and excused himself to the bathroom. Once he was out of the room, Alice slid into bed too and Briar turned to face her.
‘Are you alright?’ Alice asked.
‘Just being silly,’ Briar said. She couldn’t explain why Noah offering to help was so hard without admitting it was Alice who had taught her that she shouldn’t rely on other people.
Noah walked back into the room, and Alice took her turn in the bathroom.
‘Everything good?’ Noah asked Briar, folding his T-shirt and jeans and stuffing them into his backpack. ‘You and Alice seem different.’
‘We talked at the party,’ Briar said, throwing an arm over her head. It had always been difficult to lie to Noah, and Briar had learned that not looking at him made it easier. ‘We’ve called a truce.’
‘That’s great!’ Noah said, and Briar smiled to herself at his enthusiasm. He truly didn’t have a petty bone in his body. The prospect of his best friend and ex-girlfriend patching things up could only be a good thing in his mind. Briar wished she could have his untarnished perspective.
‘Hey, Noah?’ she said, sitting up.
‘Yeah, Bri?’
‘Thanks for coming.’
‘Literally any time,’ Noah said, climbing onto the cot. His feet hung off the end of it, and Briar grinned at the sight.
