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“What?”

Cindy stared at me, and I hated how much pity I saw on her face. “I know you love him.”

The world paused for half a second. Then a camper shouted from the porch, asking if they were done being punished.

I focused on the voice instead of Cindy. “Go help them refill the guns,” I said without looking at her.

She didn’t move. “You can keep denying it to me. You can keep denying it to yourself. But eventually, Alvin is going to stop waiting for you to man up.”

I walked past her.

“He’s not going to wait forever,” she added.

I crossed the grass path and headed towards the campers, water gun hanging loose at my side while trying not to imagine what my best friend was doing with someone else behind my back.

CHAPTER 21

The showers were empty when Omar and I slipped inside. Not surprising. Everyone else had already gone back towards the cabins after whatever deranged genius decided that spraying half the camp with a hose and sprinklers counted as recreation.

Water still dripped from my hair and I shook it at Omar like a wet dog. I was seriously digging the powder-blue dye. I may have stuck with this color even after this hell was over.

My shirt clung to my back, and I peeled it away from my stomach with two fingers and made a face. “I feel like a fucking drowned rat.”

Omar laughed behind me. “A cute drowned rat.”

I glanced over my shoulder. “That sounded better in your head, didn’t it?”

“It really did.”

I smiled. Omar was nice. Uncomplicated. He looked at me like I was something he wanted, instead of something he had to fight himself for wanting. I should have liked that more. I did like it. I just⁠—

Fuck.

I turned towards one of the shower stalls, intending to say our goodbyes. Because I may have been gay, but showering in front of a man my dick might get hard for was too much, even for me.

Darius was the exception. He was always the exception.

Omar took my hand. “Alvin.”

There was something different in his voice. It was almost reverent. Definitely careful. I looked back at him.

He stepped closer and his eyes flicked towards my mouth. “You can tell me no.”

I didn’t say anything. Just stayed completely still when he leaned in and let his lips touch mine. Soft. Tentative. Before a sick sensation swirled in my stomach and I felt the picnic sandwich trying to resurface.

I turned my face away and tried to breathe so I didn’t puke on my feet. “I’m sorry.”

Omar immediately stopped and lowered his arms. “No. Don’t apologize.”

“I thought I could do this...”

“That’s a very reassuring thing to hear while kissing someone.”

I groaned and covered my face. “I’m fucking this up, aren’t I?”

He laughed quietly. “A little.”

I dropped my hands. He was smiling. “I want to want this,” I admitted.