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I snorted. “You’re literally offering me glitter. Everyone is going to stare.”

“It’s a fashion accessory. Not the end of the world.”

Maybe not for him. But for me? It certainly felt world-ending.

I clenched my jaw and looked down at the skort again. “And you’re sure that’s the only thing that’ll fit me?”

Alvin nodded too quickly. Then, as if he couldn’t help himself, he lifted the skort higher and tilted his head. “Probably.”

“Probably?”

Alvin made a face. “Okay, okay. It’s definitely the only thing that fits you that I am willing to lend you without charging you emotional interest.”

“Emotional interest?” I questioned.

“Emotional interest,” Alvin confirmed while swishing the skort around. “Because we both know you’re going to act like this is a tragedy, and I’m going to pretend I’m not charmed by your inability to cope.”

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on the immediate problem: My wet clothes. The cold. And the fact that I couldn’t keep acting as if I didn’t need warmth how ever I could get it. Especially the warmth I found in my former best friend’s eyes as he continued to shove the sparkly skirt in my direction.

CHAPTER 9

The next morning, I knew I was in trouble when Darius stopped chewing. It wasn’t because he’d said anything. Darius D’Angelo didn’t need words when he was pissed. His entire face had this way of shutting down, as though somebody had pulled the emergency brake inside his skull, causing him to look like a puckered asshole.

I kept eating my eggs, unfazed.

Across the mess hall, his eyes slowly traveled downwards and I followed them. Gray crop top. Black athletic shorts. White socks with the pretty ruffles and my favorite sneakers. Nothing particularly interesting unless, apparently, you were Darius.

“What the fuck?” he barked out.

I looked back up at him. “Hey there, DeeDee. How’s the wood in the morning for ya?”

His fork hit the tray as he stormed over to me. “You have fucking shorts.”

I looked down again. “Yes. Excellent observation.”

“You have fucking normal shorts.”

“Two for two.”

Darius pushed himself away from the table, and I immediately started smiling.

Ohhh! This was about yesterday.

He came around the bench seat and stopped in front of me, angrily gesturing to the skirt he was still wearing. “I thought you didn’t have anything else!”

“Hmm. Must have forgotten about these. You didn’t have anything, so what are you complaining about?”

“Because you threw all my clothes in the fucking lake, Alvin!”

Several campers looked over, and I pointed my fork at him. “Technically, I instructed others to throw your clothes in the lake. I believe in delegating.”

“You had those the whole goddamn time, didn’t you?”

“Probably.”

“Probably?”

“I don’t inventory my wardrobe every morning like you do with your hairline, DeeDee.”