I Shouldn’t Love Him (Book 2) – Chapter 60
LAKE
Monday afternoon, I was home alone for the first time since Manning came to dinner. I didn’t have to look out the window to know the crew was working next door – I could hear them.
I went to Tiffany’s room to borrow some shorts. I wasn’t brave enough to grab her skinniest pair, but everything she owned was shorter, tighter, or lower-cut than anything in my closet. I picked some from Tommy Hilfiger and held them up to my waist in the mirror.
ad read his Wall Street Journal, and Tiffany walked into the kitchen like nothing had happened. She had even me
d butterflies in my stomach and sweat at my hairline.
g glasses glanced at me as I ducked into the frame of the house, but he didn’t stop me.
teeth.
e drill to inspect his work.
“Hi.”
the bandana off his face.
here?”
ke that – I mean, I could have just waited for him at the wall until his break.
“I-”
r walk onto a con
ill onto a work table, his boots pounding
s.”
t about it.
is question by removing his helmet and dropping it on my head. It was hot, sweaty and heavy – and it was Manning’s. With a large hand on my shoulder, he pushed me out of the house, walking with me. His w
his words. “There are nails, and… just. . Watch where you’re g
rywhere. Despite the heat, he was wearing a dark long-sleeved t-shirt with the construction company logo printed on the pocket. A cigarette butt protruded from the top and the dust dirtied his collar.
eak?” I asked.
ed.
inst the brick and took out his ba
ing for .
you.”
a trail leading to his belt, where there were more. He dropped his shirt, but there was still dirt on his face.
er, perhaps?”
lowed, st
hat?
f you needed anything.”
u are my friend, I wanted to
”
.
d. “After I leave?
didn’t do it.
is this?”
to him.
ry his temples.
“’Young Cu
d the page.
hat it brings in.”
ven?” He looked surprised. “It’s high.”
de, right?”
ek, but she said you should try anyway because she thinks they’re understaffed.” “
Her?”
,” I explained.
osely.
to go to our local Y after school.
oon. I didn’t know much about construction, but our new neighbors’ house didn’t look quite finished. “
er
Can I keep this?”
I nodded.
.”
ok out a cigarette.
least not where anyone can see.”
“You probably can’t smoke the
by myself.”
So will you come?”
come ?”
t. “Yes,” I said.
come?”
fe when you’re here.
it dangerous up there?”
No, not at all,
“Do you think I can protect you from bears?”
not. If anyone could stand up to a bear, it would be him. “No? Maybe?”
rare sound that made me relax.
nny?” I asked.
e to you, Bi
couldn’t contain my smil
ou alread
g to ask my mother to take me, but I could go with you instead?”
can just pick you up in my truck and take you somewhere?
his head, looking away. “As- Are you talking to Tiffany?
not
. “
love h
ould discuss with her, don’t you think?”
h me.
h yeah?”
ng to tell you what she said.”
will talk to him.
s not fair. You and I were friends first.
priate?”
wned. “I tho
o think about what it looks like. When you introduce me to the camp director, maybe say that I’m your sister’s friend. You kn
or us to be friends?”
m older and wiser. Trust me.”
, I understood why we had to keep our friendship to ourselves. It was nothing to be ashamed of, but not everyone would understand it. This meant that for others, it There was only one thing that tie
Yes.”
ut it. She’s not working right now, maybe a little aimlessly. “A little?” “Maybe she’ll end up liking
it
. “
ek alone with Manning. I turned to him. “Is that really why you want her here? Or is it because it looks bad for you and me to be friends? »
rk. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
lked back along the sidewalk toward my house. I should trust him. He had bee
s crossed, a lit cigarette between his lips.
out the windshield of the YMCA.
do this,” I reminded him.
he looked at me. “I never
er Locklear. It’s not a crime to change your mind.
ot of things, like outfits and friends. She would the same with Manning too.
it was dark and I couldn’t tell if he had seen us, so I started to join him.
late,” he said.
and wondered when I would hear it again. “I told you six twenty,” I said. “It’s six-nineteen.”
ow.”
I had always been on time at school. “Is it?” I asked. “Are we really late?”
orner of his mouth.
d, I smiled. “Ar
ooked behind me. “Hi, Tiffany.”
ned her arms.
.
give you a hug.
ld girl?”
ase?”
erself around his torso. My stomach turned sour like I’d eaten rotten seafo
.
lking away.
ults.
together. I sat near the front so I wouldn’t have to see them kissing.
ung Cubs advisor meeting,” Gary said. He must have been at least thirty years old. He had been running the program since I had attended as a camper. “I’m happy to see some familiar faces and a few new ones.” Throughout the meeting, I refrained from looking back at Manning. He probably thought it was all childish, bored to death. Being a counselor was fun, though. Last year I had been in charge of one of the younger cabins, and the girls had been endless in their love and affection. They thought the world revolved around my co-advisor
back of the room. ” What do you think about it ? ” I asked them.
asked. “Looks terrible. And dirty.
ice things, and you’ll be fine. Manning?”
ything. “Let’s see if they have any open
cue, Gary wandered down the aisle between the seats, a
en a look of warning.
k hands. “Gary, right?” » Manning
school.
hiring.” He twisted his lips. Gary was the kind of guy who liked finding solutions to everything. If he could help, he would. “We have discussed hiring an additional counselor
with some projects around the campgrounds? “
or you…” He looked down at Tiffany. “I’m sorry. I did not catch your name ? »
ry.”
week her senior year because she snuck out in the middle of the night to go to a party. She got it back two days later. “But I really want to go,” she said,
“We will do it.” Gary smiled. “We would love to have you as a volunteer.”
ly. “You mean for free?”
ackground checks and things like that since you’ll be around a bunch of kids.
ll you.
lowed Gary to the front of the room, and I sat at Tiffany’s side. “It’s so stupid,” she said, pouting. “I don’t even want to go.” “You said you did.” “
If
with him would be huge.
d before my eyes. “That’s not really the point of camp,” I tol
t?”
l hygiene is important.
e of these people .”
. “Some of them were in your class.”
“No.”
M
n.”
iller tan from being outside eight hours a day.” She grabbed my hand. “Come on. Let’s go tell this guy I’m going to