Page 99 of Camp Bliss
His momtsksand looks up at him from under her brows. “Okay. Okay. I’m sorry I didn’t let you know we were coming. I thought surprising you would be more fun.”
Zach’s jaw clenches, and I can tell he’s biting back a comment. The tension has me practically bouncing on the balls of my feet.
“Of course, we’re happy to have you,” I blurt, just wanting to smooth the waters. Zach’s gaze whips to mine, and for a fraction of a second, I think I see betrayal in his eyes. And then it’s gone, pushed aside by a look of frustration.
Zach sighs.“Of course,we’re happy to have you,” he echoes my words but somehow turns each one into a slow-motion punch. He looks at his mom and then his dad. “I just really wish I’d known you were coming.”
This time the words come out softer, but like defeat.
“Oh, honey—” His mom springs out of her chair and grabs him into a hug and squeezes him tightly. “Everything here is just wonderful. You’ve done an amazing job.”
She draws back and cups his face in her hands, looking into his eyes. I honestly can’t remember either of my parents ever doing that. Cupping my face in their hands. The Ste. Maries aren’t much on hugging. Or touching.
It looks like it would feel nice. I swallow hard.
But Zach just stares down in his mother’s face like he’s a little confused.
“It’s true. I wanted to surprise you,” she goes on, “but I also wanted to spare you from feeling pressured to make everything perfect. You know how you are—”
Zach stiffens. “Mom—” He spares me a quick glance like he’s embarrassed.
She moves one hand down to his chest and pats it. “I knew if you knew we were coming, you’d wear yourself out pulling out all the stops.”
I huff a silent exhale. She’s right. That’s exactly what Zach would have done. He would have exhausted himself, trying to finish things on a completely unrealistic timeline. I know he’s not happy about the surprise, but I, for one, am glad his mom spared him that. He works too hard as it is.
“And really, all your father and I want is to spend a little time with you and enjoy what you have built so far.” She pats his chest once more and then surprises the hell out of me by shooting that hand to my shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “You and Greta.”
My heart pounds.
You and Greta.
I’m not prepared for the way this feels. This automatic inclusion. The unexpected warmth and welcome.
This rush of emotion.
My nose stings. I clear my throat and press my lips together hard.
When I notice Zach’s eyes on me, I realize my face has gone hot. Our gazes tangle, but I’ll be damned if I can decipher that expression of his. Given the absolute disaster that kiss triggered, I expect him to distance himself from me, push away like he did before.
But he doesn’t.
He’s just looking at me like…
Like…
Like someone who came within an inch of grasping hold of his dreams before they slipped through his fingers.
Zach looks sad.
Oh my God. Why does he look sad?
It has to be because he thinks we’ve bungled up everything. That our ill-fated kiss was like our own collective Rubicon.
We can’t go back.
And we’ve messed up everything good we had before. Everything that was working for us.
Shit.
