Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Funny, I sort of feel settled here. Not out of place with a desire for a Starbucks, or the sirens and twenty-four hour noise of the city.
I thought I wasn’t the outdoors type, but here I am being taught to climb ropes by a six-year-old, and yesterday I went hiking in the wilderness. And I’m having fun doing it.
I did break a nail earlier today, and there was a quick twinge of angst that there’s nowhere to go for a fix, but other than that, I’m getting downright outdoorsy.
Hailey waves at someone over my head, and I turn to see Price addressing a group of older kids by the start to the bigger obstacle course. His voice carries on the warmth of the summer breeze as he waves his thick arm toward a steep wooden wall with a knotted rope hanging down. He’s covering rules and safety stuff, then, like magic, he’s giving a quick demo of how to climb the wall.
In five effortless, hand over hand movements, he’s pulled his entire body weight up the rope, then flings himself over, falling onto his feet in a superhero landing on the other side, in a puff of dust.
The depth of his strength and skill leave me frozen and rapt as he comes around, wiping his hands down the front of his t-shirt, then claps three times, making a gesture for the campers to give it a try.
“Do you think my dad will mawwy you?” Hailey suddenly says, drawing my attention back to her.
I want to say no, because honestly, I think Price has made his choice and I know I should say no, but my tongue has a mind of its own. “How would you feel about that?”
“I’d wike it.” She frowns. “Then you’d be my mom, sort of.”
“Hailey.” I crouch down to her level as she wipes at her eyes.
“I do have a mom already…”
“I know,” I tell her. “Nobody can ever take that away.”
“But you can have two moms, can’t you?”
“You can. Lots of people do. But I think your dad wants it to just be the two of you for a while.”
She shakes her head. “Uh uh. He wooks at you wike he wooks at me, except I’m his daughter. You’re not his daughter.”
“No. I’m not,” I agree. “But me and your dad, I think we’re just friends.”
She shakes her head again. “No you’re not. He thinks you’re pwetty, I can tell. He’s never wooked at anyone wike you. I think you’re pwetty, too. And you’re nice.” She shrugs, swinging the end of the rope back and forth, her hair in two Cindy Lou Who pigtails on top of her head, and I wonder, did Price do her hair? The image of his ridiculously large, thick, calloused fingers being able to do something so delicate has a clutch starting again down in my belly. Hailey cocks her head on a nod like she’s come to a decision on something important, then says, “I wouldn’t mind if you mawwied him. You’d have my bwessing.”
I hesitate, then reach up and pinch her chin softly. “Thanks. I wouldn’t mind, either.” I force a smile I’m not feeling. “But right now, you need to teach me how to climb this rope. I don’t want to be the only one at camp that can’t do it.”
She laughs and nods, her little face spreading in a much more genuine smile than my own, and I wish I could give her a more certain answer.
Kids.
Jesus. They have a way of making complicated things sound so easy. Marry Price, be Hailey’s stepmom, live happily ever after.
But life isn’t a fairytale.
Price would probably shrivel up and die in the city, with honking taxis and all the concrete and lack of nature. He’d look ridiculous in a suit and tie, sitting behind a desk, where adventure would consist of a walk in the park or eighteen holes of golf. No, this is his natural habitat and where he belongs.
And as for me?
I tell myself that I have a master’s program to attend. I have a life mapped out. Goals set.
Hailey gives me pointers on how to climb the rope as she scurries up, reminding me of how Price tackled that rope over the wall a minute ago.
They both belong out here. I’m just suddenly not sure where I belong.
Chapter Ten
Price
“Don’t you dare hurt her.”
I turn away from watching Summer with Hailey at the ropes, to find her friend Dolly glaring at me, one hand on her cocked hip.
“You’re supposed to be watching the kids in your group,” I growl.
She laughs mockingly. “So are you.” Even so, she glances over her shoulder. “They’re fine. There’s another counselor with them. Daniel happily stepped in when I said I had to take a break.”
“Daniel…” I frown.
She rolls her eyes. “Daniel Goodman. Don’t you know the names of the other counselors here? He’s good with the kids, and they like him.”