“Since the first day of school.”
“So, two weeks.”
“I guess.” There’s disappointment in her eyes and I feel like a dick. “Sorry. I just got behind with football and all the other homework.”
“You know the further you get behind, the harder it is to catch up.”
“I know.”
She sighs. “I read this last year. It’s not very long. Maybe we can read it together.”
“That would be awesome.”
“But I’m going to need you to start your essay tonight. You don’t have much time.”
“I will.” She opens the book and wets her lips and I can’t hold back any longer. “Can I kiss you? Once? Before we get started?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “How about we make a deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
“For every ten pages you read, you get a kiss.”
“Ten? Front and back?”
She laughs. “Yes. Front and back.”
“Two kisses.”
“One.”
I groan, knowing she’s got me over a barrel. Who am I to barter? “Fine.”
She hands me the book, a process we’ve done before—every day last summer. I’d rather be on our rock waiting for the sunrise than sitting in uncomfortable kitchen chairs, but that’s life. I stretch out my legs and crack open the book for the first time since I got it in class.
I take one final look at Starlee’s face, her eyes, nose, and then mouth. Yeah, it’s worth the pain of reading to feel mine against hers.
“In my younger and more vulnerable years—” I begin, and her hand slips into mine, encouraging me through each word.
21
Starlee
The first day of my second week of school passes more smoothly. I think because I’m able to settle into a routine. Classes, homework, lodge business. Margaret is friendly in the halls. Claire seems like we’ve shared a secret. I avoid the cheerleaders.
It seems like a good system.
“I’m going to head up to do my homework,” I say after finishing my duties in the lodge office. Katie is going over the orders for the Christmas tree lighting, making sure we have enough lights and ornaments. Apparently one of the boxes of ornaments was destroyed last year—an incident with George tripping over an extension cord on the way to the storage building. Sounds about right.
On the way back to the lodge, I take a detour. I have a hunch, and when I get to the small cabin at the back of the property, I hear the sound of Charlie cursing behind the door.
I knock and he grows quiet. “Charlie, it’s me.”
A moment later the door opens and he looks at me guiltily behind the dip of his hair. His eyes look strained. Tired. Our club meetings don’t start until Thursday and it’s not exactly like he’s breaking any of our rules but still, to find him here, totally immersed in the game, is a little unnerving.
I’m starting to agree with Sierra. He may have a problem.
I push my way inside and see his laptop and headphones on the couch.