Cabin Girl by Kristin Butcher Read Free Book Online Page A

people,” Sloan concedes, “but you gotta admit she’s a good worker.”
    â€œI don’t have to admit anything,” April growls. “Why are you sticking up for her?”
    â€œLike I said, she’s just a kid. The witch scam was one thing. It was funny, and I was okay with keeping Bailey occupied while you got back to the cabin. But you’ve really got it in for her.”
    â€œAre you referring to her little screwups yesterday?” April says. “That goes to show what a freakin’ little innocent she is. No wonder her parents don’t give her any freedom. She never suspected for a second that I was behind it. If anyone else messed up that bad, they would’ve got fired for sure, but not our Bailey.” There’s another pause and then, “Do you have any more beer?”
    I feel my eyebrows shoot up. Alcohol is off-limits to staff.
    â€œNot here. But back at camp. We can continue our party there—if you know what I mean.” Sloan chuckles. “I’ll bring the beer. You bring—”
    Just then there’s a shrill whistle, and my stomach does a flip.
    â€œIt must be time to leave,” Sloan says. “Ditch these beer cans and let’s get back before—”
    I don’t hang around to hear the rest.

Chapter Ten
    I climb into the first boat heading back. As soon as it docks, I bolt for my cabin. I don’t want to talk to anyone. I can take a joke, but what April did wasn’t funny. It was mean.
    I crawl into bed and stare at the ceiling. All I want is for sleep to come, but it’s not even in the building. My eyes blur with tears that spill over and slide into my ears.
    Angrily, I pound the bed. Why am I crying? Because I was tricked? Because I was the brunt of a joke? Because April doesn’t like me?
    It’s none of those things. I’ve been pranked and laughed at lots of times, and April isn’t the first person who hasn’t liked me.
    The thing that gets to me is that I trusted her. I opened up to her. I told her about myself—private stuff that I haven’t shared with almost anyone. I thought she was my friend.
    But she never was. She never liked me. She called me a princess. She told Sloan my secret, and she said I was spoiled.
    Spoiled? Ha! At home, I have chores every single day, and I don’t even get an allowance. I can really use the money I earn at the lodge.
    But that’s not the point. April’s had it in for me from the start.
    But why? It doesn’t make any sense.
    I’m still trying to figure it out a couple of hours later when April comes in. She doesn’t turn on the light. Instead she stumbles around in the dark, bumping into furniture and then swearing like it was the furniture’s fault. What she doesn’t crash into she smacks with the plastic bag she’s carrying. From the way it rustles and clanks, I’m guessing it’s full of empty beer cans. Finally, April makes it to the bed and collapses. The bag of cans clatters to the floor.
    I wake to early-morning sun and April snoring. The cabin reeks of stale beer. Since the new guests don’t start arriving until ten o’clock, there’s no rush to get up, except that I need some fresh air. If I breathe in any more beer fumes, I’ll be drunk too.
    I shower and dress. April still hasn’t moved. In fact, I don’t think she’s moved all night. She’s sprawled facedown on the bed, fully dressed. There are beer cans spilling out of a plastic bag on the floor—a lot of them. I wouldn’t be surprised if April stays passed out until tomorrow.
    I think about getting Gabe. One look at April and she’d be leaving on the next plane. It’s nothing less than she deserves, but—
    A light goes on in my brain. Picking up my clock, I smile and set the alarm for right now. Then I stroll over to April’s bed and pull the pin.
    Instantly, the whole cabin starts jangling. I