Lucky Penny by L A Cotton Read Free Book Online

address Lucy. “Good job, little one.”
    He held his hand out for a high-five, and Lucy beamed as she swatted her hand down on his. “Now, who wants s’mores?”
    A chorus of cheers deafened us, and Blake caught my eye in the crush. Something passed between us. I don’t know if it was the excitement of the activity or seeing Lucy beat Brannon on the obstacle course, but we were sharing a moment. The excitement I had been swept up in transformed into confusion. The same confusion I felt whenever our eyes collided. He was trying to tell me something. Or, at least, that was what it felt like, but I wasn’t ready to find out what. I was still adjusting to him being here. In my life.
    My present.
    Fifteen minutes later, Blake had the fire burning and sixteen happy campers were feasting on charred s’mores. I helped myself to a bottle of water out of the cooler and sat on the empty trunk, letting the kids have some time to themselves.
    “I think there may have been a little bit of cheating going on earlier. It’s the only explanation. Team Weston never loses.”
    I smiled. It was impossible not to when Blake was being playful—something I’d realized was a big part of the new Blake. I watched him interact with the kids, with the other counselors, even Troy and Tina. He was charismatic, a total charmer, but he was also warm like the sun, and people gravitated to his light.
    “It had to happen at some point. Besides, my girls rocked it.”
    Blake tipped his water bottle at me. “That they did. So how are the girls?”
    I glanced over at them laughing and joking with the boys. “They’re okay. Erica isn’t responding yet.”
    He followed my gaze to where Erica sat on the edge of the huddle with Brianna. They were toasting marshmallows on their skewers but didn’t have the same expressions as everyone else.
    “It doesn’t happen right away, not for them all. Give her time.”
    “I keep forgetting you’re a pro at this.”
    Blake shuffled beside me, sliding off the trunk and sitting against it on the ground with his knees bent. “Pro? Nah, I just get them. Hell, we were them, Penny. After-”
    “Agh, I’m on fire. Someone help me, AGH.” Trevor, one of the boys, was leaping around on the spot waving his rapidly burning skewer while the rest of the kids all laughed hysterically.
    Blake got to his feet. “Trevor, drop the skewer. It’s on fire. Not you, buddy. Just let it go.”
    Trevor stopped and glanced at Blake and back at the skewer, which was completely charred on one end. He threw it out in front on him and started stomping on it over and over.
    “Trevor, I think you killed it.” Blake laughed and Trevor stopped, ducking his head with realization.
    “I- I thought I was on fire. My bad.” He skulked back to his seat and shrugged off a couple of his friends.
    Blake didn’t come back to sit with me. Instead, he joined the boys. It had felt like he was going to say something before the fire incident. Something significant. But now he was avoiding me. Dusting myself off, I joined the girls. Even if it was something significant, what did we know about each other anymore? I didn’t even know where he lived, what he did with his life. We really were strangers to one another.
    And maybe it was for the best.

    “I’m not doing it. No way. You can’t make me.” Erica stood in her usual pose; arms folded over her chest, an icy glare aimed in my direction.
    Ten days, and I was still no closer to cracking her. It was like whatever I did or said sparked a reaction from her. It was the same with most of the adults in the camp. It was frustrating, but more than that, it concerned me. Most of the other kids relished the opportunity to be free for two weeks; to play and experience and grow. Some of the kids who came through the Camp Chance program were fortunate enough to have supportive and wholesome foster families. Those kids stood out—they were confident and wore a smile in their adventures. But others, like