Chapter 59
“She must have been so excited,” Eliza says, smiling at June, who’s snoring softly against my shoulder.
I smile, adjusting my sister’s head after it shifts when we pass over a bump. “She woke up like fifty times in the night to make sure she hadn’t dreamt it and it was still there.” I chuckle. “She believes she’s bionic now.”
Eliza giggles. “I’m happy for you, really.”
I smile at my friend. “Thank you.”
“So,” she says, leaning back against her seat. “Excited for camping?” We’re near the back of the bus taking us to the campsite.
I say bus, but I use that term very loosely. There are buses, and then there’s this. Eliza called it a Mercedes–Benz Sprinter Limousine, and it looks nothing like the buses that took me to and from school back then.
The Ashfords put us in the most luxurious, high–end bus with leather reclining seats, ambient lighting, entertainment system, and–I kid you not–a freaking mini–bar. You’d think we were a K–pop group going on tour instead of a bunch of girls going camping.
The most annoying part is that I seem to be the only one in awe. All the other girls–including Eliza–barely flinch. Probably because they’re constantly surrounded by luxury.
When will it all stop inspiring awe in me?
“Yeah,” I answer Eliza. “I’ve loved it since I was a little girl. And I’m really excited to be out of that house, I can’t lie.”
Eliza giggles. “I get that completely.”
The rest of the two–hour ride passes relatively quietly, with mundane conversation among the girls filtering into my ears. I note that Valerie is uncharacteristically quiet.
Eliza told me she heard about my visit to the Ellington estate and has been sulking since then. She must be really peeved, seeing as she hasn’t been able to devise a way to taunt me for it.
As the ‘bus‘ drives past the sign that reads ‘Welcome to Camp Aramoni,‘ I gently nudge June.
“Summer,” I whisper, “We’re here.”
June lets out an adorable yawn as she stretches beside me. She looks out the window, and her eyes widen. “Woah,”
Woah is right. As we drive down the winding road, there’s a glimpse of the Vermilion River, its waters shimmering between gaps in trees. Gravel crunches between the tires as we drive into the heart of the camp.
My eyebrows raise when I see luxurious safari–style tents peeking through the foliage. Fire pits glow softly, and unlit lanterns sway gently in the breeze,
June looks at me in confusion. “I thought you said we were going to the woods to sleep on the floor in tents?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “That’s my bad.”
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Chapter 59
Of course, this ‘glamping‘ experience is the Ashfords‘ idea of roughing it.
The vehicle comes to a rolling stop, and the girls immediately hop out. As I step out and turn to help June hop out, four sleek luxury cars park behind us.
Lara, who, of course, didn’t ride with us, steps out of the purple Porsche. The second one, a cherry red Cadillac, spits out Peter. Lucas steps out of the navy blue Mercedes Maybach. Nathan alights from the matte black Tesla.
The sight of him makes my heart flip. I remember Penny’s words last night, and the image of him going crazy over my sister’s ordeal flashes in my mind, causing my heart to do another backflip.
The three of them head towards us, and I take an instinctive step back when Lucas‘ eyes land on me. They don’t hold any of his earlier sinister promise, though. They merely skim over me as he addresses us.
“Welcome to Camp Aramoni,” he says, waving towards the camp.
“As you were informed earlier, we will have no staff to wait on us. We’ll take care of our feeding and welfare for the next two days.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Oh boo hoo, you spoilt brats are going to do for two days what I’ve been doing for years.
Peter catches my eye roll, and he smirks, which brings a small smile to my face. He might have been a complete asshole to me in school and when I first came to the competition, but after the night we spent together fixing my dress, I guess I could call him somewhat of an ally–a friend, if you will.
My eyes shift to Nathan, who’s looking around, boredom etched on his features.
I wonder if I can get him alone while we’re here. I desperately need to talk to him and thank him for what he’s done for June.
“We have the whole campsite to ourselves,” Lucas continues. “There are eleven cabins, and my brothers and I will take one each, which leaves eight, which means four of you will have to pair up if that’s okay.”
Eliza raises her hand. “If I share a room with April and June, no one has to pair up, right?” Lucas does a quick calculation. There are nine girls left in the selection, plus June, which makes ten, so if three of us share a room, no one else has to pair up.
Lucas nods. “If you’re okay with that.”
I smile at Eliza, who grins in return.
“So let’s all choose a cabin and get settled. There isn’t a stimulated regimen, so feel free to relax and have a little fun.” Lucas gives the crowd of girls a smile that would have made me swoon if I didn’t know who he was. “I hope we have a little fun over the next two days and get to know each other better.”
At that last statement, his eyes land on me, and I swear they darken.
I immediately avert my gaze and reach for our luggage.
“Well,” Eliza sighs as we head towards the cabins, “so much for an authentic camping experience.”
“Oh please, like you could survive in the actual woods,” Peter says, sidling next to us.
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Chapter 59
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My eyes widen when my friend’s face instantly turns the color of a beetroot. She opens her mouth to say something, but I see her shyness get the better of her, and before she can retreat into her shell, I say, “Really, Peter? Didn’t you learn your lesson at the horse track?”
He snorts. “And what lesson is that?”
Eliza’s lip twitches. “Don’t issue challenges you can’t win.”
The way Peter looks at Eliza makes me want to squeal in delight. “Wanna bet?”
She raises a brow. “What do you wager?”
He shrugs. “The camp counselors host a mean scavenger hunt game. Whoever finds the most items by the stipulated time?”
Eliza’s smirk widens, “You’re on.”
Peter grins and looks at June and me, watching their adorable exchange in amusement. “You guys in?”
I glance behind me for a second. Lucas and Nathan are still in the clearing, surrounded by a group of girls. They both engage them with polite smiles, and I realize how hard it’ll be to get Nathan alone.
I turn back to Peter and smile. “Definitely.”
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