Over the Moon Read online

  My jaw drops with so much force, I can feel the stretch that comes with my shock. “One month? But, Coach—”

  “I trust you’ll make it work without complaint. Just be ready to go.”

  My mouth snaps shut as I try to make sense of what’s happening, but I can’t for the life of me come to any positive conclusions. “Okay.” I draw the word out slowly before Coach nods for me to exit his vehicle.

  “Five a.m. tomorrow,” Coach repeats through his open window as he’s backing out of my driveway. “We’ll talk again when you get back.”

  He drives off without another glance, leaving me standing in the wake of my bad decisions. Whatever Coach and Zach have planned, I have a feeling I’m about to pay.

  IN GOOD HANDS

  SILVER

  “They’re almost here.” My coworker, Hope, practically squeals the words as she charges into my office.

  I look up from the stack of immunization records I was reviewing to find my friend’s normally light skin flushed and her brown eyes big and bright. Smiling, I press my hands on my desk and tilt my head in amusement. “They? The campers don’t arrive until Monday.”

  She lets out a laugh and plants herself in the nearest chair. “No, not them. The Seattle players and that creative agency who host this whole thing. They like to come in a few days early for the initial setup, remember?”

  I really should remember, seeing as this will be the third year the team has held their football camp at Camp Dakota. What started out as a one-week anti-bullying fundraising event quickly grew thanks to its popularity. For one month, Camp Dakota, along with BelleCurve Creative and the Seattle football team, hosts a month-long camp. Each week, we welcome new groups of kids and Seattle players. At the end of each week, there’s a scrimmage tournament to crown a team winner during the final ceremony.

  “I guess I forgot. We see new groups every week. How do you expect me to remember a silly football event?”

  Hope lets out an audible groan at my silence. “Seriously, Silver. How long have you lived here now?”

  “At camp or in Washington?”

  “Both.”

  I ease back into my chair and take my time to respond, choosing my words carefully. Hope has only worked at Camp Dakota for the past year, and while she’s quickly become my best friend, there’s still a lot she doesn’t know about me. “Eight years.”

  Something swirls in my gut at my mention of the length of time I’ve lived here, but I shove it aside quickly.

  “Well,” Hope says, not missing a beat. “Then there’s no excuse. You should be a crazed Seattle fan like the rest of us by now.”

  I avert my eyes and begin to clean up the paperwork spread over my desk. “Not going to happen. I’ve never been into sports.”

  “What? Why?”

  I shrug. “It’s just not my thing. But give me a sprained arm to sling or an open cut to clean, and I’m your gal.” Hope studies me in a way that makes me laugh with unease, causing me to narrow my gaze. “What?”

  She lets out a heavy sigh. “Sometimes I just want to shake you. You need to live a little. Step outside of your comfort zone. Experience new things.”

  Laughing, I shake my head. “I’m doing just fine, trust me.”

  “Maybe, but you’re so career minded, it scares me.”

  With a big dramatic roll of my eyes, I sigh. That’s the thing about studying medicine—no one outside of the field could possibly understand. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. And there’s nothing wrong with being focused on my career. I didn’t get an advanced nursing degree for nothing. I’ve worked really hard to get the head nurse position here after studying under Miriam Bexley for four years. I want to do her proud. I want to do the Bexleys proud.”

  The Bexleys have successfully owned and run Camp Dakota for two decades. I owe them everything for offering me a job and home when I came to them with zero experience. But I’m not about to get into all of that with Hope right now. “Anyway,” I say, tilting my head. “Why are we talking about this? Because I don’t care for football?”

  Hope lets out a groan. “No, because you aren’t freaking ecstatic that some of the hottest men on the planet are about to step foot in our camp. Aren’t you at least a little bit curious about them?”

  “No need to be curious.” I pick up one of the closed envelopes on my desk and hold it up. “I’m already up to speed on all of their medical records. Twelve Seattle players are coming this week, and trust me, there’s more information in this folder than you could ever find on their trading cards.”

  Hope’s mouth falls open, and she lurches toward my desk, reaching for the envelope.

  I yank it out of reach. “Oh no,” I say with a grin. “That’s confidential.”

  She lets out a frustrated scream. “You’re such a tease. I’m so jealous. You know who’s coming this week. You know everything about them.” Her eyes widen. “Just imagine if one of them gets hurt.” She looks up at the ceiling and sighs. “You’ll get to tend to their wounds.” Her gaze lands back on mine before a blush spreads across her cheeks. “Maybe you should teach me CPR. Just in case.”

  A laugh bursts past my lips, and I stand. “You’re ridiculous. These forms are just a formality, but they’re of no use to me. They’re bringing in a sports physician from Orcas Island Hospital to help me with the kids, but the professional players will just be here to coach. I never see them in my office.”

  I can practically hear the excitement deflating from Hope’s chest. “Well, damn. I probably won’t see them much, either, since I’m not working any of the field activities.”

  Hope is the activities director who’s usually put in charge of team-building activities during events like this. Her disappointment hits my chest with a pang. From the moment I met her, I knew she had a huge heart. “Well, you never know. Maybe you can strut by the field every so often and lock eyes with one of these hotties. Maybe you’ll score a date.” I raise my brows and wiggle them to get her to laugh.

  “Or maybe we can double.” She waggles her brows back at me, this time causing me to break out in a smile of my own.

  “Sorry. You’re on your own there. I don’t date the guests.”

  She folds her arms across her chest and studies me. “Yeah, yeah, I know your rules, but you’re telling me you wouldn’t for a single minute consider one of these gorgeous men, even for a little fling?”

  “And what would the point in that be? Most of them will be gone in a week.”

  Her lids widen as she stares back at me like I’m insane. “Sex, Silver. The point is sex. It’s possible to have fun with a man you don’t intend to marry, especially when you’re not currently having sex at all.”

  “Geez, you act like I’m some kind of prude. Tim and I broke up a month ago.”

  She gives a dismissive wave of her hand. “He doesn’t count. His dick was probably as small as that tiny pea brain of his. I’m so glad Miriam fired his ass after what he did to you.”

  I shrug. “It’s fine. I figured out soon enough he wasn’t the one.”

  Hope tilts her head. “Because you, my friend, do not have a tiny pea brain. Your brain, in fact, is too big for your body, and it’s time to give it the day off.” She holds out a hand. “Come with me?”

  “What?” I laugh. “To where?”

  “To greet the bus, like we always do.”

  I burst out with a laugh. “When do we ever greet the chaperones?” I shake my head, not giving her a chance to argue. “I don’t have time for this right now. There are kids who still need to turn in their immunization records. I need to make some phone calls to their parents, and…”

  The look she gives me next cuts me. “Silver,” she says sternly.

  “Hope,” I say right back.

  She sighs. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

  I give the girl credit. Out of all the years I’ve lived at the camp, no one has ever pushed me the way Hope has. While I try to resist her charms at every turn, I can admit that her adventurous nature has rubbed off on me a little bit.

  I cringe while leaning my head back in frustration. “Geez. Okay, fine. I’ll go just so you won’t hold it over my head.”

  “Smart girl.” She grins and hops to her feet. “I’ll meet you out front.”

  After taking a minute to tidy up, I close and lock my office door. Then I cross the examination room toward the main entrance of the cabin. It’s a small workspace, but it’s perfectly fitting for my needs. The former head nurse, Miriam, whom I assisted, always kept me in the front room. I would greet kids and evaluate injuries, then she would come in to give the final assessment—both for me and the patients. She was always testing me, critiquing my performance, and adding to my training. The day she finally retired and left camp, it felt like someone pulling a crutch away from me. But it only took a few months to realize I could, in fact, walk on my own.

  “Morning, ladies,” Anderson Bexley calls out as he strolls by my office, probably on his way to greet our guests.

  “Morning, Anderson,” Hope and I chime back in unison.

  Detecting the flirtatious tone in Hope’s voice, I snap my head to her and narrow my eyes. “Obvious much?”

  She shrugs, looking slightly annoyed, while her eyes are pinned on the man increasing his distance from us. “Doesn’t matter. Anderson doesn’t even see me.”

  Unfortunately, I know all too well that her feelings are justified. Anderson is just as career minded as me. We’ve always had that in common.

  “Yeah, well, if it makes you feel better, I know he’s overwhelmed right now. He’s taken on a lot for his parents while his siblings are off living their lives around the world. Sometimes, I wonder if he feels stuck.”

  She quirks a brow at me. “Like you? Geez, you
two would be perfect together.”

  I make a face. “Gross, no. Anderson is practically my brother. And I’m not stuck here. I choose to be here. There’s a big difference.”

  The moment the words are out of my mouth, I regret saying them. I don’t have to look at my friend to see the gears of curiosity churning in her brain.

  “Why do you choose to be here, Silver? I mean—don’t get me wrong. I don’t know what I would do without you. But it’s not like you have family tying you here. You could be a nurse anywhere. And you’d probably get paid a hell of a lot more than the Bexleys pay you. Why Camp Dakota?”

  I pinch out a smile, trying to ignore the discomfort snaking through me. I could tell her that the Bexleys have done a lot for me, and that if not for them, I might not ever have gone into nursing, but that would only lead to more questions. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s much safer for all involved to just keep it simple. “I like it here.” A shrug accompanies my smile, and it works.

  While Hope turns away with frustration evident on her face, she doesn’t ask another question about it. We follow the winding dirt path lined with tall pine trees until we come to the large clearing, where the staff is awaiting the players’ bus. I can’t help but notice the undeniable energy swirling in the air. The staff’s voices are more animated than normal. Their footsteps quicker. Their laughter louder.

  One would think after the previous two years of the same event, the staff would be used to seeing the players, but the fanfare speaks for itself. And this is where I don’t fit in with the others. As I stand here, awaiting a busload of athletes I won’t even be working with, I start to get antsy. There are so many other things I could be doing right now, like inventory of my supplies or reviewing internship candidates. Miriam has been retired for a few months now, and the only assistant I’ve ever had recently quit to pursue other careers, which means I’m on my own until I find a fitting replacement.

  I start to tell Hope I’m going to head back to work, then the sound of an approaching engine riles up the crowd. A second later, a giant motor coach painted in purple and gold, along with the Seattle football team’s logo, drives through the gated entrance.

  The chatter only intensifies, fading to a slight buzz only once the bus is parked and they’re all trying to contain their excitement. While I’m not a giant fan of the team like the rest of them, I wholeheartedly understand their elation. Living here can become monotonous at times, so I understand how the arrival of celebrities tends to wind them up.

  One by one, players step off the bus, large purple duffel bags slung over their broad shoulders. They look almost silly, like Hulk clones all huddled together as Anderson makes his way toward them with his always-present clipboard.

  “C’mon,” Hope hisses. “Let’s get closer. I want to see if I can touch one of them.”

  I throw her a horrified glance as she starts to walk off. In a swift move, I clutch the back of her shirt and pull her back to me with a laugh. “Please don’t be like that.” I nod toward the gaggle of camp counselors who didn’t bother to change out of their swimsuits for the occasion.

  “Ugh,” Hope says with disgust. “Do they always have to be so flaunty about their hotness?”

  I raise a brow. “Did you just say ‘flaunty’?”

  She shrugs. “I did, and I’m not taking it back.”

  Laughing, I give my friend a little nudge. “Play it cool. Trust me. Any guy worth dating won’t fall for that, anyway. They’ll fall for your hotness exactly as you stand.”

  Hope frowns and stares down at her work uniform, which is just a pair of khaki shorts and a white polo with Camp Dakota embroidered into it. “Yeah, but no one will be able to see my hotness under this frock.”

  “Just wait until they see you in your cafeteria uniform.”

  Absolute horror registers on Hope’s face as she takes in my words. Most of the regular staffers get called to take up odd jobs as needed, and Hope absolutely despises the cafeteria duties. I’ve never seen my friend look so mortified. “Seriously, Silver? You are the worst.”

  She turns back to the group of guys while trying to stifle a laugh, but even while suffering from wardrobe insecurities, she’s filled to the brim with good humor.

  “Holy shit.” The curse flies from Hope’s mouth so fast, I barely have time to register it before she’s gripping my arm. “No way.”

  I follow her gaze and squint to see a straggler stepping off the bus. He’s tall and seemingly built like the rest, but I can’t see much beneath the black hoodie that’s pulled over his head and the dark shades that hide his eyes.

  The way Hope’s jaw has practically fallen to the asphalt makes me all the more curious. “I don’t understand. Why are you freaking out?”

  “Is that King?” she asks, her eyes wide. “It can’t be. There’s no way he would be caught dead here.”

  I have no idea whom she’s referring to. “Why not?”

  “Because he’s…” Her stare follows the man’s movements.

  Her elaboration doesn’t help me make sense of her freak-out, not in the least. “Because he’s what, Hope?”

  “Because he’s Kingston freaking Scott. The king of all defensive ends. A god-like masterpiece of epic proportions. Just look at him.”

  Squinting, I try my best to see more of the guy who now looks like he’s in a heated argument with another player. I twist my lips, focusing back on the heated one. “He looks…” I try to find something positive to say. “Very…” And I’m coming up empty. “Grumpy.” When her eyes bulge at me, I jump to my own defense. “I can’t even see him. He’s all covered up.”

  My nonchalance makes her wince. “I’m starting to question our entire friendship.”

  “Over my attraction to a sweatshirt?”

  She lets out a laugh. “Okay, I get it. But c’mon. You’re telling me you took one glance at Kingston’s file and didn’t feel an ounce of anything?”

  I give her question some serious thought, reviewing his name over and over in my mind until something clicks. Kingston Scott. Kingston Scott. Kingston Scott. But nothing connects. For the life of me, I can’t remember ever seeing the guy’s name in the records I’ve reviewed. “I know nothing,” I tell her honestly. “Must have skipped over him on accident.”

  Hope rolls her eyes while laughing. “Only you, Silver. Only you.”

  Grinning at my friend, I squeeze her arm. “I’m heading back to work now.” When she starts to argue, I narrow my eyes, signaling that I’m not taking no for an answer again. “See you at dinner.”

  This time, she doesn’t argue. “Okay, fine. You get back to work. I’m going to find us a couple of guys to get to know better.” She winks, effectively causing my chest to heat with embarrassment.

  I don’t doubt that she will.

  I make my way to the empty staff room in the main lodge and pour myself a cup of coffee. The room is quiet save for the television that someone left on. The Bexleys strictly enforce the no electronics rule around camp with this one television as our exception.

  There’s a cooking show playing now, and I smile when I recognize it as one I’ve watched with Hope before. Desmond’s Kitchen is an adorable reality-slash-cooking show that features the owner of a cooking school in Seattle alongside his girlfriend, Maggie.

  I find the remote and aim to turn it off when I’m caught in what’s playing out on screen. Desmond is creeping up behind Maggie, who is cutting strips of dough to make pasta. She’s so focused on her task that she doesn’t see Desmond kneel behind her until he places a hand on her hip.

  She looks over her shoulder, and then her eyes pan down. The moment she sees him, her face morphs from confusion to shock to excitement as she registers what’s happening. The volume is too low for me to hear his words, but it’s enough to make her fall to her knees and tell him, “Yes!”

  A bundle of emotions heat in my chest and behind my eyes, until I’m fighting back tears from the proposal playing out on the screen. It’s such a beautiful moment, a sweet and thoughtful gesture, but it also makes me sad to know it’s something that may never happen for me.

  After taking a moment to collect myself, I grab a muffin leftover from breakfast and head to my office. I start to think about Hope and her reaction to the NFL players who arrived. It’s a mystery to me how she can be so content with having a meaningless fling with a guy who will be in and out of her life within the week. Then will she do the same thing next week, when a fresh set of guys come through? She could get attached to one of them—or worse, her heart could get broken.