promise. The thought sobered her, though she tried to hide it.
“On your way then, Hunt.” Camden reached over, grabbed Shane’s swim trunks, and tossed them at his head. Shane put the trunks on, while Camden slipped into her shorts and tank top.
Shane leaned forward and pulled Camden’s face to his. “I love you, Sunshine.”
Camden’s eyes watered, but she told Shane the absolute truth. “I love you, too, Shane Hunt.” The grin that suddenly graced his face was priceless, and the sweet kiss that followed would stay with Camden forever.
“Bye, babe,” Shane whispered. “See you in a little bit.”
Camden waved her fingers as Shane exited the tent. When she heard the sound of the jeep starting, she began to race around the inside of the tent, packing clothes, and loading the cooler. Within twenty minutes, she had the car packed with luggage, and she was finished breaking down the tent. She couldn’t believe how quickly she had moved. Or her absolute luck. The television still echoed from her parents’ RV, and neither one of them had come out of it during the entire time she was packing.
With one last look at the campsite, Camden jumped into Eric’s SUV and drove away from the campground.
***
Chapter 9
As Eric climbed onto the deck at the exit from the river, he set his inner tube against a bench and stretched out his hand to Stella. Surprisingly, she had been intelligent, kind, and quite funny. Thankfully, Tiffany had been so busy harassing Brody, their inner tube had always been several feet behind Stella's and Eric's. While the sound of Tiffany's nasal voice wasn't completely hidden, the distance did muffle her outbursts somewhat.
Eric was a pretty observant guy, so he hadn't missed the longing looks Stella kept sending Brody's way. How Brody could choose an annoying, obviously surgically enhanced bimbo over someone as beautiful (inside and out) as Stella, Eric had no clue. He had no doubt Stella would have gotten along fabulously with Camden, if only the two girls had any chance to have a conversation. The awkward meals around Shane weren't exactly conducive to growing new friendships.
Eric hoped Camden's ankle was feeling better. Truthfully, he had a feeling it was feeling better this afternoon. He personally thought Camden was just trying to avoid being near Shane on the tubing trip. Speaking of Shane, Eric wondered how the jerk was enjoying his lonely trek down the river. He was actually quite relieved that Shane hadn't caught up with the group. He would have turned the trip into yet another awkward period of their weekend, and Eric had truly enjoyed spending time with Stella. If only they could find a way to get Shane and Tiffany together, they could kick them both out of the family weekend, and the whole trip would improve by leaps and bounds.
"Isn't that your car?" Stella tapped Eric on the shoulder and gestured with her arm toward the trailhead. Eric's head snapped upright, as his gaze confirmed Stella's statement. He saw Camden in the driver's seat, and he quickened his pace toward his vehicle. Stella was just a few steps behind him, and Brody and Tiffany were only moments behind her.
As he drew nearer to the car, Eric could see the tension on Camden's face. "Everything okay, baby?"
"Not really, honey," Camden stated sadly. " I got a call from your sister. Your mom had an accident and is in the hospital. It sounds pretty serious, and we need to leave immediately."
Eric could see the car was fully packed, so he turned to the group behind him. "Guess we need to head out. Family emergency. My mom's in the ER." Everyone nodded their heads and offered words of encouragement. In less than two minutes, Eric was in the passenger seat, and Camden was pulling out of the campground.
Eric and Camden rode in silence for thirty minutes, tension thick in the vehicle. Eric knew something was bothering Camden, as she was driving at speeds significantly over the legal limit. Not to mention, she wasn't
“On your way then, Hunt.” Camden reached over, grabbed Shane’s swim trunks, and tossed them at his head. Shane put the trunks on, while Camden slipped into her shorts and tank top.
Shane leaned forward and pulled Camden’s face to his. “I love you, Sunshine.”
Camden’s eyes watered, but she told Shane the absolute truth. “I love you, too, Shane Hunt.” The grin that suddenly graced his face was priceless, and the sweet kiss that followed would stay with Camden forever.
“Bye, babe,” Shane whispered. “See you in a little bit.”
Camden waved her fingers as Shane exited the tent. When she heard the sound of the jeep starting, she began to race around the inside of the tent, packing clothes, and loading the cooler. Within twenty minutes, she had the car packed with luggage, and she was finished breaking down the tent. She couldn’t believe how quickly she had moved. Or her absolute luck. The television still echoed from her parents’ RV, and neither one of them had come out of it during the entire time she was packing.
With one last look at the campsite, Camden jumped into Eric’s SUV and drove away from the campground.
***
Chapter 9
As Eric climbed onto the deck at the exit from the river, he set his inner tube against a bench and stretched out his hand to Stella. Surprisingly, she had been intelligent, kind, and quite funny. Thankfully, Tiffany had been so busy harassing Brody, their inner tube had always been several feet behind Stella's and Eric's. While the sound of Tiffany's nasal voice wasn't completely hidden, the distance did muffle her outbursts somewhat.
Eric was a pretty observant guy, so he hadn't missed the longing looks Stella kept sending Brody's way. How Brody could choose an annoying, obviously surgically enhanced bimbo over someone as beautiful (inside and out) as Stella, Eric had no clue. He had no doubt Stella would have gotten along fabulously with Camden, if only the two girls had any chance to have a conversation. The awkward meals around Shane weren't exactly conducive to growing new friendships.
Eric hoped Camden's ankle was feeling better. Truthfully, he had a feeling it was feeling better this afternoon. He personally thought Camden was just trying to avoid being near Shane on the tubing trip. Speaking of Shane, Eric wondered how the jerk was enjoying his lonely trek down the river. He was actually quite relieved that Shane hadn't caught up with the group. He would have turned the trip into yet another awkward period of their weekend, and Eric had truly enjoyed spending time with Stella. If only they could find a way to get Shane and Tiffany together, they could kick them both out of the family weekend, and the whole trip would improve by leaps and bounds.
"Isn't that your car?" Stella tapped Eric on the shoulder and gestured with her arm toward the trailhead. Eric's head snapped upright, as his gaze confirmed Stella's statement. He saw Camden in the driver's seat, and he quickened his pace toward his vehicle. Stella was just a few steps behind him, and Brody and Tiffany were only moments behind her.
As he drew nearer to the car, Eric could see the tension on Camden's face. "Everything okay, baby?"
"Not really, honey," Camden stated sadly. " I got a call from your sister. Your mom had an accident and is in the hospital. It sounds pretty serious, and we need to leave immediately."
Eric could see the car was fully packed, so he turned to the group behind him. "Guess we need to head out. Family emergency. My mom's in the ER." Everyone nodded their heads and offered words of encouragement. In less than two minutes, Eric was in the passenger seat, and Camden was pulling out of the campground.
Eric and Camden rode in silence for thirty minutes, tension thick in the vehicle. Eric knew something was bothering Camden, as she was driving at speeds significantly over the legal limit. Not to mention, she wasn't
Similar Books
