Shine Again

Shine Again - Chapter 37

Chapter 37

The campsite was tucked away in a forested area, down by the water. Wyatt met us at the gate with his pass so we could get it and then we drove down the dirt road, through the rows of campers and trailers. I saw baby pools and toys and a volleyball court, and people sitting outside enjoying the final days of summer. When Miller slowed down and parked near Wyatt's car, I let myself exhale.

   "Here we are." Miller's voice boomed through the car.

   We'd spend the 30 minute drive mostly quiet, holding hands. I saw him glance at me a few times but it seemed like he was as nervous as I was for this. I was just trying to remember to breathe.

   "Yay! You're here!" Janelle called out, as I got out of the truck.

   "Hey," I said to her but she was already wrapping her arms around me.

   "Miller, can you bring the stuff in? I'm stealing Addison for a bit," she went on, grabbing my hand, not waiting for his answer.

   It was a muggy morning, so I was glad that I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and sandals. Janelle's hair was down and her blue cotton dress was long and flowy. I followed her into the large trailer.

   "Wow. It's so... nice," I said right away.

   "Yeah. So, this way is the first bedroom." She pulled my hand as we went down, to the right. Then she pulled open a curtain. "Bed,  there. Then there's the bathroom, and there's running water, which is nice. There's the kitchen obviously, and the second bedroom is back here." The other end of the trailer had another double bed and two windows. "You and Miller will sleep here."

   I swallowed hard. Of course I'd thought of this, lots of times. But now that we were here I couldn't imagine sleeping beside him. I mean I could imagine it, but it felt like things were going too fast.

   Janelle obviously saw my hesitation. "There's a bed under the kitchen table, it flips... Miller can sleep there if you'd rather..."

   "Oh. Um. I'm not sure..."

   Janelle sat on the bed, patting the spot beside her. I sat, sighing. "Is he not... committing to you? Are you just... " Her voice was quiet.

   I shrugged. "We've been on two dates and since he kissed me at the party, we've kissed a few more times."

   "Just kissed?"

   "Well... yeah. Last night we sort of did more... I mean it could have been... but it was just kissing."

   "You're complicating this." She laughed. "Are you two dating?"

   "We haven't talked about that."

   "Well, now you're here with him. No distractions. So ask him."

   "I can't just ask him."

   "Why?"

   I looked away from Janelle and saw Miller out the window, pulling bags and camping chairs out of the back of his truck. I smiled without realizing it.

   "Fine. I'll talk to him."

   "Good. So... we brought hot dogs to cook on the fire for lunch. And then I think we'll go swimming, since it's so hot."

   "Sounds good," I nodded.

   Wyatt was drinking a beer as he got the fire started, a little while later. Janelle sat in a camping chair, close to him. I loved the way she looked at him, like he made her world better. Like he could fix anything of hers that was broken. I knew they loved each other and knowing Janelle's living situation was up in the air hurt my stomach. For all of us.