So . . . they were no longer hiding their relationship. She thought of what Thad had told her, about how he and Brooke had hooked up every once in a while since they were teenagers. Would they continue to be a couple after camp was over? Something in their manner tonight, their comfort level with one another and their easy intimacy, didn’t call to Alice’s mind a convenient, casual sexual relationship.
Thad looked around before she had a chance to duck onto the path that led to her and Kuvi’s cabin.
“Alice,” Thad called. She waved a greeting and reluctantly approached the couple. “I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you last night at the bonfire. Nice job,” Thad said when she was a few feet away.
“Back at you,” Alice said. “Hi, Brooke.”
“Alice,” Brooke said. Her gaze ran over her. “Are you growing your hair out?”
“Oh,” Alice touched her hair self-consciously. She pushed it behind her ears. “I just haven’t had a chance to get it cut here at camp.”
“Only a few more days left,” Thad said. He smiled, and Alice had the random thought that he seemed more like the Thad of old. A little more relaxed. She wondered if the fact that a limousine had arrived at the camp this morning and a tight-mouthed Sebastian Kehoe had gotten into it had anything to do with Thad’s rediscovered easiness. Kehoe had left for Reno on the company jet today, Dylan at his side. Leave it to Dylan to alleviate his concerns about Kehoe by just picking him up and transferring him to another part of the country.
“Yeah. It’s flown by,” Alice said.
“How are you going to feel about relocating?” Brooke asked.
“Well, assuming I get a spot, I’ll go wherever Durand wants me,” Alice replied. She was a little uncomfortable talking about it. Would Thad, Brooke, Kuvi, and Dave—everyone at Camp Durand—think her disingenuous when the truth came out about Addie Durand? Would they look back on moments like this, talking to her, and consider her a lying fake?
And did Thad suspect at all, given what he’d overheard her saying in the castle hallway the night of the Alumni Dinner? If he had heard, did he understand what it meant? Was that why he felt uncomfortable? She and Thad had been largely avoiding each other ever since then. Alice felt awkward, knowing he knew about her and Dylan . . . knowing he didn’t trust Dylan. Plus, Dylan had told her that Thad had admitted to following her at times. Was he still infatuated with her?
“You’ll get a spot,” Brooke said, her sharp, annoyed glance reminding her of the Brooke of old. She’d noticed Thad was studying Alice closely. Brooke lifted Thad’s hand, which she still held. “So will you. The other seven slots are pretty much up for grabs, though.”
“That’s not true,” Thad said somberly, dragging his gaze off Alice. “You’ll get a spot. So will Dave and Kuvi. I’m sure of it.”
Alice agreed.
“Yeah, well not too long now before we know for sure, one way or another,” Brooke said, shrugging. She hitched her head toward the beach, looking pointedly at Thad. Thad nodded distractedly.
“You go on ahead. I need to talk to Alice about something,” he said.
Brooke’s eyes widened. Alice sensed her disbelief and anger. Brooke opened her mouth, and Alice sensed whatever she said wasn’t going to be pretty.
“It’s not what you’re thinking, Brooke,” Thad said sharply, preempting her fury. He held her stare. “I’ll be down to the beach to meet you in a couple minutes. This won’t take long. And it’s important. Trust me?”
Brooke’s mouth hung open. Alice thought she saw a hint of the vulnerability in Brooke’s eyes that had been there when she confronted Alice about Bang.
“Okay,” Brooke agreed. She gave Alice an uncertain glance before she turned and walked away.
“That was big of her,” Alice mumbled, meaning it. Brooke was definitely miles ahead of her in the trust department.
“Yeah,” Thad agreed grimly. Alice couldn’t think of what else to say when his gaze once again ran over her face. Alice felt like he was an artist studying her for a portrait.
“What is it, Thad?” she asked uneasily.
“I wanted you to know that I didn’t understand at first. What I overheard in the hallway of the castle
that night. But I do now.”
His meaning penetrated. She took a step back from him. Out of the corner of her vision, she saw movement at the far left of the common area. She blinked at the vision of Sal Rigo standing on the path. It was as if he’d emerged magically from the trees somehow. He was staring at both of them, his features rigid. Thad noticed Rigo, too.
“What the fu—”
“It’s okay,” Alice said sharply, cutting off Thad’s indignant exclamation at Rigo’s blatant intrusion on a private conversation. She waved at Rigo, the gesture both an acknowledgement of his presence and an assurance that she was fine, and he needn’t approach any closer. She had difficulty meeting Thad’s stare.
“Dylan has asked him to watch over me,” she said uncomfortably.
There was an awkward silence.