“Never mind,” she mumbled.
“No, Alice …” He reached out and touched her upper arm, but she just shook her head, embarrassed, and kept walking. His hand fell away.
“It’s not a big deal. I just had a bad nightmare last night, that’s all,” she said, her tone assuring him it wasn’t important. “What would you think about transferring Terrance to the offensive line? He could do some major blocking if we taught him how to use his heft to his advantage.”
Thad paused for a moment at her abrupt change of topic to football, but eventually joined in the safe conversation. After a while, they fell silent, neither of them speaking as they progressed along the shoreline and darkness fell over them.
Her heart gave a little leap of dread when he put his hand on her upper arm again, but this time, she paused. Best to get this over with.
“I’m sorry for shutting you down like that. Earlier,” she heard him say, his voice sounding close under the cloak of darkness. “I didn’t realize you were serious.”
“It’s okay. It must have sounded odd. I don’t believe in ghosts, either. Not really.”
He laughed softly. “It must have been a hell of a nightmare for you to bring it up.” His hand tightened on her arm and she felt his heat. There was a half-moon. Between its light, the reflection in the water, and starshine, she could see when Thad’s head dipped toward her face. “Talk to me, Alice,” he murmured. His breath brushed against the skin of her cheeks. Her heart started to drum in her ears. His head lowered more. She felt his lips brush against her temple. The scent of his aftershave tickled her nose. She made a muffled sound of distress and stepped back.
“Don’t, Thad,” she said.
He was still touching her arm. She hadn’t stepped back as far as she’d thought.
“Why not? You’re not involved with anyone, right?”
“No, it’s not that,” she insisted, recalling how she’d told him during their training week that she didn’t have a boyfriend.
“Because you must have caught on by now—almost every other Camp Durand counselor certainly has—that I’m kind of crazy about you,” he muttered, his tone warm and wry, like he was a little amused and embarrassed by his feelings. By his honesty.
“I … Thank you. That’s so sweet,” she began softly. She stiffened when she saw movement behind Thad’s shoulder.
“Hello.”
Thad’s hand dropped away at the man’s voice. He spun around.
“Who is it?” Thad asked tensely. But Alice already knew who it was. No one else possessed that tall, formidable outline.
“Fall,” the looming shadow said. “It’s Thad Schaefer, isn’t it?”
“Oh … yeah. Sorry, we didn’t hear you come up. Out for a walk, too, sir?”
Alice had to hand it to Thad. He’d recovered remarkably well, given the circumstances.
“Yes. I’m sorry to disturb you and—”
Dylan’s words hung in the humid night air expectantly. She sensed Thad hesitate in saying her name, like he didn’t want to expose her unnecessarily. As if Dylan wouldn’t get his answer one way or another.
As if he didn’t already have the answer.
Irritation spiked through her chaotic state.
“It’s Alice,” she replied, unable to hide the edge to her tone. She didn’t want to disguise her agitation at Dylan at that moment. She didn’t appreciate him spying on her. “Alice Reed,” she added darkly, hoping Fall felt her glare at his shadow.
“Yes. I remember,” came his hoarse, vaguely amused voice from the darkness. “The head of the Red Team, right?”
“Right,” she said through gritted teeth.
“It’s a nice night for a walk,” Dylan said, his light tone making her grind the enamel off her back teeth. “Nicer by the beach than in the woods. I guess that’s why you two picked it.”
She clamped her teeth tighter, hearing his veiled message. His barely disguised anger.
“The breeze is nice,” Thad agreed.