Summer Sizzle (Accidental Kisses #2) Read online

  Summer Sizzle

  Accidental Kisses Book 2

  Tammy Andresen

  Copyright © 2018 by Tammy Andresen

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Thank you for reading!

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Love Notes

  Camp Crush

  About the Author

  Thank you for reading!

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  Chapter One

  Millie

  Sunday mornings were my least favorite times at Camp Winnipeg and this one was no exception. If anything, it was worse than usual.

  Saturday was my day off from my counselor duties. I loved working with the kids, don’t get me wrong. But when I woke up on Sunday morning, I didn’t want to start a new work week. It was the perfect beach day, sunny and eighty-five degrees and lounging in the sand sounded amazing. Even if I couldn’t tan.

  I glanced down at my ivory skin, frowning at its inability to turn even the slightest bit brown. Unless I counted the smattering of freckles on my arm, which I certainly did not. As I grimaced at my offending outer layer, a lock of my hair fell into my face.

  Attempting to blow it back, it fell, with some determination, back into my eye. Its auburn color only making my frown deepen. I’d considered dying it a nice shade of blonde or perhaps a brunette that would allow me to fade into the walls, but my mother had completely refused. She said it made me beautiful. Tell that to every guy who’d teased me about being a ginger.

  Finally, I reached up my hand to tuck the lock behind my ear, sighing to myself. My best friend, Chloe, had that sort of blonde hair and blue-eyed look that made guys go crazy. She would also be the first one to tell me that my auburn waves and green eyes were stunning. It was nice of her to say, but I would have preferred to be more generically attractive.

  Fixing my high ponytail to keep my hair in place, I kept walking down the wooded path from my cabin to the cafeteria. I wished she was next to me, right now, saying something, anything to take my mind off my Sunday blues. She was a counselor here too. Which was awesome but she had today off and she’d gone up to Boston with another counselor, Drew, so he could audition for a band.

  Which meant no one was here to have breakfast with me and cheer me up about having to return to work. I sighed as the cafeteria came into view. How was it possible to be lonely in a sea of people? I really should branch out and make more friends but I was an introvert by nature. I liked my small, safe little group. Imagine, a shy introvert with bright red hair.

  Entering the cafeteria, I saw Drew’s best friend, Alex, sitting at a table surrounded by people. I tried not to sigh as I looked at him. His blond hair glinted in the sun as everyone laughed at something he said. He couldn’t be more opposite from me, the life of the party.

  It didn’t seem fair. Tons of personality and amazingly good looks. He was tall with broad shoulders and a waist that tapered with all kinds of muscle. His smile was warm and dreamy with the most kissable lips. Not that I was thinking about kissing him. I wasn’t.

  I made myself stop. Alex was way to cool for me. I was firmly in the geek squad as an arsty girl who liked to paint. I knew from experience that guys like Alex did not go for girls like me.

  I walked by the table where he was loudly telling a story. “So I’m out on the raft and this yacht goes by. Honestly, I practically surfed the raft into the shore. The waves were massive.”

  Everyone laughed again and I gave a little giggle. He was hilarious. We sat together sometimes when he was with Drew and I was with Chloe but I would never sit with him now without a friend buffer. Better to find a quiet corner.

  “Millie,” Alex leaned back on the bench he was sitting on to catch my eye. I have no idea how his muscles could hold him like that, though I knew he was sporting some serious abs.

  “Hi,” I gave a little wave as I kept walking. I needed to get my food and there was no place for me to sit at his table anyway. People were literally packed around Alex. Besides, we were only friends due to mutual acquaintance. He was being polite.

  “Wait,” he called and I turned my head back to see him jumping up from his spot at the table. A collective groan went up from the occupants as several people called for Alex to come back.

  He ignored them, falling in step beside me. “Where are you going?”

  I gave a little giggle and a playful nudge. “To get breakfast. I’m at the cafeteria at eight in the morning. It seems appropriate.”

  He laughed too. “Right. That seems obvious.”

  I warmed inside. I didn’t joke like that with very many people. I never knew how they might react and it gave me a little ripple of pleasure to know I could with him. I knew it didn’t mean anything but it was still nice.

  I watched as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Mind if I join you?”

  The warmth turned to heat and I was sure, if I looked in a mirror, my cheeks would be pink. “Sure.” I loaded up my tray and then we headed for my kind of table: In the corner, away from the crowd.

  As we sat, I started on my breakfast, which was a little weird because Alex wasn’t eating. But he didn’t seem to mind in the least. He tucked his hands behind his head. “So how do you think Chloe and Drew are doing?”

  I wrinkled my nose. “I’m not sure. Chloe seemed really mad last night.”

  Alex leaned forward his eyes glinting with amusement. “Those two should just start dating already. How can they not see they are perfect for each other?”

  I shook my head. I agreed with Alex but somehow, Chloe and Drew seemed to be having a difficult time figuring that out. And every time they got close, one of them messed it up. “They’ll figure it out.” I shrugged. “Eventually.”

  Alex was always smiling. It was one of the things I really liked about him, besides the rock-hard abs and the gorgeous looks. But the smile slipped from his face. “What are we going to do when they start spending all their time together?”

  I leaned forward too. It meant that our lips were only inches apart. “Find new best friends?” Then my face tightened. “It will be easy for you, everyone loves you.”

  He arched a brow. “Maybe they do. I’m not sure. Are you taking applications?”

  I nibbled on my lip. “Are you?”

  “From you. Absolutely.” He gave me a wink and I melted a little inside. Friends. Hah! I would be more like his lost puppy following him around the camp. He wasn’t applying for a friend but to the pound.

  But I wouldn’t tell him that. Honestly, it was better to crush on him and pretend to be friends than to ask him out and get rejected. Because that is exactly what would happen.

  “Okay,” he reached across the table and gave my arm a tiny pretend punch. Instead of hurting it made me tingle all over. “We’ll have to keep each other posted. If they start dating, will enact the emergency best
friend clause.”

  “I love that,” I grinned shyly. “Maybe…” I took a breath. I couldn’t believe I was about to say this. “We should exchange numbers so we can text each other emergency updates.”

  “Oh, good idea.” He reached out his hand. “Give me your phone so I can put in my digits.”

  I opened the screen and handed it over. Maybe Sunday wasn’t such a bad day after all. Although, it was only ten after eight. The day was young.

  I collected his number and texted him mine and then headed off to work in a far better mood than when I’d entered the cafeteria.

  The rest of the day went fine. Great even. My groups were awesome and Alex and I ate dinner together even though a crowd of other campers joined us, I was glad not be alone. And since we’d sat together, I was next to him. I’m sure he didn’t mean it, but our knees brushed under the table a couple of times.

  After dinner, he walked my back to my cabin. “I thought Chloe and Drew would be back by now,” he said as we reached the door.

  “Me too,” I nibbled at my lip. “I can text you if I hear from Chloe.”

  He gave me a wink. “Awesome, thanks.” I opened my door and stepped inside but I turned back to watch him walk away, his body swaying with an athleticism that was mesmerizing. I knew he didn’t really mean the best friend stuff. What would we talk about if not for Chloe and Drew? But it was so nice to hang out with him now.

  For the next hour, I swear I daydreamed about Alex. But by ten that night Chloe still hadn’t come back. I was honestly getting worried until her number popped up on my phone screen.

  “Chlo?” I said.

  Her voice came in a jumble of quick words the way it always did. I didn’t need to say much. She filled me in in like ninety seconds.

  I hung up my phone, staring at the screen.

  Oh. My. God. My best friend Chloe and Drew had started dating. My best friend had landed the super-hot guitar player.

  I flopped back on my bed, still staring at my phone in disbelief. I would not cry. Swallowing down my tears, I set the phone to the side. Don’t get me wrong, I was so happy for her, I really was. Drew, her dreamy new boyfriend, was perfect for Chloe.

  But sometimes it felt like my job as friend was to be happy for everyone else while she rode off into the sunset with her perfect guy while I played the part of sendoff committee. I mean I’d spent the last two hours dreaming about a guy I would never get.

  It was never going to be my turn. I was eighteen and I’d never had a boyfriend. I’d never even been kissed.

  I snuggled down into my bed, burying my face in my pillow. The sounds of Camp Winnipeg were only slightly muffled by its synthetic fluffiness. I could still hear the crickets and the distant sound of the ocean waves normally lulled me to sleep.

  I loved this place. I’d been coming here since I was twelve and this year, I’d become a counselor. I actually got paid to be here which was kind of amazing. Except for right now. I’d like to be anywhere else but here.

  I had two other roommates, who were both out cold. Chloe, of course, was off with Drew. I pulled out my phone again. I was normally the listener. The friend who offered up the shoulder to cry on, who gave advice, and cheered my friends’ accomplishments. Successes like going to state tournaments, or getting asked to the prom, or scoring a hot guitar player. Ugh. But tonight, I needed to talk.

  I tapped on my screen and chose my list of contacts. As I started scrolling down searching for someone who would hear me out, I stopped after just a few names.

  My thumb hovered over Alex Gorski. He and Drew were best friends and the four of us had been hanging out a lot. If anyone would understand my feelings about the two of them becoming a couple, it was him.

  Tapping on his name, I typed a message before I could really think about. He said I should send him an update, right?

  Chloe and Drew are dating.

  I sent the message and then stared at my screen, nervous butterflies dancing in my stomach. Why was I nervous? Friends sent each other text messages. But I sat up straight in my bed when the three dots started undulating that he was writing back.

  What? No way. Where are they? I thought they were supposed to be back hours ago?

  That made me smile. It was like everything with Alex. No awkwardness, just easy. My fingers flew over the keypad.

  The car broke down. Drew’s dad will make sure they make it back to camp in time for work in the morning.

  When I sent the message, I saw the three bubbles pop again right away. It was only after they disappeared, with no actual reply, that I realized I had been holding my breath.

  I lowered my phone. Why was I getting so excited for Alex to send me a text? I was being silly. He was Mr. Popular and I was the wallflower who faded into background.

  Setting my phone face down on my bed, I tossed myself back against the pillow, throwing my arm over my face.

  It had been a bad idea to text Alex.

  Because he was gorgeous and sweet and way out of my league. I may as well invite a mule to kick me while I was down. Of course Alex was too busy to text with me. I’d let our dinner together fool me into thinking we had a friendship at least.

  Resisting the urge to pick up my phone and check it, I flopped over on my stomach. The best thing to do now was go to sleep and hopefully wake up more mentally stable tomorrow. Sunday would be over. I could start fresh on Monday.

  I mean I couldn’t be emotionally needy with a guy who was just my friend, and a new one at that, and one who could date any counselor in camp. Probably any eighteen-year-old girl in America.

  I shut my eyes and tried to fall asleep to the crickets. But another sound made me lift my head. It was a light tap tap tap on the screen door of my cabin. What was that?

  “Millie,” I heard a hissing whisper come from the other side of the door. “It’s me.”

  Sitting up, I grabbed my phone and crept across the cabin. “Who?” I whispered back.

  “Who else were you just texting?” his voice grew a little louder. “It’s me. Alex.”

  Oh. My. God. It was Alex at my cabin in the middle of the night. A little thrill raced through me. “What are you doing here?” I asked as I opened the door.

  He was leaning against the jam with that smile, all full lips, shiny white teeth and dimples, the one that always took my breath away. His blond hair ruffled in the wind and somehow his casual pose only accentuated how muscular he was. “I thought you might need to talk. Want to take a walk?”

  My cheeks heated even as I nodded. It wasn’t that I thought this was a big declaration of affection. But it was nice that he cared enough to come talk with me when I really needed it. “That would be great, thanks.”

  I stepped out on the porch and he slung his arm around my shoulders. It was a gesture I’d grown familiar with and one that was friendly but still kind of intimate. He’d been doing it a lot and I had to be honest, I loved it. Not just because no guy had ever been friendly enough with me to touch me like this but also because he felt amazing.

  “So Chloe and Drew finally figured it out.” We started walking toward the beach. It didn’t need to be said that that was where we would go. All paths at Camp Winnipeg led to the beach.

  “I guess they did.” I shrugged under his arm and he gave my shoulder a little squeeze. Now that I was here, I wasn’t sure what to say. I mean how did one articulate that she was jealous her best friend had landed an amazing guy without sounding like a jerk?

  He cleared his throat. “Did you have feelings for Drew?”

  I stopped walking, my mouth hanging open as I stared at him. Which was probably a mistake because he looked amazing in the moonlight. For a second I forgot what I was going to say.

  But I shook the confusion off. I’d been doing that a lot. I’d been keeping up the façade of just being Alex’s friend. Because even though he flirted a little, like right now with his arm around me, he didn’t want to date me. He dated older, more sophisticated girls. Not like me. “What? Of
course not.” I huffed a little. “I wanted them to get together. I think they are perfect for each other. It’s just that…”

  He gave a gentle tug on my shoulder to start us moving again. Probably a good idea. There wasn’t much wind tonight and we’d quickly become mosquito bait if we didn’t move. “It’s just what?” he asked softly, his arm tightening around me.

  I shrugged again. Because this is what I did, I shrugged and then I closed up and didn’t share. I just assumed people weren’t that interested but then again, they didn’t really get to know me either. And whatever else I was feeling, I liked having Alex as my friend. Not very many people came rushing to my side in the middle of the night to hear my confession. “I’m just waiting for it to be my turn, you know? When do I get the big romance?” There, I was actually treating him like a friend now, telling him how I really felt.

  Alex was quiet as we kept walking, the gravel crunching under our feet the only sound other than the distant ocean. Finally he stopped again. “I hear what you’re saying, Millie. But don’t be in too much of a rush. If you fall too fast or for the wrong person, it can really suck.”

  My breath caught. Was he talking about his ex-girlfriend, Tiffani? She’d been everything I wasn’t. Tall, leggy, poised, and in charge; Tiffani had been a force. The only thing we had in common was the fact that we both had red hair. She had humiliated him in front of the entire camp last summer. I couldn’t say I knew exactly what that as like. But I did have an inkling. I’d suffered my own mini version of public humiliation at senior prom. Or rather, before senior prom. “I’m so sorry.” It was on the tip of my tongue to ask who and what had happened but if he wanted to share, he would.