Page 44 of Summer Affair

Andrea, who had been chatting with a guest nearby, turned at the sound of her sister’s voice. Her smile faded slightly, but she walked over with a composed expression. “Amy, I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”

“I’m meeting some important investors. They’re staying here for the weekend,” Amy replied, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the dining hall.

Dean felt a surge of protectiveness for Andrea. He stepped forward, ready to intervene, but Andrea held up a hand, stopping him. “I’m fine,” she said softly.

Amy smirked, clearly enjoying the tension she was creating. “There they are, the Trimounts,” she said, her voice dripping with condescension as she waved towards a young couple who were making their way towards them.

Dean noticed the couple—elegantly dressed, with an air of importance about them—heading in their direction. He could see the gleam of calculation in Amy’s eyes. This was all a show for her, a chance to belittle her sister and the camp she loved.

“Ah, the Trimounts,” Amy said with exaggerated delight as the couple approached. “This is my sister, Andrea, and one of the camp’s employees, Dean. They’re both very…dedicated to their roles here.”

Andrea forced a polite smile. “Welcome to River Camps,” she said. “I hope you’re enjoying your stay.”

The Trimounts nodded cordially, but it was clear their interest lay more in Amy’s overtures than in any genuine appreciation for the camp. Dean couldn’t help but notice how Amy’s tone shifted as she spoke to them—syrupy sweet yet laced with an undertone of self-worth.

“Dean, why don’t you get us some drinks?” Amy suggested, her tone making it clear it wasn’t really a suggestion.

Dean’s jaw tightened. Andrea glanced at him with an apologetic smile and turned to go back to her table.

“I’m sure I can find someone to help,” he said to Amy and then waved over one of the servers, who took the trio’s drink orders while he turned back to his duties at his table.

While he worked, he could hear snippets of the conversation behind him.

“Amy, you’re so lucky to have such a charming place close by for your meetings,” Mrs. Trimount said. “We’re only staying a couple nights here but figured we’d be a little adventurous.”

Amy laughed lightly. “Oh, it’s quaint, isn’t it? But we make do.”

Dean felt a pang of irritation at Amy’s dismissive words. He knew how much Andrea loved the camp, how hard she worked to make every guest’s stay enjoyable. And here was Amy, belittling it all for the sake of her own image.

The server returned with their drinks a few moments later. “Here you go. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

“Thank you,” Mr. Trimount said, taking a sip of his drink.

Amy barely acknowledged the server, too busy fawning over her guests. “So, as I was saying about the investment opportunities…”

Dean returned to his table duties and ignored the conversation happening behind him. He glanced up a few times and gave Andrea a reassuring nod or smile. Every time that she met his gaze, her eyes filled with worry and gratitude.

On occasion, he couldn’t help but overhear Amy’s continued disparagement of the camp.

“It’s a nice little spot for a quick getaway,” she was saying, “but nothing compared to the places I usually frequent.”

Just then, a voice behind him interrupted his thoughts. “Excuse me, young man.”

Dean turned to see the older couple from earlier standing nearby. The woman smiled kindly at him. “I just wanted to say how much we enjoy Casino Night. We brag to all our friends about coming down here each year.”

Her husband nodded in agreement. “We’ve had a wonderful time here. You all do a great job.”

“Thank you. That means a lot,” he replied.

As the evening wore on, the contrast between the genuine appreciation of most guests and Amy’s snobbery became even more apparent. But Dean knew one thing for sure: the spirit of the camp, embodied in people like Andrea and the supportive guests, would always outshine the negativity of a few.

At the end of the night, as the lights dimmed and the guests began to depart, Dean found Andrea near the entrance, seeing off the Trimounts with a polite smile. She turned to him, weariness obvious in her eyes. Amy was nowhere to be found.

“Walk you to your car?” he asked gently.

She nodded. “Absolutely.”

As they walked back to the staff area together, hand in hand, Dean wondered how he could convince her to let him come back to her place for the night. He was as tired as she looked, but the hope of spending a night with her wrapped in his arms was very appealing.