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“Fuck you.”
The laughter stopped. Mason straightened across the lawn. Darius moved too but I didn’t.
I kept the dress extended between us. “You want to repeat that?”
Brandon stared at me. Behind his bravado, something shifted. Fear. Tiny. But there.
I stepped closer. Nobody else could hear me when I spoke next. “That boy you little fuck-heads left in the lake woke up choking yesterday.”
His face drained and Kyle looked away. Ethan’s jaw tightened and Billy smirked.
I smiled like we were discussing arts and crafts. “So you have two choices.” I pressed the dress into Brandon’s chest. “You can put on the fucking gay dress.”
His fingers closed around it automatically.
“Or we can go call your mommy and daddy together and I can explain why you don’t feel like participating in the camp family photo.” Silence. Then I leaned closer. “And while we have them on the phone, maybe we can talk about Trevor.”
Their eyes snapped to mine. They understood.
I stepped back. “Changing rooms are inside.”
“This is bullshit,” Kyle muttered.
“Go forth, my darling thespians!” I replied while shooing them forward.
“You’re doing this on purpose.”
“Kyle.” I did my best to appear genuinely offended. “I would never abuse my position of authority.”
Mason made a choking sound behind his hand and Darius looked down. Even he was trying not to smile. Traitorous bastard.
Kyle grabbed a blue dress. Ethan took the floral one. Then they stormed inside together with Brandon. I snatched up the glittery lime number for darling Billy, and he about broke it in his grip before stomping away with his friends.
The second the door slammed, Mason walked over. “You’re insane.”
“I’m healing.”
“That’s not what this is.”
“It’s expressive therapy.”
“You threatened to call their mommies.”
“Family involvement is important, my dear boy.”
Mason stared at me. Then he smiled. “I missed you, Alvin. Thank you.”
My chest tightened and I shoved his shoulder. “Gross! Camp cooties.”
His smile disappeared a second later. “He really okay?”
I nodded. “As okay as he can be, kid.”
Mason looked out towards the lake. “He’s scared to come back.”
“I know.”
“What if he doesn’t ever?”
