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Instead, I shrugged. “It means the camp needs supervision, Darius.”

His eyes hardened. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Act like nothing bothers you.”

I smiled. “You prefer me crying?”

“No.”

“Burning myself?” I asked and watched his face change instantly. That one hurt him. I stepped closer. “Jerking off in front of you until you panic? Getting on my knees? Or how about falling in love with you, Dee?”

Silence. Perfect silence. His face cracked. Only a little.

I nodded and walked away. He didn’t follow. Like always.

The boys emerged from the rec hall ten minutes later. And God, if revenge had a physical form, apparently it wore shoulder pads.

Kyle’s dress was pale blue and stopped halfway down his calves. Ethan’s floral dress might once have belonged to somebody’s grandmother. Brandon wore the lime-green monstrosity. And I would have said that Billy looked like a classic Drag Queen but that was too much of a compliment.

The entire camp erupted in laughter. Mostly because everybody looked ridiculous. There were wigs sideways. Fake mustaches. Two kids had somehow acquired inflatable guitars. Cindy wore a feather boa over her Camp Dix polo. Everybody was laughing at everybody. Which was the point.

Mostly.

Brandon glared at me, and I clapped my hands. “Stunning.”

“Fuck off.”

“Your mother is going to love this.”

His face dropped and I smiled sweetly. Then I turned towards my crowd of adoring onlookers. “Okay! Family photo!”

We herded all the kids towards the main lodge. Campers sat on benches. Counselors were positioned behind them. Everyone piled together. Somebody put bunny ears behind Mason’s head and he threatened to murder them. It was good to see the kid smiling. I knew he was milling over every text, and because Trevor couldn’t video call him yet, it was all he had of his person.

Darius walked towards the back row. I saw him and pretended I didn’t, of course. He stopped beside me. Our shoulders nearly touching. And I moved one step away. His face screwed up in the middle.

The photographer lifted the camera. “Everybody ready?”

I raised my hand. “Wait.”

The massive amount of groans was ridiculous. The little bastards.

I walked towards the front while four boys clustered themselves on the right. Kyle. Brandon. Ethan. And Billy.

“Oh, no, no! You four.” I smiled. “Front row. You’re the stars of the show.”

Brandon stared. “Why?”

“Heights, darling.”

“We’re taller than half the people back here.”

“Interesting.” I pointed. “Front.”

They moved. Slowly, like their shoes were glued to the ground and picking up their feet was a challenge. The crowd shifted and they sat. Dresses spread across their knees. Faces miserable. And? Perfectly center.

I stepped back into position. Darius watched me while the photographer moved into place.