Page 16 of Brick Wall

Annie

T he next morning, I find myself on the highway driving fifty minutes south to my favorite place.

Yes, the summer camp in Plymouth is my happy place.

It’s been in my family for over a hundred years. It was initially just a camp where our family and friends could get together in the summer and swim. However, my parents turned our own little happy camp into a place where other kids and families could enjoy it, too.

It was the first thing my mom did when she started the foundation. She turned her family cottage and land into a summer camp for disadvantaged youth and for any child who needed a place to belong. The camp is good for that.

I have so many great memories from here. I learned to swim and row here, and I learned to love teaching volleyball here.

I am so grateful for this little oasis in the world.

I am also grateful that it will be completely empty today .

The gala was last night, and all my brothers returned home for the weekend to attend. Camp doesn’t resume until Monday.

He’d never be interested in someone like you.

Athena’s words from last night float into the air. I need to stop thinking of the gala and her.

I’m not sure why her small comment bothered me so much.

I need to remind myself that I am good enough, and one person’s opinion does not define me. I need to let it go.

I have the entire Saturday to myself in my favorite place in the world. I’m looking forward to my lounge chair and a good book.

I need to recharge and get back to my awesome self.

Camp is the best place to be for that.

* * *

About two hours into my book, I hear car tires down the old dirt road. Who could that be? The only ones that would stop by during the weekend unannounced would be one of my brothers, but they all should be hungover and at home. Perhaps one of my parents?

I put in my bookmark and leave the book on my chair to investigate. I watch the parking lot for the car, but I stay hidden. A truck I don’t know parks, but I do recognize the big man getting out: Sebastian. What is he doing here?

I stay invisible near the corner of the building, and I watch him open his tailgate. He unloads enormous boxes from his car and then moves them near the large storage shed .

He moves the last box in front of the door and struggles with the lock. It seems he can’t get the shed unlocked.

“Need any help with that?” I say, coming out of the shadows.

Sebastian jumps a mile and lets out a high-pitched scream, a noise I wouldn’t expect to come out of this man.

“Ah! You scared me!” he squeals.

“Clearly. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you jump.”

“Nah, I’m okay. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Your brother said I could store some stuff here, and the place would be empty today.”

“No problem, yeah, it usually is. I like to come when it’s quiet,” I admit. “Here, let me,” I say, grabbing the key from his hand as we unintentionally touch hands, and my heart flutters in response. I pull away quickly, place the key in the lock, and push open the door.

“Thank you,” Sebastian says while hauling a large box inside.

“No problem,” I say while helping grab a box from outside the door to bring inside.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“It’s not a problem. It’ll go quicker.” I put down the heavy box and grab another one while Sebastian grabs the last box.

We place the last ones on the ground in the old red shed, and that’s when we hear it—the shed door banging shut.