Chapter 20
He shifted uncomfortably, "You're the first to ask me that."
"Really?"
"People don't ask me real questions," he said and breathed out, looking at me, deciding whether he was going to tell me...
They expected his life to be perfect all the time. I was guilty of thinking that as well.
"I'm here because I have to be," he said, finally unveiling the truth, "I'm going into senior year and I want to be recruited for college basketball. I, uh... am not enough of a team player apparently. Coach wants me to be a counselor here so that I learn how to support others."
Zenon was the star of the basketball team. The player who makes incredible layups and scores the winning shots. I didn't realize his weakness was ego. It was surprising that his coach wanted him to learn how to set others up for success. I guess it makes sense. A team is stronger than an individual.
Zenon glanced up at me with blue eyes that pierced through mine. The depth in them was unreadable, but I could see how his eyes searched mine, almost expecting judgment. He'd gone deep.
I smiled at him, "I think you just admitted that you're a selfish jerk."
His face softened, and he laughed, a blend of amusement and relief in his voice. He liked when I was myself.
I added, "I mean I've always known that, but to hear it coming out of your mouth is just... perfect."
He laughed and nudged me with his elbow. I ignored the butterflies in my stomach. He gave me my phone and stood up.
"Nice chat, Candy."
"It's Candace."
"Yeah, sure."
"I'm not joking. That's my actual name. Try it sometime."
He ruffled my hair, looking back at the counselors who were staring in our direction. I wondered if they'd been watching us this whole time, shocked. I'd forgotten how they excluded me. Zenon had taken me out of my sad thoughts.
"Thanks for the talk," I said, looking up at him, "It's nice to have someone to talk to. Even if it's you."
He glanced down at me and gave me a comforting smile. He saw the loneliness that would creep back the moment he left. I think he could see how I didn't really have anyone. I hated being so vulnerable, so exposed.
"Smile more," Zenon said, "Your smile is crazy contagious."
Really?
1 day after the camping trip
Zenon strolled towards the cabin, shirtless. He'd spent the morning working out and he returned now, exhausted. His black hair was messy from the number of times he'd run his hand through it. He held his shirt in one hand and a water bottle in another. The veins on his arms contoured his muscles, which flexed when he moved.
I was frozen in place, hand trapped midair as I was about to drink. I put the glass down and stared at the drinkable man walking towards me.
His upper torso glinted with a thin layer of sweat. It added to the rough sex appeal emanating from him.
His smooth lips parted as he came up to me, "Look who got out of bed."
The way he said bed made me think of all the things...
No!
I can not let my mind go there.
"The campers are doing their activities and we have the afternoon off," I said, closing my book. I was trying to stay professional.
Stay focused on the job and not on the hot man in front of me. He licked his lip absentmindedly, thinking about something else. I wish I could see what was going on in his mind. What turned him on-
"Stop!"
He glanced at me weirdly.
Did I say that out loud?
Oops.
"Was I doing something?" he asked, confused.
My eyes could barely stay focused on his face. Every time he breathed in, the muscles on his chest rippled like a wave. Every inch of him was carved like a sculpture.
He didn't wait for me to answer. He walked into the cabin and I could finally breathe again. Whenever he was near he sucked the air out of the environment. This must be cabin fever.
Suddenly, music blasted through the air. The front door opened, and Zenon walked back out, still without a shirt on. It's so wrong what that does to my mind. He had a cold beer in one hand and wireless speakers in the other. I watched him drink, tracing the line of his adam's apple as he swallowed. The condensation on the beer bottle dripped onto his fingers.
His blue eyes poured into mine, catching the lust that clouded my eyes.
He winked.
I felt my cheeks blush. Was I that obvious? Did he know what he was doing to me?
His jawline tensed. "Do you like this?" he asked in a sultry voice.
Every word was so fricking sensual. Every drop.
I held onto my book like it was the Bible. I needed holy water.