Free This Summer by Katlyn Duncan

hear Isabelle comment as I walk by with my girls. “It takes a special kind of girl to drive a guy like that out of town.” I look over, meeting her eyes.
    My skin prickles but it isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with speculation about Will’s disappearance. “It also takes a special girl to sleep with the whole town,” I mutter loud enough for her to hear.
    Carter chuckles from the doorway of the pool office.
    “Does she not have her own bed?” Kelli asks innocently.
    I press my lips together and guide her into the bathhouse.
    I help the girls change and gather their belongings before we meet Will and the boys. Will is kneeling next to Gregory, his mouth twisted in a grimace. Will always had a way with kids and making them look up to him as a big brother more than a counselor. But we both established years ago that our authority was never tested in these instances.
    Gregory turns to Oliver, his scowl softening. “Sorry for making fun of you Oliver.”
    “Thank you,” Oliver says softly.
    The tension between the groups is broken when we announce that we are headed to lunch.
    Will and I walk behind the excited kids toward the main building.
    “Thanks for helping Oliver,” I say. “I didn’t even see he was having trouble.”
    Will shrugs. “His mom took me aside early and let me know that he wasn’t a great swimmer and Heath had enough on his plate with the other kids.”
    “I’ll keep a better eye on him too.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” he says flatly.
    “What do you mean?”
    He tucks his hands into his pockets. “You don’t have to break off your time with Carter.”
    “That’s not going to be an everyday thing.” Was he jealous?
    He avoids my eyes. “Isabelle told me that’s all you two did last summer.”
    Of course she did. “This year is different.”
    “Is it?” he asks.
    I meet his eyes and they are thoughtful, expectant maybe? “Well Carter isn’t my co-counselor anymore, so yeah it’s different.”
    “It’s hard for me to think of you giving up on anyone. Did something else happen with him?”
    “Slow down Harry!” I call and Harry completely stops in his tracks until the others catch up, then he’s off again. I shake my head. “What do you mean? We dated and now were aren’t.”
    “How long were you together?”
    “Almost a year. We started dating at the end of the summer last year.”
    He blinks a few times and goes silent for a couple of seconds.
    “Why are you so interested?” I look at him. We used to tell each other everything, so why can’t I tell him about Carter?
    I turn the conversation over to him. “I know you, weren’t the best of friends, but did something else happen between you two?” The kids don’t wait for us as we get to the cafeteria door.
    His lower lip juts out. “Nothing specific. I just remember he was a—” he pauses and opens the door for me.
    I turn around after entering the cafeteria. “A what?”
    Will presses his lips together.
    “A what?” I repeat.
    He clears his throat. “We just didn’t see things the same. I’m surprised you didn’t feel the same.”
    The noise of the cafeteria is muted by the roar of my heartbeat in my ears. I’m not surprised with each step forward in our newly-found relationship Will takes three steps back.
    He winces. “I didn’t mean that. For all I know you changed him into a better person.” He shakes his head once then goes towards the line.
    I stare after him, but Lily’s frantic arm movements catch my attention. She beckons me from the other side of the room.
What the heck just happened?
    Two eight year olds dart out in front of me and I freeze, avoiding a collision.
    “Thing One, Thing Two,” Lily calls. “No running.”
    “They have names,” I say absently. Last year one of the parents had complained about Lily’s nicknames for her kids.
    “Are you okay?” Lily ignores my comment. “You look really pale.”
    I open my mouth but nothing comes out.
    “Did Carter say