If the Summer Lasted Forever Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Bonus Scene

  About the Author

  If the Summer Lasted Forever

  Shari L. Tapscott

  If the Summer Lasted Forever

  Copyright © 2018 by Shari L. Tapscott

  All rights reserved.

  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Editing by Z.A. Sunday

  Cover Design by Shari L. Tapscott

  Special Thanks to Christine Freeman and Leah Feltner

  For everyone who’s had, or dreamed of, a summer romance.

  CHAPTER ONE

  I live smack-dab in the middle of Nowhere, Colorado. Most people know it as Gray Jay, the cutest little summer destination this side of the Continental Divide. Our town is literally named after the gray and black bird that steals everything from picnic lunches to dog kibble. Our economy: tourism. Human population: four-hundred.

  We have eight billion trees, no shopping malls, no Starbucks, and only two bars of cell phone service (and that’s on a good day).

  But what’s the worst thing about Gray Jay? The total and complete lack of dating options. I grew up with every guy close to my age, and all the good ones have been claimed since the third grade. The only time there’s new blood in our town is May through September, peak tourist season—the months in which Gray Jay makes a living. But you don’t want to get involved with those boys—no. They’re summer boys, off limits. They’ll steal your heart and leave you pining for the rest of the year. Trust me—I know.

  But some of us Gray Jay girls still like to browse the summer buffet. Specifically, a someone by the name of Paige, my best friend.

  “He’s a good kisser,” Paige says, leaning against the counter, smacking her gum like a valley girl from the eighties.

  Her hair is dark, nearly black thanks to the Cherokee genes on her mom’s side, and it’s pulled back in a sleek ponytail. I’d kill for her hair.

  “Not as good as Bryce but better than Noah,” she continues.

  “Mmmhmm,” I say absently, browsing through our online reservations. My mom owns Campfire Cabins and RV. As the name implies, it’s a campground that also rents out cabins. I usually work the front desk during the summer because Uncle Mark runs the property, and Mom’s often in her studio, creating small sculptures she sells at one of the local coffee shops.

  It’s a bright and sunny Tuesday afternoon in late May, one of our slowest days for check-ins, and we only have two spots filling up today. The first is Greg and Hallie Hendrick and their Greyhound, Bark. They’ll be staying in Cabin Four, the closest to the creek. Greg likes to fish, so I made sure he could cast a line right from the back porch.

  The second is the Tillman family—David, Sarah, and their four children, two dogs, two cats, and a guinea pig. Somehow, they’ve packed themselves into a thirty-six-foot travel trailer.

  When I talked to Sarah a week ago, she said they are “full-timers”—people who live in their RV and travel the country, going wherever they please, whenever they please—and they decided to spend the summer here, in Gray Jay. I have no idea why they would want to do that, but I booked them a secluded spot close to the playground, one with a little elbow room. I figured with that many kids and animals, they’ll need it.

  “Lacey? Are you listening?” Paige asks as I look to see which campers are scheduled to check out, hoping there’s not a cabin opening up.

  Dang it—Cabin Three. Patty, the woman who handles our housekeeping, has Tuesdays off, which means I have to clean the cabin when the couple leaves so it will be ready for more guests.

  “Trev is a good kisser,” I say, eyes on the screen. “Better than Noah. Not as good as Bryce.”

  I have no idea who these boys are, except Trev is a new summer boy, and Noah and Bryce are from past years.

  Paige sighs like I’ve disappointed her somehow. I look up, meeting her dark brown gaze. Feeling guilty, I turn away from the computer, giving her my full attention. “How long is he here?”

  “He was a weekend boy.”

  Weekend boys are even worse than summer boys.

  She blows a bright pink bubble, and it snaps with a pop. “But he said his family stays at Upper Ridge several times a summer, so he’ll probably be back.”

  Upper Ridge, also known as the bane of our existence, is another private campground. The sites are crammed together, sardine-style, but they’re cheaper. Luckily, we have something they don’t—free showers, weekend bonfires with s’mores, and children’s activities that I usually get stuck hosting. Honestly, we’re both booked all summer, so I don’t know why we can’t get along.

  Paige narrows her eyes, studying me. I squirm, not liking the look. Finally, she says, “You need a summer boy.”

  “Not again, thank you very much.”

  “Come on—they’re fun. You’re just looking at it the wrong way. The best part is they leave, and you get to pick another. It’s like renting puppies. All the fun, none of the responsibility.”

  I laugh, incredulous, shaking my head. “You don’t even realize how horrible you are.”

  She levels me with a stare. “Now listen. Almost no one ends up with one of the first guys they date. What if Mr. Forever comes along, and you haven’t dated your mandatory three duds before you meet him? Then Mr. Forever will end up with someone else.”

  “You know what worries me?” I turn back to the computer, remembering I need to print more campground maps. “I think you’re serious.”

  “I am serious.”

  I realize I’m out of paper just before I click the “print” button. Instead of digging a new pack from the file cabinet, I turn back to Paige. “Mandatory three? Did you make that number up?”

  “Yes,” she says, not even hesitating.

  “I worry about you.”

  The front door opens, letting in the sounds of birds singing in the trees and a diesel engine idling somewhere in the campground. Paige waves, mouthing a goodbye as she heads out the door, letting me tend to the couple who lingers near the entrance.

  “Come on in,” I say, smiling as I pull up our check-in screen on the computer. “Are you the Hendricks?”

  The forty-something woman pushes her designer sunglasses back, wearing them like a headband in her lush, short brown hair. She has on a loose, lightweight sweater that looks like it cost a fortune, paired with leggings that
also look like they cost a fortune. It’s an easy, light, I’m-on-vacation kind of outfit—worthless if you’re planning on doing anything other than meandering the paved trails and snapping pictures on your phone (which is now a glorified camera because you likely don’t have enough service to post said pictures to any of your social media accounts).

  I almost sigh, wishing I made enough to buy an outfit like that—wishing I had somewhere to wear an outfit like that.

  “Actually, we’re the Tillmans,” the man next to Designer Woman says. He has a five o’clock shadow and the kind of prized genes that must have been passed down from gladiators. Together, they look like they could model for those advertisements you see when you walk into a sporting goods store. You know the ones—where the couple stands in front of a tent, smiling at each other over steaming mugs of coffee—

  Hold up. The Tillmans? As in four kids and a mobile animal farm?

  “Oh,” I stammer, shocked.

  After talking to Sarah Tillman on the phone, I had an image of a rounded, matronly woman in my head. One who wears baggy jean shorts, stark-white sneakers, and massive, floppy sun hats.

  “The Tillmans—of course.” I smile wider to hide my surprise. “I have the perfect spot all picked out for you. It’s a little tricky to back into because of the landscaping, but it’s the largest space, and you’ll have lots of privacy.”

  “That’s fine,” Mr. Tillman says like he navigates his thirty-six-foot camper into tight spaces all the time. Which, since they’re full-timers, I suppose he does.

  He smiles like he’s genuinely pleased to be in the middle of nowhere for the summer and scans the local attraction brochures on the counter.

  Mrs. Tillman zeroes in on one of my mother’s sculptures—an abstract piece that’s called Wind. “This is beautiful,” she says.

  “Thanks.” I tap away at my computer, completing the short and simple check-in process. “It’s my mom’s.”

  “She has good taste.”

  “She does,” I agree, my smile becoming more genuine, “but that’s one of her pieces. She’s a sculptor.”

  Mrs. Tillman’s eyes widen with surprise. She’s just about to answer when the door opens, and six-foot-two-inches of teenage male perfection leans into the office. “Apparently McKenna fed Candy half a bag of Skittles on the drive, and she just threw up in the back seat.”

  I gape at the sandy-haired boy, my fingers frozen on the keyboard.

  “McKenna or Candy?” Mrs. Tillman asks, less concerned than I would be if that statement were directed at me.

  “Candy. Now Caleb says he’s going to be sick if I don’t let him out.”

  Mrs. Tillman sighs. “Please get Candy out of the car before she has another accident.” She turns back to me. “What spot are we in?”

  As soon as she says it, the boy turns his gaze on me and finally notices me sitting here staring at him. My mouth goes dry, and no words come out.

  Just because I don’t want a summer boy doesn’t mean I’m immune to them. It’s the whole look-but-don’t-touch philosophy.

  What did Mrs. Tillman just ask me?

  Mr. Tillman clears his throat, amused. My cheeks flame as my brain jolts back to life. “Twenty-nine.”

  Mrs. Tillman turns back to the boy in the door. “Walk Candy to the site. Take Caleb with you—do not let him talk you into getting his bike from the rack. We’ll take them down when we’re settled in.”

  A smile toys at the boy’s lips, his eyes still on me. “Do you have a map of the campground?”

  My gaze strays to the empty stand on the counter, and my cheeks get hotter. Unable to look at him, I say, “I just ran out. Let me print you one real quick.”

  “No worries.” A lazy smile finally stretches across his face. “Why don’t you show me the way?”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Fact: I am a competent human being behind the safety of my check-in counter. I can answer the phone, have real conversations, even hand people keys to their cabins. But outside the front office—especially in the presence of a good-looking guy with pale green eyes and an easy way of existing—I’m a newborn giraffe.

  “Sure.” I turn from the counter and promptly trip over my chair.

  Smooth, Lacey.

  Since my cheeks can’t get any hotter, I assume my neck and chest are growing blotchy as well, though I can’t check for obvious reasons.

  Another fact: my hair is reddish-brown, and my skin is the fair shade that often accompanies that particular color—which basically means I have blushing down to an art.

  Turning to Mrs. Tillman, I say, “The showers are open from six to nine. We begin the weekend bonfires at eight, and nightly quiet hours are from ten o’clock to eight in the morning. If you need anything, please let us know.”

  After that, I scurry toward her son, my eyes focused on the floor as I try not to look as awkward as I feel.

  “I’m Landon,” he says as he holds the door open for me.

  Landon. It’s a different name, but it fits his sunshine smile so well.

  I tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear and concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. “I’m Lacey.”

  “So, you work here?” he asks.

  I glance at him, surprised by the odd question. Apparently, he realizes the answer’s pretty obvious because a cringe passes over his face before that easy smile returns.

  “My mom owns the place,” I tell him, wondering briefly if he’s nervous too.

  But of course he’s not. Why would he be? I mean, look at him. He’s the epitome of casual hotness. He’s the kind that doesn’t try…the kind that doesn’t have to. Every glorious inch of him is muscle, probably sculpted by countless hours hiking, climbing, and biking, and he’s topped it all off with a sun-kissed beach tan.

  The Tillman’s travel trailer sits before us in the parking lot, taking up an RV spot. A sullen-looking teen boy, about thirteen, stands outside the brand-new Suburban, holding a bejeweled leash like it’s going to bite him. A white cotton ball dog strains against the lead, pulling for all her ten-pound worth. And how do I know it’s a female cotton ball? Because she’s wearing a frothy pink tutu.

  “She started hacking again,” the boy says, glaring at the dog as he shoves her leash at Landon, “and I didn’t think you’d want her to puke on your seat.”

  “Thanks,” Landon says wryly, taking the leash, apparently unbothered to be seen with the canine fashion statement.

  Without a word, the boy wanders off, phone in the air, toward our gazebo where we’ve set up a cell signal booster.

  “That’s Hunter,” Landon tells me, rolling his eyes, and then he motions toward the dog. “And this is Candy.”

  I would answer, but my attention is on the young boy plastered to the side window. He’s holding a hastily scrawled sign that reads, “Please, save me.”

  “Um,” I say, gesturing to the prisoner.

  “And my youngest brother, Caleb,” Landon supplies. He hands me the leash, which I blindly accept, and then opens the door, shooing the boy back so he doesn’t tumble to the asphalt.

  The boy sits back in the seat and looks up at Landon. “Can you get my bike down?”

  I barely hear him over the sobs in the backseat.

  “No.” Landon sets the boy on the ground and points at him. “Stay.”

  Then he turns back to the interior of the SUV. A girl several years older than Caleb, but younger than Hunter, stares at Landon. Crocodile tears run down her cheeks. A massive Saint Bernard sits next to her, taking up most of the bench. From the way Landon pushes him into the back, I don’t think the dog is supposed to be there.

  “Why are you crying, McKenna?” Landon asks the girl once the dog is out of the way, leaning farther into the vehicle to see her better.

  “Candy’s going to die,” she blubbers, her tears starting anew.

  Landon sighs. “Candy’s not going to die. She’s fine.”

  “Are you sure?” the girl demands.

  “
Pretty sure.”

  Just to remind us she’s still alive, Candy starts making gagging noises. I stare at the cotton puff, horrified. Are Skittles toxic to dogs?

  Several seconds later, the noises cease, and she opens her mouth in a wide yawn.

  Finally, thank goodness, the elder Tillmans show up.

  “Go on,” Mrs. Tillman says to Landon, scooting him out of the way so she can comfort her sniffling daughter. “I’ve got this.”

  Landon steps back, far less flustered than I would be.

  “Where did Hunter go?” Mr. Tillman asks.

  “Uh, that way,” I offer, pointing to the gazebo. “The cell signal is better over there.”

  “Ah,” Mr. Tillman says knowingly, and then he rounds the Suburban, heading for the driver’s seat.

  I glance down, looking for the littlest Tillman. He’s gone.

  Landon notices at the same time and jogs toward the fish pond, grabbing his brother around the middle just as the boy leaps for the boulder at the center of the water—a good five-foot jump. I might be wrong, but I don’t think he would have made it considering he’s only four-foot himself.

  “All accounted for?” Mrs. Tillman calls from her window.

  Landon gives his mother a wave, and then the Suburban heads down the winding road, toward the camping area.

  Suddenly, it’s silent enough to hear the birds again, and I realize I’m still holding Candy-the-Skittle-Eating-Dog’s leash. Feeling a bit befuddled, I hand her back to Landon.

  “So…to the campsite?” Landon asks, his eyes sparkling with humor when he takes in the look on my face.

  Slowly, I nod. We follow the same path the Tillman’s took.

  “I can practically hear your thoughts,” he says after several silent moments.

  I look over, taking in his salmon-colored T-shirt and khaki hiking shorts.

  “You want to know how we contain all of that in one camper,” he prods.

  Because there’s no way to deny it, I laugh a little. “It crossed my mind.”

  “It was insane for the first few months,” he admits, talking to me like we’re old friends. His easy manner helps me relax, and I focus on the road in front of us. It’s strewn with pine needles, and this section is shaded by the towering trees to the west. Caleb runs ahead of us, jogs back, and then runs ahead again. He’s a human version of an energy drink.