Stroke Of Fear Read Online Free Page A

roar of applause echoes through the buil ding. “These are our camp counselors for the summer. They’re going to introduce themselves to you!”
       Shit. Could she have not warned us? All the other camp counselors start their introductions. When it gets to Cassie, she steps out and waves her hand. “I’m Cassie. This summer is going to rock, you guys!” A few guys let out wolf whistles, and she eats it up, giving the audience a finger wave.
       Really, Cassie? Everyone turns to face me and I give a small wave. “I’m Aubrey.”
       “Take your shirt off!” some guy yells.
       “Watch your mouth!” Mrs. Jones yells , pointing a finger at a blond boy sitting in the front row. He blows us a kiss.
       Great. The rest of the staff introduces themselves and then we get to sit down. Jake tries to help me, but I pull my arm from his grip.
       “Okay, I passed out all of your schedules during orientation when you checked in. We’re going to start the first activities right after lunch. Meet your instructors in the assigned location on your schedules. If you have any question s, find one of the counselors, or myself, and ask. We’re here to help. Let’s have an awesome summer!”
    ***
       Cassie places her plate down next to mine. “Um, this spaghetti looks gross.”
      I snort and take a bite. “It’s no t too bad.”
      She scrunches up her nose and eats it anyway. “Ex-boyfriend…I mean ‘it’s complicated’ is walking toward us.”
       I don’t look up. “Hmm,” I mumble.
       Jake takes the seat next to me. “You didn’t answer my calls last night. I even came by.”
       “I was asleep, Jake. Cassie told you I was.”
       He glances over at me, his brown eyes wide. Don’t look him in the eyes. It’s like looking at Puss In Boots when he’s little eyes are all round and pathetic. “I was just making sure you’re okay. I mean…you kind of had a hard day yesterday. I’m really sorry for throwing you off. I didn’t know.”
       Of course he d idn’t. He barely knows anything about me. And we’ve been off and on for four fucking years. In his defense, I didn’t tell him. But, my mind bobs back to Tanner. He knew without me saying a damn word.
    “It’s okay,” I lie.
       Cassie hums the Jeopardy theme song under her breath until I feel something touch the side of my head. “What the…?” I glance back. The blond boy from the assembly this morning is standing behind me, his hand running along my hair.
    “Excuse you,” I snap.
       He laughs. He must be the oldest camper here. Seventeen? “Hi, lovely. I saw you checking me out from the stage today. I’m turning eighteen in a month. You and me should get together. Like gorillas.”
       What. The. Hell. Gorillas?
    “Hey, back off, kid,” Jake says, shooing him away with his hand.
       “My name is Austin. You can call me anything. Or just call me.” He winks.
       “I don’t date underage children.”
       “Told you, eighteen in a month.”
       Cassie is laughing hysterically underneath her breath. Jake stands, towering over him. “Get lost, kid. I won’t say it again.”
       Austin is wiggling his eyebrows up and down when he suddenly stops.
       “Leave her alone.” I follow his gaze to Tanner. I take a sharp breath in without thinking about it. Holy Fuck . How does he make that camp uniform look so damn sexy? The blue polo is tight around his chest and arms. The khakis hang lowly on his hips, leaving you wondering what her looks like underneath them. His jaw is tight but then his eyes dart toward mine. Shit, he saw me looking. A smile crawls dangerously slow up one side of his strong jaw.
       Bastard.
       “We’ve got this taken care of,” Jake snaps. “Back off.”
       Tanner laughs. “No, you don’t. This is my little brother, Austin. And believe me, he wasn’t goin’ away anytime soon.”
       Austin smiles. “Dude’s right. I wasn’t budging.”
       Jake clenches