Camp Payback Read Online Free

inappropriate touching.” He glared around the room until his eyes stopped on me. “And staff members are reminded to reread page twelve in the employee handbook about appropriate conduct with campers.”
    My body tensed. Like I’d asked for her kiss? And yes, I’d read page twelve. I had read the entire handbook to make sure I wouldn’t lose this last chance I’d been given before being sent to a group home.
    The director turned on his boot heel and stalked off after warning me to get my butt to my cabin. I was about to do just that, had even made a few steps toward my bag, when Helena rushed toward me. I wanted to keep walking. But if it hadn’t been for her stepping up and giving me a place to stay this summer when my foster parents kicked me out…
    I ground my teeth and forced myself to stop.
    She clamped a hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes, her wiry blonde hair showing signs of going prematurely gray. She wasn’t much older than my mom, and it killed me to think of my mom going gray before she’d ever get out of prison to have any fun. Saddled with a kid before she could even get to college, Mom had sacrificed everything for me. She would be hurt if I blew this chance at the camp that Mom’s old prison friend, Helena, had secured for me until my problems with foster care could be worked out. Again.
    “Javier.” Her gravelly voice was matter-of-fact, but her face was bright red. “Do you have any idea who you just kissed?”
    Around us, activity returned to normal. A bunch of girls surrounded Alexandra. They all comforted her while the counselor tried to resurrect her lanyard display. Every now and then, one of them looked my way, and I glared daggers back at them. Did they have any clue how much their friend might have messed up my life?
    “I don’t care. Look, I didn’t do anything.” I wanted Helena—needed her—to believe me.
    “Well, you should care. Alex’s parents are famous for raising wholesome kids. They write blogs and books about it. Messing around with her is even worse than messing around with any of the other campers. Not only would you lose your job, but the negative publicity would be horrible. Even your mom would hear about it.”
    I froze. I’d caused Mom enough grief. I would definitely stay clear of Alex.
    My eyes strayed to the dark curls waving over her slender shoulders when she picked up a piece of the broken display. “Trust me. She’s the last girl I’d be interested in. The only thing I want to do this summer is make money and stay off the director’s radar.”
    Helena made a face. “Well, I hope you have some fun, too. You’re only seventeen. For that matter, I still wish you’d reconsider working in the kitchen. You could have picked an outdoor job.”
    “I like cooking.”
    Helena sighed. “Maybe it’s for the best. Mr. Woodrow told us that BLISS Network is showing up unannounced this summer to film her. You do not want to be the guy caught fooling around with the Wholesome Home girl. Understand?”
    I nodded, a pang of sympathy making me look up at the cute girl whose mouth I still tasted. Strawberry lip gloss and bubblegum. It must suck to be followed by cameras wherever you went. But like Helena said, even more reason to forget the feel of her soft body and the taste of her.
    Helena’s fingers snapped in front of my face, and I tore my eyes away Alex. “Stick with your goals, and you’ll be able to help your mom when she’s released this fall. The last time you ran off to see her, your foster parents threatened to report it and send you to a group home. And if this camp job hadn’t come through, that’s where you’d be. No more bad reports.”
    My teeth clenched. “I won’t go to the group home. It’s on the opposite side of the state from Mom. I’ll never get to visit.”
    Helena’s face softened. “We’ll sort it out, Javier. But for now, better head to your cabin. Okay?”
    “I need to get my stuff first.” I’d left my bag