Colleen felt mortified and ran and ran… she could hear Sully calling her and knew he was probably giving chase, but she did not care.
The sight of her and him together like that… she could not bear to think about it.
He had caressed her face and even though she had not been close enough to hear their words, she just knew.
Mike… Mike was the girl her mother had said Sully had a crush on, it was all so clear now, and she did not know why
but her stomach had turned and tears had welled into her eyes. She did not look back but simply ran.
"Whoa… stop!" a pair of strong hands caught hold of her bringing her to a halt, but unexpectedly it was not Sully who had intervened.
"Hey what's wrong?" a pair of questioning eyes asked. He let go of her waiting for a response.
"No-..nothing…" Colleen sobbed, and that moment Sully caught up with her.
"Colleen…" he said softly, and she shook her head in dismissal keeping her arms crossed.
The other man looked at Sully and then Colleen. He tried to read their body language, but failed to conclude anything.
"What's going on here? Did he hurt you?" he finally asked.
"N…no" she looked down feeling embarrassed.
"Colleen…" Michaela had joined them standing next to Sully.
"I don't want to talk to you" Colleen felt her emotions rage inside her at the sight of Michaela who was quite taken aback.
"You have to… we're in this together," Sully glanced at Michaela who blushed.
"Look maybe it's none of my business, but she does not seem to want to speak to you…" The other man said,
but Sully shook his head, and Michaela pulled out her phone.
"I'm calling Charlotte" she mumbled as she pressed the button.
Colleen merely sulked at her words.
"What is going on?" Charlotte arrived with both Brian and Matthew at her heels.
Seeing the scene before her, she turned to Matthew.
"Maybe it's best if you take Brian back to his house" she said firmly, but Brian wailed "I wanna stay."
Matthew, however, had guessed what was going on, and he grabbed Brian by the arm
"Come on, little brother. You heard her."
"Colleen, stop being so immature. Let them explain." She said to her daughter, and then she turned to the man who had insisted on staying.
"Thank you for your help, but we'll handle it from here…"
He nodded at Charlotte who clearly did not want to be disputed.
"Come by and see me, if you need to he said to Colleen. I'm here for the rest of camp."
Colleen nodded silently, and he smiled at her while taking off.
"I'm Andrew by the way. Just ask for me."
Then he left, and Charlotte said.
"Now we're going to sort this out once and for all. Colleen, you know I told you that Sully had a crush on someone his own age?"
Colleen nodded in response.
"Well, as you already guessed that someone is Mike."
Colleen met Michaela's eyes at her mother's words.
"Colleen…" Michaela's voice was soft. "I'm sorry you had to find out like this… that you had to see us… kissing."
She swallowed hard, but Sully's hand on her lower back calmed her.
"We wanted to tell you, but… then I went away and everything's a mess… " She stopped herself.
"Look, Colleen. This just happened. Sully and I like each other very much, but I also like you…" she tried gaining eye contact with Colleen.
"I hope we can still be friends?"
Colleen did not say much, but nodded. If only it had not been Mike, but someone else, like someone she really did not like, someone stupid.
But it was Mike, whom she looked up to and who was really clever and a doctor….plus she was Sully's age. More or less.
"Okay" she mumbled, and Michaela went to her and gave her a hug.
"You'll meet someone your own age someday, Colleen."
"Good. Now that is settled. It is time to go."
Charlotte ushered Colleen toward the parking lot, and the moment they were out of sight, Sully and Michaela found each other's arms.
She snuggled into his broad chest inhaling his scent.
"I wish I could stay" she mumbled and felt his ribcage move in a sigh.
"I'll come straight to your house when I return" he kissed the top of her head, and she nodded into his t-shirt.
"I miss you already…"
He caressed her cheek, and she met his gaze.
She felt as if he were watching her soul, and when he searched for her permission she silently gave it to him.
The moment his tongue made contact with her lips their kiss turned sensual and urgent.
Her body responded to his light caresses on her back and the ministrations of his tongue like never before.
For a moment she wondered if it was because they had been apart, but then she was lost clasping his t-shirt, trying to control her reactions.
When she finally pulled back, her lips were swollen and her eyes a little teary.
"I'll see you soon" she stated while steadying her breath some.
"Yes" he smiled, and she nodded in the direction of the parking lot.
"I better go. Charlotte and Matthew are waiting."
"Yes." His answer was simple, but his eyes spoke volumes and as she motioned to leave he gave her hand a light squeeze of reassurance.
That evening she lay in bed contemplating her life.
She was starting her new job in a few weeks, and she had to keep herself preoccupied in the meantime.
With Sully away and Miriam gone back to Boston, she felt a little lonely.
She knew she also had to sort out her finances, as her parents had announced that they would no longer support her.
She had anticipated this move, and she hoped she would earn enough at the hospital, so she would not have to move.