When the girls returned to their rooms to prepare their day's activities, there was yet another note on Adelyn's and Courtney's room door. Like before, it was addressed solely to Adelyn.

"Oh my goodness, we have mail again for . . . hmmm . . . guess who?" Cheryl asked. She excitedly pulled the envelope free from the door and handed it to her.

"Give me a break, Ads," Julie expressed sarcastically. "What are you doing to this poor guy? I mean he must really be in love with you."

"Yeah, Ads. What's your secret? And who is he anyway? Have we seen him anywhere?"

"Ya'll crazy if you think she gonna tell you girls," Cheryl informed. "Ain't you never heard of a . . . secret romance?"

Adelyn took the envelope silently and opened it. In the same hand as before it read:

"Got an evening canoeing event tonight. But before that I'm free. Meet me at the river mansion at 1:00 PM for a surprise get-away. Wear something presentable."

Adelyn crumpled up the little note and kept it tightly in her hand. Though the message was puzzling, it was exciting to think she would be with Dan again, and this time sooner.

"Well?  . . . So what's the big secret this time, Ads?" Julie asked, looking down at her hand still seriously gripping the note.

"Oh. You know. Just a 'hello-what are you up to?' Guys can be pretty silly when they . . ."

"Got the hots for your body? . . . Just be careful, Adelyn," was Courtney's advice.

"Yeah. And they can be pretty shitty about it, too," was Julie's assessment.

"Well, to me? " Cheryl chimed in, "I jus think it all be pretty cool . . . that Adelyn here's got herself a sweetie ." 

"Thank you Cheryl," Adelyn replied, smiling. "There actually can be some nice guys out there, you know."

"Yeah, right," Julie added sarcastically and visibly still angry.

"Well right now I just want to chill in my room. Until the movies tonight," Courtney said. "Or maybe go to yoga first. I'm feeling sort of burnt out. What do you girls want to do?"

"Yeah. Chill sounds good," Julie said. "I'm actually totally depressed. And still kind of sore in some unmentionable places," she quietly added.

Her eyes met the other girls' silent looks of empathy.

"Alright, Ya'll," Cheryl said eagerly. "But I'm go'n back to the pool today. I wanna see if that jackass who liked me once be still mess'n with Miss Perfect in her white-ass bikini."

Adelyn smiled at her friend with encouragement

"Ads? You?" It was Julie. But the other two had the same question for her.

"Don't know yet," she said casually, not wanting to share with them her mysterious invitation.

As they all went back to the rooms to freshen up, Adelyn was first to make it to the shower facility and came back to dress before the others returned. She put on a light green summer dress, fixed her hair into a neat ponytail, and put on her leather sandals. Before leaving the room in a hurry, she also grabbed her small summer bag which, besides her smartphone, carried a few articles of makeup, should they be called for.

When Adelyn had made her way, undisturbed by anyone and unseen by her friends, to the river path, she walked on quickly, noticing on her phone that it was by then a quarter to one. As she approached Dan's small place at the river's edge she could see a motorbike parked outside the door. At first this gave her a sudden start, thinking it might be someone with the camp staff who would see her and understand the circumstances of her visit. But her next fear was even stronger, and more unexpected, as she surmised that perhaps it was someone, another female,  whom Dan was seeing, possibly romantically. This anxious feeling was soon put to rest when the young Canadian appeared from behind the screen door in his working camp shorts and shirt, motioning her to quickly come inside.

"I really like your hair like that," Dan said comfortably and sincerely. "And you're dressed perfectly for this thing today."

Once inside, Adelyn relaxed more and could sense that Dan was indeed alone.

"Thanks," she said. But I really didn't know how I should . . ."

"No. You're perfect! Really perfect," he said. Then, he unexpectedly took her in his arms and kissed her."

"Wow," she said when he finished the kiss and stepped back to look at her more carefully.

"Wow, what?"  he quietly said, looking into her eyes.

"Wow that . . . I never get tired of you doing that."

He smiled and ran his hand down her ponytail, again seeming to admire the new, sophisticated look about her.

"So whose motorbike is that out there," she asked, still perusing his admiring face.

"Ours," he said mater-of-factly.

"Really?"

"Yeah. We're going into the city of Philly for a while today."

"You're kidding."

"Nope. Toe see their opening of a new show at the museum. I sometimes work there. It's kind of a special thing. They invited me. Thought you might like to come along, too."

"Well, yeah. I actually love museums. But what about . . ."

"I had a feeling you did. Science student and all. Don't worry, we'll be back before anyone misses you."

"It's really sweet you thought about me . . . to go with you, Dan."

"It was a natural choice, Adelyn. You're brilliant and beautiful. Right? Do museums deserve any better visitors on an opening day than that?"

She smiled at his charm. And felt the sudden desire to kiss him again. To truly express her feelings.

"Now look what else I've got." He stooped down behind a chair and produced two motorcycle helmets. "Safety first." He smiled proudly.

"Dan, I can't believe you," she said. "Is there anything else? You didn't think of?"

"Well, I'm not exactly sure where we'll have a late lunch. But as long as we're back by seven or so . . . I'm cool with the camp people. Just have to be here for the canoe event at nine."

"I'm sure we'll make it."

"Good. You'll be in charge of the clock. And I'm in charge of the program today. Deal?"

"OK," she said, placing her hand in his and then affectionately against his face. "So what's first on your agenda then?"

"Getting me dressed. Come on . . ."

Adelyn dutifully followed him back into his small bedroom--the place she remembered all too well where Dan had brought out in her the most sensational feeling she had ever had. She began to wonder if this was possibly the pretense to it all happening again.

Before she knew it, he was quickly undressing, taking off his shirt and shorts. Adelyn's heart skipped a few beats as she watched him standing there in his boxers next to her. His physique in the light of the open window was enticing and impressive. She remembered how his strong arms and muscular chest felt against her while they had been naked together in that very room.

"Hand me those clothes over on the dresser," he said, splashing into his hands some aftershave lotion he produced from a bottle on the floor. She collected and presented him the while dress shirt and khaki trousers neatly folded near the bed. He finished dousing his neck and underarms with the musk and citrus smelling cologne.

"You think that's too strong?" he asked her?

It was the smell which immediately took her back to their nascent and as yet incomplete lovemaking.

"Nope. For me it's perfect," she said, trying not to show her state of growing arousal at the whole situation.

"Good." Cause we got to get going. "What's the time now?"

Adelyn reached into her colorful bag and fished out her smartphone.

"It's . . .one-twenty."

"Perfect. We're outa here. . ."

Dan slipped on some Topsider boat shoes, then reached under his bed and brought up a men's navy-blue tie. He stuffed it into his pocket, giving her a quick and somewhat cheated kiss on the cheek as he passed her, moving out of the bedroom.

"So you ready?  he asked.

Feeling how her body had been simmering and now tingling over the past quarter hour of Dan's impromptu presentation, Adelyn was tempted to play with that question in a flirtatious and seductive way. But in the interest of time and Dan's rather hurried demeanor, she elected not to.

"I'm totally ready," she simply said.

"Good," he replied, carrying the two helmets out into the sunlight with her.

"Is it your bike?" Adelyn asked, fitting the helmet over her head and speaking through the mandible protector.

"Belongs to the camp's cook," he told her loudly. "Let's me take it into town a couple times a week." His voice also was now muffled by the helmet.

As Adelyn got onto the back of the motorcycle and Dan started it with a switch on the handlebars, she put her bag over her shoulder and wrapped her arms tightly around the chest of the young man she now believed she loved. What was in store for them at the museum was of little consequences, she thought, smelling deeply his sent and cologne, and as long as she knew she would be at his side all day. And hopefully that night, laying again naked in his arms.

* * *