Boot Camp, page 25
That same week, Cindy invited me to one of her infamous brunches at the Gerard mansion, and there, Willow, Adriana, Martina, Ava, and I had the bonding session of our lives over one too many mimosas and servings of French toast. As she kept making up excuses to pop in and out of the room, even Cindy didn’t know what to think of the five of us getting along so well, but how could she complain?
We all became besties in the end.
As I scroll through my messages, I glance at Willow’s latest text in the Survivors of Camp Campbell group chat—a mirror selfie of her and Adriana in one of those inhuman ballet positions, all spindly contorted limbs and wide grins. Smiling softly, I text Axel back that I’ll be at camp soon.
Soon becomes one traffic jam, two detours, and a near fender-bender later, but at last, I pull into the parking lot cut into the woods. I wait to start hauling out my belongings, wanting to find Axel first. On my journey across campus, I linger in the middle of the road leading to the beach, thinking about how this stretch of pavement once seemed so daunting, and now its length is all but a warmup to me.
“Hello, new coworker. Need me to show you around?”
Whirling around in a panic, I can barely register who stands in front of me before I feel myself being hoisted into the air.
“Axel,” I laugh as he spins me around in a circle. After I urge him to put me back on the ground, he plants me on my feet and dips his head down. I cup his cheeks in my hands, running my thumbs over his rough stubble, sharing his same broad smile before mumbling, “That’s one way to show me you missed me.”
“I could also kiss you, but you’ve made it clear you despise PDA.” He slides his big, teasing hands up my back, slipping his fingers underneath the hem of my shirt.
I flicker my eyes around the camp, not a soul in sight. “But who says we’re in public?”
With a self-satisfied smile, he picks me up, wrapping my legs around his torso, and brings his mouth to my own. The kiss is shorter and sweeter than our normally long and passionate romantic exchanges, but that same toe-curling sensation rushes down my body, making me wish for more.
But, alas, we’re now in public, and Axel practically throws me back onto the grass.
“You know, I’ve lived most of my life thinking that I need a domineering career, going from the military to the fitness world, with a brief stint in construction in between, but now I’m starting to regret not becoming a professional matchmaker.
Seems to be my specialty.”
Neither Axel nor I have to turn around to know who those words belong to, spoken in the signature smug tone of Bob himself. Blushing like the shy lover he definitely isn’t, Axel waves hello to his boss—well, our boss.
“Hope your summer’s been good so far, sir,” he says, unable to look him in the eyes.
“Oh, it’s been great”—Bob walks up the grass with a pep in his step, his arms stretching over his head—“and it’ll get even better when I have another sixteen minions to terrorize at the end of the month. Enjoy the last bit of your freedom, you two.”
When Bob disappears, Axel turns to me again. “Are you ready for this summer?”
A confident smile pulls on the corners of my lips. “Bring it on, baby.”
Acknowledgments
I could not begin without a huge thank-you to my Wattpad readers, who saw something in this story when it was just a couple of chapters I drafted and posted online on a whim. I am forever grateful for your hilarious comments, sweet messages, and the love for Boot Camp you’ve shared with me all these years—I wouldn’t be here without you.
To my parents, who have always believed in me and my (many) pursuits. To my mom, for instilling a love of the English language in me from such a young age. I wouldn’t be half the writer I am today without all your effort (and especially those grammar lessons at the kitchen table). And to my dad, for telling me at eight years old that I’d become an author one day after handing you a short story on three pieces of copy paper stapled together. I finally did it, Mama and Baba.
To Terra and Charles, for your endless support, iconic sense of humor, and being the best siblings/travel buddies/ride-ordies I could ask for. Love you guys forever. And to my friend Jewel—thank you for never letting a text go unanswered and for your always appreciated kindness and wit. The world needs more people like all of you.
To my editor, Deanna McFadden, for helping me transform this manuscript into something I’m so deeply proud of. Its
strongest themes and messages would not have shined without you and your magic. To the rest of the Wattpad team, for all your hard work behind the scenes and for championing this story. And to Anne Dubuisson, for your many helpful insights prepublishing.
Finally, to the cast of the film for cheering Boot Camp on with me and helping bring its characters to life. What a wonderfully unexpected journey this has been.
About The Author
Gina Musa is the author of Boot Camp and has been sharing her writing online since middle school. She grew up on the New England coast, where many of her summer romance novels take place, and enjoys taking long walks by the beach while daydreaming about her latest story idea.
An imprint of Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group Copyright © 2023 Gina Musa
All rights reserved.
No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the express written permission of the copyright holders.
Published in Canada by Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group, a division of Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, Inc.
36 Wellington Street E., Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5E 1C7 Canada
www.wattpad.com
First Wattpad Books edition: November 2023
ISBN 978-1-99885-408-0 (Trade Paper original)
ISBN 978-1-99885-409-7 (eBook edition)
Names, characters, places, and incidents featured in this publication are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events, institutions, or locales, without satiric intent, is coincidental.
Wattpad Books, Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Wattpad and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Wattpad Corp.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication information is available upon request.
Cover illustration by Jay Flores-Holz
Cover design by Niko Lerman Dalcin
Typesetting by Delaney Anderson
Table of Contents
Contents
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Week One
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Week Two
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Week Three
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Week Four
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Week Five
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Post-Camp
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About The Author
Copyright
Landmarks
Cover
Half Title Page
Title Page
Table of Contents
Dedication
Body Matter
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Contributors
Copyright Page
Gina Musa, Boot Camp
