Love Inspired January 2014(260)

                Or walk away for good.

                But the only way to walk away from Emma Shaver was physically. And he wasn’t leaving Camp Hope, and for the time being, neither was she. He somehow had to find a way to stick out this arrangement he’d plopped them both into and move forward for the sake of the kids. This was about the campers—not him. His struggles and dreams and desires were not at stake, but an entire dormful of teenagers’ were, including one potentially sick young girl who needed his attention and support. Not his half effort and attention because he was so distracted by Emma.

                The heater shut off, leaving a heavy silence surrounding the entryway. He rubbed his temples beneath the rim of his cowboy hat and stared down at the linoleum squares beneath his boots. He should have known. And maybe he had. Maybe God had sparked the idea and arranged for Emma to fill the temporary need of counseling—but hadn’t his own heart jumped at the opportunity to spend regular time with her again? He’d bit that bullet a lot more eagerly than he’d tried to convince himself at first.

                Hopefully he hadn’t jumped ahead of God. He was so used to lingering behind the Lord, dragging his heels and denying his purpose in starting Camp Hope for so long, that he wasn’t sure if he’d recognize what it meant to run ahead, to carve his own path and hope it was the same one God wanted him to walk.

                Maybe he wasn’t supposed to be anything more for Emma right now than a counselor to her son. That would have to be enough—regardless of how good she felt in his arms. Regardless of how his heart ached to atone for the past.

                Regardless of how the sight of her walking away from him made him feel like a helpless, love-struck teenager once again.

                But they had to come to some kind of truce. He and Emma couldn’t keep playing emotional relay, passing the baton of the past back and forth in heated arguments. He glanced toward the door, wishing he could barrel back inside and demand Emma come settle this once and for all. He was sick of elephants crowding their time together and wreaking havoc on his memories.

                The door opened, and his heart leaped before realizing it was Stacy. Then it jumped again for a different reason. Had something else happened to Tonya?

                “She okay?” His tone sounded more clipped than he meant for it to, and it seemed Stacy picked up on it, as well. Her posture stiffened.

                “She’s fine. Trust me.” Stacy smirked.

                Smug. Too smug. Max narrowed his eyes. “What do you know?”

                Her grin faded, and real anxiety flashed across her expression before morphing back into neutral. “Nothing, I swear.”

                Yeah, right. “No lying at Camp Hope.”

                Stacy snorted. “You do realize that’s a dumb rule? Everyone lies. And how will you even know?” She crossed her arms, all rebellion. And probably a bit of jealousy over the attention her roommate was receiving.

                Max’s spirits sagged. They’d come so far, and now... He withheld the sigh begging for release. “Call it a gift.” Too bad he’d never seen the truth in Emma’s eyes before she deserted their relationship years ago. He could have saved himself the pain and embarrassment of all the unanswered calls and emails. Could have avoided the hope that she just got busy at school and would be home for Christmas. Or Valentine’s. Or Easter. But the holidays passed, and then spring, and then the entire summer.

                He’d never seen it coming. And he would never make that mistake in misreading someone again.

                Starting with Tonya—and the stubborn girl standing before him.