My German was fortunately on top of what needed to be done, because he jumped right in. “Let’s do what you planned, but we’ll split into two groups instead.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “That works. The kids should be showing up pretty soon.” A smile exploded over my face when the two unexpected visitors nodded in agreement. They were here for my camp. “Is that fine with you guys?”

They agreed immediately. Alejandro and Kulti went on one team—I didn’t miss how quickly my German claimed the Spaniard, and Franz and I were on the other.

It turned out to be the most fun I’d ever had at any youth camp, ever.

Franz, who didn’t have an ounce of an ego and understood that this was for fun, was a dream to work with. An excellent team player and leader, he passed the ball freely, teased the kids with his thick accent, even talking like Arnold for a little while. He really just took pleasure mentoring the kids. We laughed, grinned, high-fived each other and the kids throughout the game.

On the other side of the field, where we’d moved the goals over, I could hear Kulti and Alejandro arguing with each other in quick Spanish from time to time. The kids, mostly Hispanic, cracked up over whatever they said to each other.

Most importantly, the kids had been ecstatic.

Everyone knew Kulti and Alejandro. Franz had been the one with the least amount of claps when I’d introduced him, but he’d won over the boys and girls who had been frowning when they got stuck with us and not the two superstars.

It had been amazing. Was I over the moon? Absolutely. By the time the three hours were over, I felt like I’d won a million dollars. The kids left more stoked than ever, the parents were in awe from where they were relegated to standing on the side of the field, and even the coaches were all grinning.

I threw my hand up and Franz’s met mine in a wild shake once all the kids and the volunteer teachers had taken pictures with the four of us. “Thank you so much for coming. It really means the world to me.”

“You are very welcome. I had a great deal of fun,” he said with an honest smile.

I held my hand out to Alejandro. “Thank you, too. Those kids,” I couldn’t help but smile, “you guys made their day. Thank you.”

The Spaniard shook my hand. “You’re welcome, Salomé. I had fun, though next time I would rather be paired up with you,” he said, cocking his head toward the German standing next to him. “He was difficult.”

“He’s a pain every day.” I leaned into Kulti, bumping his arm with my shoulder.

I didn’t miss the mini-step he took away from me or the face he made as he did it. His forehead scrunched, and he gave me a side-look that was almost repulsed.

What the hell? Did he just take a step away from me? O-kay.

My poor heart didn’t miss how crappy his actions made me feel. All righty, then. Apparently being playful with him only applied to times when we were alone.

I could feel the smile on my face wither for a second before I plastered a bigger one on top of it.

Well.

That was embarrassing.

I looked back over at Franz and Alejandro, unsure of what to do since Kulti was being weird. “Thank you guys for coming. I appreciate it more than you can imagine. If there’s anything I can ever do for either of you, please let me know.” The bright smile I gave them was genuine. I held my arms out, knowing that at least the Spaniard would give me a hug. He’d given me one before.

He didn’t leave me hanging. A little damp and sweaty, Alejandro stepped forward and wrapped his arms around my shoulders in a gentle hug. “Fue un placer ver te otra vez, linda.”

I looked up at him when he started to pull away and smiled. “Always,” I replied in Spanish. “Thank you again.”