Jane and I put up the sign. We’re in Honeyville, picking up diapers and wipes. I’ll text you when we’re all on our way.
“Seriously?” My entire family was in Honeyville without me? Another text appeared.
Theo
Sorry. We knew you were busy cleaning. We’ll be back with Mom, Dad, and Cate in a couple of hours. See you then.
I was itching to get my hands on Cate again but I rolled my shoulders back. “Okay. It looks like I have some time. Let’s go out on the lake.”
Cash’s face broke into a beautiful smile. “Let’s do it.”
His flip-flops slapped against the hardwood floors like he was in a hurry—and he didn’t slow his stride once we were outside. I practically had to jog to keep up.
When we got to the dock, he walked to the motorless dinghy.
“Don’t you want this one?” I gestured to the one with the motor.
“Nah.” He grabbed a pair of oars and stepped into the boat. “I feel like rowing. I’ve been stuck in the studio too much. My muscles are atrophying.” My eyes slid over his strong arms and sculpted shoulders that were visible even under a T-shirt. Nope. Those muscles were just fine.
“Okay.” I looked around. “Where are all the oars? I can help.”
He set his oars down on the floor of the boat and reached for me. “I’m good. You relax.” He held onto me until I made it to my seat and then turned and used an oar to push off.
He wasn’t kidding. He must’ve really wanted to get a shoulder workout. I’d never seen him row so fast. Also, he might’ve had too much caffeine today. His right knee wouldn’t stop bouncing. Something was off about this whole excursion.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Fine.” His Adam’s apple dipped. “How about a round of Lyric Wars?”
Lyric Wars was our more modern spin on Name That Tune, only instead of humming, we sang lyrics. It was one of our nightly traditions in high school.
I rubbed my hands together briskly. “I don’t know if you want to do that. My repertoire has expanded a lot since the last time we played.”
“I bet it has.” A slow, knowing grin tugged at his mouth, his gaze dark with something unreadable. Something that said he was coming for me.
My fingers gripped the edge of the seat.What was that?
He laid the oars down behind him. I glanced around. How had he gotten us out here so fast? We were dead center in the lake.
“Okay, Iron Man,” I said, a tad taken aback. “Hit me.”
His gaze intensified, his elbows resting on his knees. And then he started to sing.
Hard to leave you when you were all I ever wanted
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Was this…?
Hard to pretend when my heart never stopped.
Questions burst through my mind. What? No—where? No—how? But he was still singing.
I was too scared to take your hand
My hands pressed against my cheeks, powerless to stop the horror from taking over my face.
Didn’t think I’d get a chance.
I shot to my feet, making the boat wobble. I turned away from him, fighting to catch my breath. “You went through my stuff?”
