“Because . . .” Caleb leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “She’s been fighting with my parents. I think she has a secret boyfriend—or had one. Something happened. She’s changed. A lot. I thought if I followed her, I’d find out what she was up to, tell her to chill out, talk to me.”
“A car would’ve been better. To follow, you know.”
“No kidding, but if she spotted my truck . . .” He motioned toward the cottage door. “You got a brother or sister in there?”
“I’m an only.”
“Lucky you.” When he gazed down, he pointed to her swollen feet. “Take some aspirin. And seriously, wear sunscreen. Where are you from, Yankee?”
“Cleveland, Ohio.”
“You know my name, Cleveland, but I don’t know yours.”
“Emery Quinn.”
“Emery Quinn. I like it. Sounds like a character in a spy novel or something. How long are you here?”
“You’re nosy.”
“Fine. Don’t tell me.”
“Oh, don’t pout. We’re here for the summer. My dad’s a professor at Case Western Reserve—”
“Where he teaches Krav Maga?”
She spit-laughed and decided she liked this sister-chasing-guy-on-a-bike. “Where he teaches molecular and microbiology. My mom is a bank exec. What about you?”
“Born and raised here. Dad’s a logistics supervisor for a bigwarehouse. Mom works for a lawyer. You already know my sister is crazy.”
“Only that you think she’s crazy.”
After that, talking became easy. They were both sixteen, going into their junior year. He played football (what else?), and she played volleyball and basketball. He was into his drafting courses because he liked structure and neat lines. She worked on the school yearbook and wrote for the school newspaper.
“How many girlfriends?” she asked.
“None. How many boyfriends?”
“Liar. And none.”
A lady came out of Cottage 3 and snapped a sandy towel in the air, glanced at the two of them, then went inside.
“You’re the liar,” he said. “I’mthe one telling the truth.”
“So, what’s up with your sister?” she said, swiveling in the chair to face him.
“I don’t know.” Caleb slumped down in the Adirondack. “She started acting funny in the spring, bucking the house rules and curfew. Then, right after school let out, she found her inner Godzilla. Got all mean and snarky. Only comes home to sleep or do laundry.”
“Maybe something’s wrong.”
“You think?” Sarcasm ruled the night. “Mom suggested seeing a doctor, but Cassidy refused.” He reached for the stick lying by the firepit and snapped it in two. “We used to be close, but now she hardly talks to me.”
When he looked over at Emery, she felt like she’d known him forever. Her skin tingled with a heat generated from inside, not her sunburn.
“Is it lonely being an only child?” he asked.
“Can’t say. I don’t know anything else.” He wasn’t looking ather so intently now, so she could watch him for a moment. “It’s pretty cool at Christmas.”
“I bet.”
