“You were right,” Beth said, braking the van to a stop.
I looked out the windshield to the small dirt parking area where the road dead-ended. A weathered trailhead sign leaned to the side beside a narrow path at the edge of the forest.
“See! There it is.” Courtney touched Beth’s arm with the back side of her hand. “I told you!”
The van doors slid open. I grabbed my heavy pack and stepped outside. Hearing the Sol Duc’s rushing water made my pulse race. The air was cooler against my legs than when we’d left Sequim.
I slung my pack over my shoulder, grimacing at the weight of the two-person pack raft Courtney had insisted I carry. She’d bought three of them for the trip. Before leaving, we drew straws to decide who would carry them first, and I lost, along with Gigi and Emma. But Courtney promised to take turns when the weight got to be too much.
Beth lifted the trunk door. We each grabbed a broken-down paddle and helped each other stick both ends into the straps of our packs. I heard a softpssstand turned, expecting to see one of the others applying bug spray. Instead, it was Courtney misting herself with her blue perfume bottle.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Beth warned. “That’s going to attract mosquitoes big time.”
Courtney rolled her eyes and tucked the perfume bottle into her pack. “It’s better than smelling like sweat. Or that disgusting bug repellant you put on in the van.”
Beth cast me a look before turning back to Courtney. “Suit yourself. But don’t complain to me when you’re covered in bug bites tonight.” Beth sighed. “I’m tired already,” she added as we moved toward the trailhead.
Courtney turned, shaking her head at Beth. “Oh, stop. You’re not even packing a raft.”
My gaze followed Courtney as she continued toward the trail. I was still stunned that she went behind my back to accuse Bryson and Jake after assuring me she wouldn’t. Now, the board would ask me to validate Courtney’s story on Tuesday.But how can I lie knowing it will ruin Bryson’s and Jake’s lives?
I took a deep breath, which my heavy pack made difficult, and tried to dispel the betrayal I felt. I couldn’t confront Courtney about it now. Not with Emma and Gigi present.
When Courtney got to the trailhead sign, she spun and reached into the side of her pack. “Guys, I have something for you.”
As we gathered around her, she withdrew four shiny red pocketknives. She glanced at each one before handing them out to us, starting with Beth.
“I had them engraved.” Courtney handed me mine, and I avoided her gaze as I took the knife from her palm.
I flipped it over in my hand.Palmer Montague 2005was engraved in cursive on the side.
“Oh, thanks, Court,” Gigi gushed beside me.
“These are so cool,” Emma said, taking her knife. She turned to Beth, who was struggling to open her blade. “Here.” Emma snatched Beth’s knife out of her hands. “Open it like this, otherwise you’ll get cut.”
Courtney put her hands on her hips when Emma handed Beth’s knife back to her. “I’m glad you guys like them. Now we’re ready for anything.”
Thinking the opposite, I slipped my knife into my cargo shorts pocket as we started toward the trail.
“I also got us matching T-shirts.” Courtney slipped off her pack and then unzipped the top. She reached inside and, starting with Gigi, handed out rolled-up pink shirts. “I thought we could wear them tomorrow when we start rafting.”
“Aww. These are so cute.” Gigi held hers up while I accepted my shirt from Courtney.
Senior Trip2005was printed in white letters on the front.
“There’s more on the back,” Courtney said, handing a shirt to Emma.
Gigi flipped the shirt around revealing the five of our names printed on the back.
“Sorry, I couldn’t get one in your size.”
I turned to see Courtney handing Beth a bookmark instead of a shirt. My jaw fell open.
“But I remembered how much you’ve always loved bookmarks,” Courtney added with a smile. “So, I got you one instead.”
Beth looked as shocked as the rest of us as Courtney waved it in the air. “Here, take it.”
I wanted to slap Courtney as I watched Beth begrudgingly accept the bookmark, which was already soggy on one side. “How could you not—”
