“You stay here and keep watch,” I whisper.
Beth’s brows knit together in confusion. “Keep watch for what?”
“For Russell. I’m going to search his cabin. See what I can find. If he reallydidfind Courtney’s diary after all these years, maybe he brought it with him. Let me know if he comes down,” I add before turning for his room.
“How am I supposed to let you know?” Beth asks from the couch.
“Just greet him really loud. Or you’ll think of something.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Memorial Day Weekend, 2005
I adjusted my grip on the back of the blown-up raft Beth and I carried awkwardly toward the riverbank, trying to stifle the bad feeling that whirled in my gut like a tornado. Emma led the way down to the clearing toward the water, with Gigi and Courtney taking up the rear. Above Courtney’s near constant chattering, the roar of the Sol Duc’s rushing water grew louder with each step I took; it felt like an alarm was going off inside me, telling me to go back.
I’d hardly slept last night, partly in shock that I’d been so fueled with rage that I’d punched Courtney, but mostly because I’d been unable to stop the growing anger inside me at Courtney’s unrelenting insistence on ruining other people’s lives. All day, Courtney had been glued to Emma’s side. The two of them led our hike, giving me no chance to speak to Emma alone.
“Look, I know I agreed not to bring it up,” Gigi said in a low tone from beside me, carrying the front of the raft she was sharing with Courtney. “But what was going on with you and Courtney last night? In all my life, Palmer, I’ve never seen you act out like that.”
“Oh, so you think her hitting me ismyfault?” Courtney said from behind us. “Just like you assumed I was the one who spread those photos of you around school?”
I glanced at Gigi, whose face burned red. I’m not sure whether it was from the reminder of her school-wide humiliation or the fact that Courtney had overheard her. Or both.
“What are you guys arguing about?” Beth asked over her shoulder a few feet in front of me.
“Nothing,” Courtney called from the rear.
Gigi stopped. Turned. “Were you?”
“Was I what?” Courtney asked.
“The one who spread those photos around.”
Gigi wasn’t usually this bold. We all suspected Courtney was to blame, knowing the things she was capable of. But I hadn’t seen Gigi stand up to Courtney about it since that day in the school bathroom when Courtney seemingly convinced Gigi she was innocent. Since then, Gigi had appeared to get over it, and I’d assumed she believed Courtney was telling the truth.
Guess not.Throwing a look over my shoulder at Gigi, I spotted the stone-cold accusation in her eyes as she glared at Courtney.
“I already told you I didn’t.” There was venom in Courtney’s tone now. “You know what I think, Gigi?Youwere the one who put those photos up of yourself. You secretly relished the attention, even though you pretended like you hated it. Then, you got to play the victim afterward. You’ve always been jealous I get more attention from guys than you do. You can’t handle it.”
Gigi dropped her end of the raft. I stopped, looking behind me as I felt Beth tug on the other end of the raft.
“You’re a bitch,” Gigi hissed.
“Whatever you guys are arguing about back there,” Emma called from the front, “just stop.”
“Yeah,” Beth added. “We don’t need anyone frazzled before we get on the water.”
“Tell that to Courtney.” Gigi plucked up her raft as I followed Beth over the river rocks that lined the Sol Duc’s shore.
“Easy, Gigi. I was only kidding.”
Behind me, Courtney’s tone was now light, the venom completely gone.
“But it’s nice to know what you really think of me,” Courtney added.
On the opposite side of the Sol Duc, a deer lapped water from the river’s edge. Seeing us, its head shot up. It turned, disappearing into the woods.
I dropped my raft on the rocky shore. “That’s enough, Courtney. Just stop.”
