“Can I at least call them?” I ask, my voice small.
She shakes her head. “We really need to go. Maybe your grandparents will let you get back in touch after you’ve settled in with them.”
It took about a month, but I was finally able to convince my grandparents to let me call. Talking to Logan on the phone helped keep me sane. I didn’t want to talk to Lizzy because it would’ve hurt too much. After all the pain my parents’ death caused, speaking to her knowing I couldn’t see or be near her, would’ve destroyed my devastated little twelve-year-old heart.
I remember looking back at my house as the DCFS agent’s car pulled away, watching it shrink in the rear window until itdisappeared out of sight. Just like my parents. Just like my life as I knew it.
When I open my eyes, the world around me slowly comes back into focus. My hand trembles slightly as I reach up to swipe a tear from my cheek. Almost twenty years later, and the pain still feels fresh. As if it happened yesterday.
It’s strange how something as mundane as an old, rotting treehouse can hold so much of your past.
I take dozens of photos of the treehouse, the yard and the pond. Each one captures a different angle, a different memory. Even though they’re meant to help the set designers recreate moments for the film, they’ll never be able to capture what it actually felt like to be here with Lizzy all those years ago.
The girl with a laugh full of sunshine.
eleven
“So.”Noia glances at me over the rim of her glass. “What’s the deal with Reyna and Logan? The way they were shooting eye daggers at each other at the Dunk-A-Hunk was pretty intense.”
I’m standing in Jax’s kitchen at Sasha’s party, hanging out with the girls, while Jax, Ryder and Carter are hanging out in the living room.
Somehow, Sasha managed to talk me into coming tonight, even though I wanted nothing more than to stay at home and paint. I’ve been feeling a little off the past few days and I can’t seem to pinpoint where the feeling is coming from.
“I tried asking my brother how they know each other, but he just grunted and changed the subject.” I roll my eyes. “Which is nothing new.” I shrug. “And I don’t know Reyna well enough to ask her.”
“Actually,” Sasha sighs. “Jax talked to Logan about it.”
Noia’s eyes widen. “No shit? What did he say?”
“Seems they hit it off one night about a year ago. Based on what little Jax was able to get out of him, Logan woke up thenext morning and Reyna was gone. Didn’t leave a note or anything.”
“No shit,” I grin, leaning against the counter. “Well, unfortunately, I know how my brother works when it comes to hook-ups. My bet? What she did probably served him right.” I take a sip of my drink. “Is she coming tonight? ‘Cuz, Logan should be here any minute.”
“No. She’s in Portland for her final SAR test. It’s supposed to last the whole weekend,” Sasha says.
“Probably for the best,” I nod, setting my glass down on the counter. “Nature calls. Be right back.”
The bathroom is small but immaculately clean, like everything else in Jax’s house. I take my time, fixing my hair and reapplying my lipstick as I plot my escape. I love my friends, but there was a shift in the air this morning. The kind that makes me think something crazy is about to happen. And it’s been keeping me on edge all day.
When I step back into the hallway, I hear hushed voices coming from the kitchen. Just as I round the corner, Sasha’s urgent whisper has alarm bells going off in my head.
“Shit. We have to warn Lizzy ab?—”
“Warn me about what?” I ask, stepping into the kitchen.
Sasha and Noia freeze, exchanging a panicked glance.
“Um...” Sasha’s eyes dart between me and her bestie, who has suddenly become very interested in her drink.
“Hey, sis! Look who I found!”
Skidding to a stop, I can literally feel my face drain of all color as I lock eyes with the one person I’ve never wanted to see or have anything to do with ever again.
Rowan Cole.
Grinning from ear to ear, my sweet, well meaning twin hasn’t got a clue how I feel about this sexy blast from my past.Not really. I’ve never told him what happened between Rowan and I before and after graduation.
Rowan is looking at me with what looks a lot like guilt before it’s quickly replaced with unmistakable heat as I watch him slowly take me in.
