“Sidekick? Oh, hell no!”
As we fall into our regular banter, I ignore the knot twistingin my stomach. Going back to Lakeside means facing my past—facing Lizzy for the first time in almost fifteen years.
At least I’ve got some time to figure out how to avoid her. The real challenge will be evading her when I go back to make the movie—for three whole months.
two
TWENTY YEARS AGO
“What isit with you and reptiles anyways?”
I roll my eyes and huff out a frustrated breath. “Come on, Ro. We’ve known each other our whole lives, so you should know why by now. They’re cool, okay?”
“Whatever you say, Iz.”
Crouched by the edge of the pond in my backyard, I’m cupping the fattest, greenest bullfrog I’ve ever caught in the palm of my hands.
Our yard is perfect for creature-hunting—all wild and overgrown at the edges where my dad has given up trying to tame it. A gigantic oak tree creates dappled shade across the soft green grass, and his half-finished projects scattered across parts of the backyard over near his work shed.
Rowan is squatting next to me, keeping a safe distance from my slippery prize. Even at twelve, he’s already taller than most of the boys in our class, all gangly limbs and messy brown hair flopping over his eyes. He’s wearing his favorite blue Bon Jovi T-shirt, wrinkling his nose every time the frog moves. He’s staying with us while his parents are away on a business trip.
“Look at his little feet!” I exclaim, tilting my hands so Rowan can see the little webbed toes. The frog’s skin glistens in the sun, its emerald green spots sprinkled across it like tiny constellations. His throat puffs in and out as he breathes, probably plotting his grand escape.
“It’s all slimy,” he grimaces, leaning in despite his obvious revulsion.
The toad squirms in my hands, making me laugh. “It tickles.”
When we both look up and grin at each other, he says, “I love your laugh.”
My heart ka-thumps. “You do?”
Rowan shrugs and looks down at the grass, plucking a couple of blades from the ground. “Yeah. It’s what I imagine sunshine would sound like.”
His gaze flicks up and his neck flushes like it always does when he’s nervous before he shrugs again and looks away. “You know... if it could laugh.”
“Lizbeth Amelia Cade! You put that frog down right now and get in here and wash your hands for lunch!”
Jeez, my mom sure can yell.
“You too, Rowan!”
“Coming!” we shout back.
After carefully setting the frog down at the edge of the pond, he dives beneath the surface with a satisfying plop before disappearing beneath the murky water.
“Race you to the house?” Rowan challenges as he backs up, shooting me a smile that makes my heart do things it’s never done before.
“You’re on!” Sneakers pounding across the yard, I dash afterhim. Even though I’m small, I’m pretty fast, and I almost catch him before we reach the back porch.
Arms crossed, my mom is waiting at the screen door, trying not to smile. “Honestly, you two. Every single day it’s something new. Yesterday it was lizards; today it’s frogs. What’s on the agenda for tomorrow, Lizzy? Snakes?”
“Hopefully!” I grin, pushing past her, making a beeline for the kitchen sink.
“Don’t even joke about that,” she sighs with a shudder.
Rowan nudges me with his elbow as we stand side by side washing our hands. “Your mom would totally freak if you brought home a snake.”
“I know,” I whisper back. “That’s half the fun.”
