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“Should have some ice packs in the freezer, too. Make sure you use them.” He pauses, his wrinkles showing as he admires me. “You’re growing up too fast on me, honey.”
“Sorry,” I say, blushing.
“And, you know...” We start slowly down the dock toward the house. “While we’re on the subject of boys...”
I cringe. “Gramps.”
“It might behoove you to know that they don’t typically respond well to girls who beat them up,” he says, amused. “Don’t be too rough. Boys don’t like that.”
“Don’t worry.” I scoff. “I won’t be dating ever again.”
“You say that now but sooner or later—”
“No, I’m done,” I say, hitting every word. “I don’t need boys. Not now. Not ever.”
Gramps doesn’t reply. He merely nudges my chin again and smiles.
Chapter 2
Lilah
Twelve Years Later
Water slaps against the dock beneath me. An old, metal rowboat drifts away with each gust of the warm breeze before getting tugged back in by the ancient rope still clinging to it.
I hug my knees as I stare out across the lake. The sun rose about an hour ago and the world has been glowing ever since. I breathe it in, taking comfort in the fact that this view hasn’t changed in the twenty years since I first saw it. I wonder if it could say the same about me.
Definitely not.
“Hey.”
I flinch, recoiling away from the sudden voice in my ear. “Dammit, Eli…”
He kneels beside me with that smug smirk on his face. There’s only one person in the whole world with the ability to sneak up on me and that’s my twin brother, Elijah.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asks me, running his fingers through his overgrown, chestnut hair.
I sigh. “Oh, who could with that racket going on all night long?”
He winces with a casual glance at the house behind us. “They certainly are… affectionate.”
“It’s disgusting.”
Elijah chuckles. “You’re just jealous.”
“No,” I say, picking up my coffee mug. “I just think they could be a little more considerate. Also, they’re using Gram and Gramp’s bed and that is just weird.”
“Can’t argue with that.” He settles into a seated position. “You think it might be time for us to pack up? Give them their space for a little while…”
I nod. “Oh, yeah.”
“Good. I already brought our bags down. We’ll leave after breakfast.” He nudges my arm, the classic signal that he’s about to drop some wisdom on me. “And Dante deserves some happiness after everything he’s been through. Lucy couldn’t have come at a better time if you ask me.”
“Phrasing.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah.” I smile and down the last sip of my coffee. “I know. Dante and Lucy forever. We’ll carve it into a tree.”
