Summer:And Thursday is Christmas cookie decorating with my friend, Vivian.
Caleb:Keep Friday afternoon and night clear for backcountry skiing.
Summer:Backcountry skiing? What about avalanches and other dangerous winter stuff?
Caleb:Don’t worry about the details. I’ll handle everything.
That’s the exact same thing he said to me about ice climbing. After seeing everything Caleb is capable of, I wouldn’t be surprised if he knows how to stop an avalanche while it’s tumbling down a mountain.
Summer:Okay, you’re on for Friday.
Caleb:And I’ll be sure to invite Justin too.
My shoulders sink with guilt. I hadn’t thought about Justin one time during this entire text conversation.
What does that say about me?
I don’t know, and I don’t want to analyze the answer to find out.
twenty-three
SUMMER
“So what about you?”Vivian asks after she tells me about Thanksgiving with Sam and her family. “How was your weekend?”
“Good.” My mouth widens into a smile as I tap my fingers over my desk.
Vivian squeals. “I recognize that look. Things must’ve gone well between Justin and your family.”
The giddy smile from two seconds ago falls into a frown. “Not really.”
Vivian’s brows push downward. “Then why were you smiling?”
My fingers brush over my mouth. “Oh, I wasn’t smiling like how you think. I just had a really fun weekend with my family and”—I infuse as much casualness into my voice as possible for this next part—“with Justin’s brother.”
“Wait.” Vivian sits up taller. “The twin? The one you kissed?”
“Yeah, we went ice climbing yesterday.” I scoot my chair under my desk and begin organizing everything. I pick up a stack of papers and straighten them. I sharpen a few pencils.
“You mean, youand Justinwent ice climbing with the twin you kissed?”
I give her a sharp look. “Stop bringing up the kiss.”
“Did you kiss him or not?”
“I kissed him.”
“Then I feel like it has to be brought up.” She waves her hand, signaling to continue the story where we left off. “So you and Justin went ice climbing with the twin?”
“No.” I dust off my computer keyboard. “It was just me and Caleb.”
Vivian shoots forward, grabbing me by the shoulders, forcibly shaking me. “Why are you holding out? Tell me what’s going on.”
“Okay, okay.” I remove her hands from my body to stop the shaking. “Wednesday night at my family Turkey stuff, Caleb just showed up unannounced instead of Justin.”
“Why?”
“Because Justin told him to come in his place to impersonate him like you suggested like week.”
