PROLOGUE
FINN THOMPSON
AUGUST 20TH 2022
“Only a couple more months until we’re out of this town,” Callan says as he raises his beer to his lips. “I can’t wait for change.”
Joel nods in agreement. “Literally. The next few years are going to be the best years of our lives.”
“Summer is going to be over so quickly,” I comment before wrapping my arms around my knees. “So, we’d best make the most of it.”
Callan clinks his bottle against ours. “Agreed.”
“Cheers.” Joel grins. “To the greatest summer ever, but the best is yet to come.”
Callan and Joel have been my closest friends since the first year of secondary school, which means seven years of being friends with these idiots. But I love them to death, and despite all the trouble and arguments we’ve had, we still remain strong.
I’m going to miss them when we all head off to university, but we’re ready for a new chapter of our lives. We’ll never forget Willows Bay. It’ll always be special to us, and we’ll still see each other at Christmas and over the summer holidays.
I glance at Callan as his phone starts vibrating like crazy. His brows crease as he stares at the screen before his eyes widen.
“Shit,” he hisses.
“What?”
“Apparently a car has driven off the bridge leaving Willows Bay and hit the water.”
“Jesus.” Joel winces. “Was it fatal?”
Callan shrugs, not taking his eyes off his phone. “Don’t know, but apparently there are loads of police and ambulances there. The whole place is gridlocked. Doesn’t look good.”
The thought of it being someone we might know from Willows Bay makes my stomach churn. We always have tourists throughout the summer, but it’s a small town where everyone knows everyone.
“That’s awful.” I sigh before taking a sip of my drink. “Hope everyone’s okay.”
“Oh, fuck.” Callan presses his hand over his mouth.
I frown. “What?”
His eyes meet mine, and I tense at the expression on his face. “Someone said they recognise the car, and they think it’s Ben’s,” he exhales shakily.
My vision starts to blur as I register what he’s saying.
Ben’s car.
I stand up so quickly, my feet sink through the sand as Joel and Callan flinch. “Ivy,” I call out. “Ivy said she was going out with him today. Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck!”
“Finn.” Callan stands to try and place his hands on my shoulders, but I shove him away.
Everything begins to spin, and my breathing almost stops.
“We don’t know if it’s true.” Joel’s voice echoes through my head, but it sounds like I’m in a bubble. “It might be a similar car, or a similar licence plate. You know people love to gossip. They’re probably fine.”
Bile rises in my throat as I try to take in his words, but I can’t stop thinking about the fact my twin sister could have been in that car with him. And driving off that bridge? It’s a death sentence. The likelihood of surviving is slim to none.
“Who said it’s Ben’s car?” I demand.
Callan sucks in air. “Tom.”
