trying to figure out why I was invited and just enjoy the party, but that would have been so much easier if my best friend was with me â¦
Eric suddenly jumped to his feet. âHey,â he shouted, âdoes the orgy start on the boat, or do we have to keep our clothes on till we get to Brendanâs house?â
That got some laughs and hoots. Someone tossed an empty Coke can at Eric. It bounced off his shoulder and rolled across the deck.
The boat engine started up with a low roar.
Randy appeared and waved his admiralâs cap above his head for attention. âOkay, everyone,â he called, âsit down, please. Weâre moving now. The lake is a little choppy today, soââ
Patti and I interrupted him with a shout. We saw Kerry Reacher running full speed toward the boat, his backpack flying behind him. âWait for Kerry!â Patti cried.
Kerry did a wild leap off the dock, his long legs scissoring the air. He landed on the deck, waving his arms above his head to get his balance. A perfect landing.
Everyone cheered.
âSlam dunk,â Kerry said, pushing his hands up as if shooting a basket.
More cheers.
Randy pulled off his cap and scratched his brown hair. âOkay. Guess everyone is here. Letâs shove off. If you need me, Iâll be up there.â He pointed to the wheel at the top cabin.
Kerry squeezed between me and Patti. That put me practically in Ericâs lap. âRachel, I knew it,â Eric said. âYou canât keep your hands off me.â He rubbed his hand up and down the sleeve of my jacket.
I gave him a shove. âArenât you seasick yet? Why donât you go lean over the rail? Lean real far over.â
âRachel, donât try to hide your true feelings.â
We both laughed. Eric wasnât as funny as he thought he was, but he was still pretty funny.
The engine roared again. The boat rocked hard, then started to move. Eric turned to talk to April, who sat on his other side. âDid you bring your cello?â
She laughed. âWhat do you think?â
âDo you remember Brendanâs tenth birthday?â Kerry asked. âIt was awesome. His parents turned their whole backyard into an amusement park. Brendan Land. Really. They had a real roller coaster.â
Eric grinned. âI was there. They had Dodge Em cars, too. Were you at his beach party two years ago? They had fireworks, and we went swimming in the lake at midnight.â
April nodded. âIt was so beautiful. They had those floats with lanterns all lit up across the water.â
Eric grinned at her. âI remember you and Danny Goldman went off down the beach together, and no one could find you, and we thought weâd have to call the Coast Guard or something.â
April blushed bright red. âShut up, Eric.â
Everyone laughed.
I felt a sudden chill.
The lake air was cool. But it wasnât that kind of chill. My whole body shivered.
Sometimes I have these feelings. Premonitions, I guess. Nothing special. I think everyone has them. You know like how sometimes you just know that someone is watching you. And then it turns out to be true.
Seagulls squawked and darted overhead, as if leading the way to the island. Their cries rose over the hum of the boat engine.
âHey, Rachel.â April leaned over Eric to talk to me. âWhatâs up with you and Mac?â
âWe broke up,â I said. âActually, I broke up with him. Why?â
âWell, I just saw him. I thought maybe he was coming to the party with you.â
âYou what ?â I jumped to my feet. âYou saw him?â
I turned toward the shore. The boat was moving steadily away. But I squinted over the green glare off the water and saw someone. Someone half-hidden behind the telephone pole at the road. He stood with one arm around the pole, watching the boat, watching me.
Mac. I recognized him even at this distance.
Mac watching