Deep Betrayal

Three.”
    I listened as their feet sloshed away through the pine needles and last year’s leaves. When I thought it was safe, I snuck another peek, and found Serious Boy walking backward, thirty yards ahead but still looking at me. He shook his head and gave me a patronizing look; then he turned, talking loudly and forcing a laugh.
    I watched until they were out of sight. After they were gone, I stood—baffled—behind the tree, wondering why I was hiding and why a gangly bunch of ballplayers posed any kind of threat. I bet the boy was having a good laugh at how gullible I’d been to listen to him.
    I took my time walking back to the house. If I couldn’t even manage a run in the woods without paranoia setting in, this summer was going to totally suck. I left my muddy sneakers outside and threw my pants in the laundry before running up to my room.
    There was a pink envelope on my bed. I broke the sealand pulled out a grocery store greeting card with a picture of a droopy-eyed basset hound. I’m Sorry , it said on the front. The handwriting inside was unfamiliar.
Dear Lily ,
You probably think I’m the biggest prick ever. And maybe I am. I’m sorry I was so angry at you last night. I’ve made stupid decisions. You’re entitled to make your own. But I really do need you to back me up on this. So call me ok so we can talk it through .
    Jack
    I dropped the card in the wastebasket and walked down the hall to the bathroom. I stared at the face in the mirror. Dark circles lurked under my eyes like lazy purple moons. I splashed water on my face and leaned my forehead against the glass.
    I wondered what color I’d look to Calder right now. I bent low and drank from the faucet, swishing the water around in my mouth and spitting every lonely thought down the drain.

10
DEFIANCE
    A fter three days’ absence, Dad made it back in time to go to Mass with us, but it wasn’t until we got home from church that Calder knocked on our door.
    “Good morning, Lancelot,” I said, thinking it would at least get a smile out of him, but no such luck. Looked like our Lady of Shalott days were behind us.
    He dropped his gaze once more to the beach-glass pendant around my neck and asked if Dad was ready to go.
    “What do you mean go ? You just got back. I’ve barely seen you!”
    “This is important,” he said. “Jason insisted on coming back to go to church with you, but I’m teaching him how to navigate the lake today. You wouldn’t want him to get lost out there, would you?”
    “I’ll buy him a compass.”
    “You’re a riot, Lil.”
    “I thought you wanted to protect me,” I said, playing the only card I had. “How are you going to pull that off when you’re miles away?” Calder pulled back, shaming me with a disappointed look.
    “Are you planning on doing any more secret negotiations with your aunties?”
    “Of course not,” I said.
    “Planning another virgin sacrifice?”
    I crossed my arms. “No.”
    “Then you’ll be perfectly safe until we get back.” He lifted my chin and tapped the end of my nose.
    Dad came down the stairs, pulling a T-shirt over his head. “Tell your mom I’ll be in Duluth for most of the day.” Then he ran out the door, and I had to call him back.
    “Maybe you should at least make it look good, Dad. Take the car and park it somewhere.” I tossed him his car keys. “It’ll be hard to believe you’re in Duluth with the car sitting in the driveway.”
    “Good call, Lily. You’re a natural at this.”
    Yeah, right , I thought. Natural what? And then they were gone, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake.
    A half hour later, Mom came out of her bedroom, changed into painting clothes. “Where’s your dad?” she asked.
    “He said he was going to Duluth.”
    “Duluth? Did he say anything about taking Sophie to her Girl Scout retreat?”
    “No.”
    Mom groaned and fished her cell out of her purse. She dialed Dad’s number, and his cell phone rang in the kitchen.
    “Are you kidding me?” she said. “He’s been so spacey lately.” Then she was calling around for a ride for Sophie.
    I grabbed an apple and headed down to the water. I was still in the yard … practically. I wasn’t breaking any rules … not really. Technically, I was staying close to home, but halfway across the yard I stopped.
    A dark spot bobbed on the water. A head? No, only a loon. I was being paranoid. But it scared me enough that Calder’s warning echoed in my head. “I should go back to