Deep Betrayal

and forth between several houses buried in the trees.
    “There.” He pointed to the largest house with a bank of windows facing the lake. “That one.”
    “You’re sure.”
    “Absolutely. I can hear, what’s his name? Phillip? He’s got a big mouth.”
    I took the bag from Calder, swam to shore, and ripped the plastic bag open with my teeth. Calder swam up and down the shore, waiting for me to get dressed. I left his clothes in a pile on a rock and started up the long, splintered staircase from the rocky beach to the house.
    When I got to the twelfth step, I sat down sideways and waited, picking at the shrubbery that threatened to overgrow the railing. Below me, Calder was pulling himself up onto the sand. His transformation played out in my mind; I didn’t have to look. But I couldn’t help myself.
    He was in a fetal position. His broad back and shoulders curled around the rest of his body, with just a hint of a silver, feathery fluke showing. The tension in his muscles made the crisscrossing scars stand out red and angry. His bodytrembled like a timpani drum. He squeezed his arms around his knees, then exploded outward, his body going rigid and straight with a groaning strain and a wild pop.
    No sound escaped his lips, but the pain on his face made me close my eyes and turn away.
    When I looked back, he was standing, his torso tapering to slim hips and long legs, the muscles in his scarred shoulders jumping. He opened the bag and stepped into his clothes, his legs shaking as he carefully placed his bare feet on the rocky beach. He shook the water out of his hair and turned to face me.
    “I forgot shoes,” he said, but I didn’t answer, too stunned by the beauty of his body. My insides twisted into a tight spring that, when released, was sure to send me sailing into the air. I only hoped he’d be there to catch me when it did.
    He climbed toward me, looking exhausted. “Stairs are tough right now,” he said. “I need a sec to acclimate. Maybe we could sit for a while?” He sat on the step below me and rested his head in my lap. I pulled him up so our faces were even. It hurt—the stair digging into my back—but I didn’t care.
    “Lily?” a voice asked.
    Calder looked up as Jules and Rob came down the stairs.
    “What are you doing down there?” Jules asked.
    “Oh …” I looked at Calder for a little help, but he seemed to be enjoying something—my reaction or theirs, I couldn’t tell.
    “Did you knock on the door?” Jules asked. “We didn’t know you were here yet. Were you swimming? You’re all wet.”
    Seriously, Calder? A little help here. This would be an excellent time for that thought-projection thingy .
    “We couldn’t help but notice the view,” Calder said. “We thought we’d come down and check it out before going inside.”
    “Us too,” Jules said, and she took Robby’s hand.
    My eyes followed the gesture and then I looked up at Jules, who looked at me sheepishly. Her and Rob? Well, that was … unexpected.
    “Come on,” said Rob to Calder. “I’ll get you something to drink.”
    Calder followed slowly, kissing my cheek as he passed. Jules and I watched them go, and then she turned to me with a whip of her hair.
    “You and Robby?” I asked. “Since when?”
    “I tried to tell you before, but I chickened out. I thought you might be mad.”
    “Mad? Why would I be mad?”
    “Well, we got together just a couple days after you left, and I thought you kind of liked him. I thought maybe you’d been playing hard to get, but then you have Calder, so I …”
    “Jules, you’re worrying over nothing. I’m happy for you. Both of you.”
    “It’s nothing serious. It’s just fun to have someone to hang out with for the summer.”
    “Sure. Whatever you say. You guys look great together.”
    “Yeah, he’s great.” She watched Rob climb out of sight.
    “Let’s get up to the house,” I said. “I don’t want to leave Calder alone with those guys for too long.”
    “Yeah, God help their self-esteem,” Jules said.
    “That’s not what I meant.”
    “Seriously, Lily. He’s so hot. What’s your trick?”
    “I won him over with Tennyson.”
    “No, seriously,” she said.
    I threw my arm around her shoulder and we walked into the house together. I wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Calder already in the thick of things—like one of the boys—laughing with Phillip.
    “Hey, Hancock, Cal here says he can give us a tour of the islands