Chapter 12: Prep Week

Signe's POV

On Monday morning we checked out of Larch Point Lodge, and I smiled through all of it.

It was the hardest thing I have ever done with my face.

Vera hugged each of us on the gravel drive and told the camera we were a family.

Casper carried her bags. Melina held her phone against her chest and didn't look at anyone.

Winston put his duffel in the trunk of the gray hatchback he and Melina shared, and then he came to stand beside me.

"Wednesday," he said, low. "Fourth Street, third floor. The buzzer sticks. Hold it down firmly."

"I'll hold it down."

He put a small folded paper in my coat pocket, and his knuckle brushed my hip as he did it.

Neither of us looked at the other. It cost both of us a great deal.

Tyler drove us home.

It was a five-hour drive, with the lake flashing between the trees, and for the first hour he didn't say anything.

I had put the ring back on at breakfast. It felt heavy.

"Good weekend?" Tyler said at last.

"Interesting."

"That's what you said about the dare."

"It was a weird dare."

He looked at the road. His thumb tapped the wheel.

"Did anything happen with Winston?" he said. "I mean. Beyond the game."

I turned my face to the window so he could not read it.