"Did you hear the part with a bunch of other people?"
"You're still going to New York tonight?"
"Of course I am," I say indignantly.
I can almost hear her pursing her lips in the pause that follows. Thankfully, all she says is, "Have a safe flight."
I shove the phone back in my pocket and walk back to the group just as they start moving closer to the river.
Parker waits for me, hands in his pockets, a few feet away from everyone. "Come on," he urges.
"This is one lousy place for a party," I say.
He grins, as we follow the others down to the river. "Good thing then there won't be a party."
When we get close to the shore I pick up the courage to look for James. I've yet to decide if I want to avoid him or be near him. My mind warns me that I'd be best served by the former. Every other part of my body craves the latter.
I focus on the sound of the flowing water for a few seconds, and it has a calming effect on me. I find James standing right in front of the river, far away from us, talking to a teenage boy dressed in black overalls with a white shirt underneath. He's got exceptionally short, dark hair and looks vaguely familiar. I have a feeling the two of them are fighting. The boy's arms are folded over his chest. James has a deep frown on his forehead. It takes me a second to realize why the boy is looking so familiar. He's not a boy at all. She's wearing round silver earrings.
Dani.
She sees me too and waves at me, gesturing for me to come closer to them.
"What has she done—?"
"Don't say anything about the hair," Parker warns me.
"Right."
When I'm close enough, Dani says, grinning, "I didn't know you'd be here."
"I didn't know you'd be here either."
"That's because she's not supposed to be," James says through gritted teeth. "She's supposed to be at school."
Dani waves her hands, dismissing his words. "You really think I'd miss celebrating with you, and a good rafting trip?"
I gulp. Suddenly, the sound of water flowing isn't calming anymore, but menacing. "A what trip?" Neither of them pays attention to me.
"Since when are you into rafting?" James asks. "You've never wanted to come on rafting trips."
Dani stomps her foot. "Since now."
"How did you know we were coming here in the first place?" He frowns.
"Parker had his car brought here. And I… sneaked inside the car."
"Fantastic," James says, and I can't withhold a smile. "Well, forget about rafting. You're staying right here."
"I'd like to see you make me." Dani sticks her tongue out as James turns his back on her, heading back to the group. He squeezes my hand gently when he passes me, and the heat outside has nothing on the tingles of warmth that the soft touch of his skin sends through my entire body.
Dani looks at my hand with a knowing smile.
"So what about this rafting thing?" I ask her, biting the inside of my cheek.
"I'll tell you in a sec. I need your opinion on something. What do you think of my haircut?"
"Oh," I say, remembering Parker's warning. "Umm…"