Page 54 of No Place Left to Hide

The masked figure steps toward us, and I drag Jena over the top of the guardrail.

“Run!”

Nineteen

Before

September 2nd

I forget how nice the lull after a big party can be. The four of us sit around the fire pit, stretched out on glossy black Adirondack chairs with blankets on our laps. It’s the first peace I’ve known in hours.

Me and Dylan sit on one side of the fire. Jena and Felix sit on the other, their backs to the lake. The moon still comes and goes behind the clouds, and every once in a while, the boat dock lights up against the shine of the water. My dad’s precious speedboat rhythmically knocks against the rubber fenders hanging over the sides. The lake laps softly against the shore, and the fire pops and spits sparks into the air as we pass the bottle of Malibu between us.

The boys occasionally toss a giant log into the circular pit, poke at some embers, or throw in a handful of leaves to watch them turn to smoke. I’ll never understand boys and their interest in watching things burn, but Dylan is smiling so wide it’s impossible for me to stop staring at him in the firelight.

The only hiccup is Felix and Jena. When we’re all talking aboutthe school year or Jena’s summer trip to Puerto Vallarta, or Felix and Dylan start debating soccer versus lacrosse, it’s fine. But every time Jena speaks directly to Felix, or he asks a question that she answers, a cool breeze of bad vibes fills their side of the conversation. I can practically see the wall of ice that’s gone up between the two of them since Claire spilled the beans about Beau, and it doesn’t seem like it’ll melt tonight.

Especially because Felix has apparently decided to deal with his feelings by drowning them in huge gulps of Malibu every time it’s passed his way. He drinks more than the rest of us combined, but the tension slowly eases on their side of the fire until they’re at least being cordial with each other.

Soon I have a happy warmth in my veins, and I’m sure if I stand up too fast, I’ll fall over, but I could give two shits. I never want to move from this chair anyway.

Felix hands me the bottle and I take another drink. Again, Dylan passes it back to Jena without having any.

“Not a big drinker?” I ask him.

“Not really. Besides, I have to drive home. I can’t lose my license. My parents would murder me.”

“Same,” I say, laughing. “But then again, they’d probably murder me for much less than a DUI. Even if my dad could get me out of it with a single phone call.”

He smiles. “Perks of being a Goodwin?”

“Perks of my dad being on the short list for a judge position.”

“No shit?”

I shrug. “He got the call a few weeks ago. There’s an extensive background check and a bunch of meetings and questions about our family, but my dad has a good chance of getting appointed to the open Polk County seat.”

“Wow. The Honorable Judge Goodwin. Can you imagine?”

Honestly? No. I thought his ambition stayed within the boundaries of the law firm, but it seems they’ve expanded to eclipse that entirely. He didn’t have the news about the potential judgeship for ten minutes before he started talking about other goals, what’s next. That’s him, always moving forward, always finding a new rung on the ladder. Goodwins are nothing if not overachievers. I don’t think he even knows how to celebrate a win, and part of me worries I’m the same way.

“Felix.” Jena leans toward him, hanging over the arm of her chair. “Hey, you might want to slow down a little bit or you’ll be throwing up all day tomorrow. We have plans, right?”

She tries to take the bottle from him but he holds it away from her. “I’ll stop when I want to stop.”

“Felix.”

Me and Dylan exchange a glance.

Felix stands and glares at Jena. “Don’t worry, if I’m too hungover to go to the movies with you, I’m sure you have other options. Beau’s apparently a fan of my leftovers.”

Oh shit. So much for being cordial.

Jena glares at him. “Felix, what the fuck. Seriously?”

He holds the Malibu bottle out and drops it on the ground. It lands on the grass with a hollow thud. “I think I’m done hanging out. This is just making me angry. I’m taking a nap.”

He stumbles toward the water.

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