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CHAPTER 1

TRIP WAS LATE AGAIN I ranseconds Two hundred forty-seven, two hundred forty-eight I’d been fidgety inside withoff the ers It was barely October, but that’s Verloves I’d need them up at the cave

Trip swung around the corner finally, the wagon’s left headlight di If anyone’s car could wink and get aith it, it’d be Trip’s

He parked haphazardly, beeping before he noticedthe flutter of curtains next door Mrs McGinty watching me walk down the front path Nosy old bat, Trip called her

“You’re late,” I told hi into the backseat

“Sue me,” Trip answered “I had a hot date”

Sarah backhanded his arracefully over the seat “Hey, Ri”

“Hey,” I said, trying to ignore the softness of her brown eyes, perfect lips Hot date indeed

We started up the trail toward the cave just past six, after picking up Tannis at her house a half mile from mine and Natalie at the ski shop It was near dusk, but none of us neededit all summer Some of us for years before, too

My dad first brought o drinking like ere doing tonight He and I were going hunting

He’d stopped just outside the cave, his gun resting on his shoulder, breath co hard after the steep climb “My parents didn’t know about this place,” he’d said, peering into the dark opening “Never woulda foundthe clearing, a half smile on his scruffy face “But I know about it, Riley” My dad had looked down ataith anything, Son”

I’d , not sure what I’d try to “get aith” in this place that stank like our basement: stale beer and ash “Okay, Dad”

He’d sainst the scary unknown “C’ us so branches as he’d started up the path to the hunting perch where he’d die two years later

I thought of him a little bit every time I came here, wondered if he’d really have tracked me down if he’d still been alive Or whether he’d have sat and had a beer with us

“Move it, Riley!” Trip yelled down He stood at the top of the trail, grinning back at me “We’re thirsty, dude”

Sarah stood beside hi into the dusk and woods behind

“You could’ve carried this shit” I hitchedwith the six-packs inside

“I procured You haul”

I flipped hi—no faster—up the path His laughter floated down, and I saw theers through his as they walked toward the clearing