11

Thirteen years ago…

She was not going to miss out on Eleanora Reedbottom’s Top Secret Party on Round Island. Just because she was grounded for some practically made-up offense did not mean she was going to skip the party of the season.

She and Audrey had already planned their outfits. Extra short cut-offs, coordinated tank tops, and cute hoodies for the boat ride.

Round Island was an uninhabited 300-plus-acre island just to the south of Mackinac’s ferry landing. Part of the Hiawatha National Forest, the island was overseen by the U.S. Forest Service. The sandy beach on the far side of the island was ideal for illicit parties. Like the one Eleanora Reedbottom was throwing tonight.

All Remi had to do was convince her parents she was spending the night in her room and not to bother her. Piece of cake.

Her mother had been too distracted by the logistics of some “work thing” that evening to pay much attention. So Remi had picked a fight with Kimber at dinner, whined about cramps to her dad, then took a pint of ice cream into her room with a serving spoon. No one would come near her in fear of PMS wrath.

Brick and Spencer Callan had been over for dinner. Spencer, her totally cute, often clueless sometimes boyfriend, flashed her the thumbs-up during her theatrics. Brick, his muscly, stoic, big brother, had eyed her with suspicion. The guy had an uncanny knack for sniffing out the tiniest fib.

Frankly, she thought his talents were wasted working with the horses on the island. He’d make a good cop. She’d have to mention it to her mother, when she wasn’t trying to sneak out of the house.

Though, maybe she’d wait until she was leaving for college to bring up the topic. Odds were, Brick would use his superpowers to do something stupid like arrest her for some harmless fun.

Her pink alarm clock ticked over to 9 o’clock, and Remi gave her hair one last shot of hair spray. Satisfied with the carefree summer waves she’d spent almost an hour perfecting, she turned off the light and removed the light bulb. The pillows under the covers wouldn’t fool any nosy family members if they happened to flip on the light switch.

In the dark, she pocketed a mini bug spray and lip gloss, then climbed out the window onto the roof of the porch. The summer air was thick with humidity and possibilities. Adventure and music and fun waited for her.

The shingles were rough against her knees as she stretched her leg back and down for a toehold on the trellis. One of these days, the rickety old thing was going to collapse on top of her. But tonight was not the night.

She climbed down quickly. Swearing under her breath when the hem of her shorts caught on a splinter of wood. She wondered if she could figure out a way to rebuild the damn thing without her parents getting suspicious. Maybe if she threw one of the street hockey balls through it, saying she was practicing? Or maybe she could just feign a new interest in climbing vines.