“This and that. How’re you? How’s the recording going?” After years of struggle and toil, a small Nashville label had recently signed Evan.

“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.”

“That’s awesome. Been a long time coming.”

“You know it. So Janey emailed me that you’re on the island. What brought that on?”

“Did you hear about Dad selling the marina?”

“No way!”

“Yep. I’m doing some repairs for him and toying with the idea of relocating and maybe keeping the place in the family.”

“Seriously? You won’t go nuts stuck on that island?”

“A few things have changed lately.”

“What could’ve possibly changed to make that place look good to you?”

“I met someone—someone you know, in fact.”

“Who?”

“Maddie Chester.”

“Oh. Really? Wow.”

“I hear you’ve got some history with her.”

“Mac, wait. You don’t understand—”

It took everything Mac had to keep from yelling at his brother. “You’re damned right I don’t understand,” he managed to say calmly, even though he churned inside. This whole thing made him sick.

“It was Darren. He started it and told us to go along with him or else.”

“Or else what?”

“He was like a god in high school. No one wanted to piss him off. When he told us to do stuff, we did it.”

“How could you be part of something like this, Ev? After everything Dad was always hammering into our heads about how to treat women?”

“Believe me, it’s eaten at me over the years. I never felt good about it.”

“What you guys did to her ruined her life. Do you realize that? It ruined her.”

“It was high school. How could it ruin her life?”

“Because she’s never shaken it! The whole island thinks she’s a tramp, and until last night, she’d had sex twice in her life!”

“God,” Evan said softly. “I had no idea. . .”

“You’re going to fix it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Here’s what I want you to do.”

Mac’s next stop was Darren Tuttle’s body shop. The place looked well kept, and judging by the cars lined up out front, it was busy. At the front desk, Mac asked for Tuttle.

“Who should I tell him is calling?” the dowdy-looking receptionist asked.

“An old friend.”

She got up and went through the door to the work area, returning a few minutes later with Darren, who was greasy, dirty and thirty pounds overweight. His hairline had receded into unattractive baldness. The “god” who’d once been able to intimidate a legion of boys into going along with his every plan had clearly fallen a few notches in the twelve years since graduation. From the quirk in his lips, Mac could tell that Darren recognized him.

“What do you want?”

“A word outside.” Without waiting for Darren to reply, Mac turned and went out the door.