Julia shoved a magazine in front of her face and tried to ignore them. But when a peal of Kat’s unmistakable laughter rang out, she couldn’t help peeking over the pages again. Luke was helping Kat form a tower from a bucket of sand, his long, competent fingers cupping hers as they patted the sand into place.

The pinpricks grew barbs, making it hard to breathe. Julia dropped the magazine, tucked her notepad into her beach bag, and headed for the water.

“Where are you going?” Andie called after her.

“For a swim,” she bit out, not bothering to look back.

Bare feet pounded in the sand behind her, and a moment later Andie appeared at her side. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“You were the one making fun of me for not packing a swimsuit.”

“Exactly.” Andie laughed. “I know taking a dip in the lake is not really your thing, Jules.” She glanced out at the water. “This is Wisconsin in June. It might feel like summer on the sand, but that is a Great Lake and it’s still going to be pretty darn cold.”

“I walked in it yesterday,” Julia pointed out, stomping into the shallows.

“Wading and swimming are two different things,” Andie warned her. “It’s going to get colder the further you get from the shore.”

“Good,” Julia muttered. She could use a bit of cooling off. She dove into the waves, gasping as icy water swirled around her. Julia immediately regretted her decision, but with Andie standing there smirking knowingly, her need to be right—or at least not be wrong—reared its head.

“How is it out there?” Andie called.

“It’s fine,” she lied, clenching her teeth to keep them from chattering, and sucking in a breath while thousands of freezing liquid needles stabbed every inch of exposed skin. “You just have to get used to it,” she insisted.

Andie waded in up to her knees and raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, wow.” Julia looked past her friend. “Curt’s castle is at least three times the size of yours now.”

“What?” Andie turned quickly, running back up the beach.

The tide rolled, and Julia drifted a little farther out. She bobbed in the waves, surprised to discover that the water had started to feel a little warmer. What she said must be true; she was getting used to the temperature. That, or a fish had just peed nearby. Wait. Fish were cold-blooded. Would their pee be warm? Did fish pee?

Thanks to a memorable field trip to the Shedd Aquarium when she was in second grade, Julia knew for sure that fish pooped. A fact that reminded her she was currently floating in a giant fish toilet bowl. Gross. This was why she didn’t swim in lakes.