Page 24

“Someone found out that you work for Sam’s PR firm. Now people are saying that he hired a woman to date ahead of his next album release.”

My blood turns to ice. “How many people?”

“Enough. Too many.” Her voice is alarmingly sharp. “I mean, others are saying you’re the cutest couple ever, but at the same time they’re completely disturbed by the thought that Sam would do something shady and say that if this relationship turns out to be fake, they’ll never buy another album of his, ever.”

I sink onto the picnic table bench. My hands clench as I stare down at the phone, glad I can’t see her eyes. “Just because we were seen together, doesn’t mean⁠—”

“There are two separate videos of you making out at Endless Waves!” Natalie hisses. “What the hell, Julia? Talk about unprofessional. Just because you’re hanging out with your little schoolgirl crush doesn’t mean you can forget this is a job. And if you don’t figure out how to fix this immediately, you won’t have that job anymore.”

Her tone is colder than the lake yesterday. I wish I could think of the right thing to say.

“Natalie, I’ll… I don’t know. I’ll think of something.”

“I’ve already thought of something.” My eyes jerk around to see Sam standing in the doorway. “Hi, Natalie, Sam here.” He steps closer to the phone. “Sorry to butt in, but I heard the part about the makeout videos.”

“Sam, I am so sorry for my sister’s behavior. We’ll clean up this mess, I promise.”

“Oh, I already know how to do that.” Sam sits on the bench beside me, taking my trembling hand. “How about I make your sister fall in love with me? That way we’ll be together forever, and the world will know this is real. Simple, right?”

My mouth silently drops open. There’s a slight “Huh?” on the other end of the phone.

Natalie finds her voice before I do. “You’re saying this is a relationship? After four days?”

“For me, yes.” From the way Sam is smiling, he’s positive. “But I have to talk this over with Julia. We’ll get back to you, okay? For now, just assume we’re together forever. She’s already been a huge help with my songwriting and organizing my thoughts. I am positive I can get this album written faster than usual. Especially if you give her a few days off so she can stay here at the cabin with me a bit longer?”

“Oh…uh…” Natalie stutters. “Sure.”

“Great. We’ll be in touch on Monday,” Sam says. “Thanks, Natalie.”

He ends the call, then grins at me. “You know how we started this weekend with the chilly lake splash?”

“Yeah?”

“Time for another ritual. This one’s a bit warmer. We’re off to the thinking tree.”

14

SAM

There's enough of a chill in the air that I insist on wrapping Julia in a thick cardigan before we head into the forest. "Breathe in the trees," I murmur as she follows me down the path. "Think about your feet connecting with the Earth, and how many animals have walked this ground over the past hundred years."

I look back and see her nod, then we continue slowly along. It takes about five minutes to reach a huge oak tree.

"What makes this the thinking tree?" she asks.

"It’s the one with logs in front of it. They make a great bench."

I plunk myself down and Julia sits beside me. After a few moments of quiet, both of us staring up into the trees, I take her hand.

"Confession time. Speaking of crushes, from the second I looked into your eyes I've had the biggest crush of my life on you."

Thankfully, Julia doesn't turn completely red, just faintly pink. "I can't believe you heard that." Her head drops. "That’s mortifying."

My fingers squeeze hers gently. "Honestly, angel, for me it was a huge relief. It meant we’re vaguely on the same page. I've never felt this way before about anyone. Hearing you felt the way you did makes me feel we're on a level playing field. Maybe."

"But how could someone like you ever date someone like me?" she asks. I hate how small her voice goes when she's nervous. “Natalie’s right. Nobody will think we’re real."

"I don't give a damn what anyone thinks."