chapter 26

We resumed our walk, away from the cabin. There was a part of me that was a little disappointed. I sort of wanted to go knock on his door. But that was ridiculous.

It didn’t take long before I could feel the air getting cooler and damper. The ground was a little softer, and the shrubs around us were greener. We were getting closer to water.

A few cheers and some yelling sent birds flying. I looked up and watched them fleeing the noise and caught a glimpse of the sun through the trees. It was closer to midday than I realized. I wondered how long we’d been walking.

I heard splashes, followed by more playful screams just as the lake came into view. It stopped me in my tracks.

This was not a swimming hole. This was a full on, huge lake. There was a little island in the center of it and it stretched for what had to be a mile across. I’d never seen a lake this size in real life.

“It’s beautiful,” I said.

“And freezing. Don’t let them fool you,” Megan said, lifting her chin toward the group