Romancing the Lakes of Minnesota: Summer

By Romance Writers of Minnesota

When It’s Real by Rhonda Brutt

After a freak accident, Callie begins to wonder if dating the most popular guy in school is all that it’s cut out to be. Will Carter come clean about the truth? Or will Callie discover something, or someone, that’s more real?

Break a Leg by Kathleen Nordstrom

"Break a leg" means "good luck" to an entertainer, but Liz was the general manager of the grand opening of the hotel and was not the booking agent for the singing cowboy. So what kind of luck was it that caused the accident that broke hers?

Hot Summer Nights by Rose Marie Meuwissen

Rycca Peterson was awarded the speedboat in her divorce settlement. And now the exact same annoying boat she didn’t really want, an internet dating site her best friends signed her up on, and reluctantly attending her twenty-year class reunion, all led her to Dan Johnston. Or maybe it’s just fate? Rycca wasn’t looking for a man, but Dan may be the man she didn’t know she was looking for.

Lady Sylvia’s Spell by K. T. Alexander

Hector Antonov is cursed. In order to circumvent his punishment, he kidnaps a Nymph for a bride. But his unwilling wife has a past of her own. And when she decides to stay and make a home for herself, can Hector come to terms with a dream he'd long ago banished?

Light Bender by Kristy Johnson

Gemma did not realize that a trip home to do a simple job of documenting a major thunderstorm and verifying her mother and grandmother were safe, would draw her into a century old mystery, finding both herself and the love of her life.

Loon Racing by Ingrid Anderson Sampo

In Loon Racing, the reader takes a vacation trip to northern Minnesota with its eccentric residents, outlandish community events and main characters who get back on the road of life after some detours. It is a heartwarming, quirky and funny read.

Movie Magic by Rachael Passan

When a movie crew comes to Lake Itasca to film scenes for an upcoming historical adventure, stuntman Flynn Donovan must dissuade a star-struck waitress’s affections.

Putting Demons to Rest on Whitefish Bay by Ann Nardone

Tina returns to the sight of painful memories to lay her demons to rest. But, someone doesn't want the past to stay buried. Two men and even nature itself may force her to confront her old sin.

Summer Heat by Sonja Gunter

Anna Marie Hagan hasn’t been to her family cabin on Crow Wing Lake since the summer she’d meet Chopper-aka-Christopher Thompson. Forced to inspect the cabin before listing it for sale to finalize her parents’ estate, she was taking a chance on running into the guy who’d been her first love. Has time healed their misunderstanding and will they rekindle the summer heat?

The Island by Jill Revak

Charlotte wants to sell the cabin she inherited in her father’s will. But when she meets Oliver, her plans take an unexpected turn. Will she be able to embrace her troubled past to take a chance at love?

The Last Tide by Christopher Edmund

Below the surface of a secluded lake, a vast kingdom seethes upon the edge of destruction and Tristan Zale finds himself prisoner to a Princess whose heart balances on the precipice of war.

The Letter by Linda Hamilton

After WWII ends, life begins again for all who survived. Marie Schneider leaves a farm in northern Minnesota. Sven Martinson arrives in America from a farm in Norway. Both choose Minneapolis, the City of Lakes, to look for jobs. They meet and fall in love on the shores of Lake Calhoun, only to have another war begin. The Korean War. Can this new young love survive the separation and uncertainty of war?

The Talisman at Gull Lake by Sara Poulos

Jack's been Jordan's childhood playmate, her teenage romance and her secret once-a-year lover. But now Jordan has met Mr. Right and it's time to tell Jack goodbye for good. But is Jack ready to let her go?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
• Release date: Jun 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781612356327

Book preview

Romancing the Lakes of Minnesota

Summer

Featuring Authors:

Rhonda Brutt

Kathleen Nordstrom

Rose Marie Meuwissen

K. T. Alexander

Kristy Johnson

Ingrid Anderson Sampo

Rachael Passan

Ann Nardone

Sonja Gunter

Jill Revak

Christopher Edmund

Linda Hamilton

Sara Poulos

Published by

Melange Books, LLC

White Bear Lake, MN 55110

www.melange-books.com

When It’s Real, Copyright © 2013 by Rhonda Brutt

Break a Leg, Copyright © 2013 by Kathleen Nordstrom

Hot Summer Nights, Copyright © 2013 by Rose Marie Meuwissen

Lady Sylvia’s Spell, Copyright © 2013 by K. T. Alexander

Light Bender, Copyright © 2013 by Kristy Johnson

Loon Racing, Copyright © 2013 by Ingrid Anderson Sampo

Movie Magic, Copyright © 2013 by Rachael Passan

Putting Demons to Rest on Whitefish Bay, Copyright © 2013 by Ann Nardone

Summer Heat, Copyright © 2013 by Sonja Gunter

The Island, Copyright © 2013 by Jill Revak

The Last Tide, Copyright © 2013 by Christopher Edmund

The Letter, Copyright © 2013 by Linda Hamilton

The Talisman at Gull Lake, Copyright © 2013 by Sara Poulos

ISBN: 978-1-61235-632-7

Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States of America.

Cover Art by Christopher Edmund

Photograph of heart by Nichole Patraw

All proceeds from this book will benefit Romancing the Lakes Romance Writers Minnesota through writing education and aid on their journey to publication. www.romancingthelakeswriters.com

About Romancing the Lakes Writers:

Romancing the Lakes Romance Writers (RTL) was newly formed in 2012 by two longtime members of Romance Writers of America®. This group was formed to bring together writers who write stories about love and romance or stories with romantic elements. Novel and Novella genres include: Contemporary, Historical, Suspense, Mystery, Young Adult, Paranormal, Time Travel, Urban Fantasy, Steam Punk, Futuristic, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi.

Romancing the Lakes Romance Writers is currently seeking new members who are looking to take their writing career to the next step by focusing on writing, education, and networking on their road to publishing and are looking for support from other writers with similar goals.

For more information go to: www.romancingthelakeswriters.com

Special thanks to:

Editors at Melange Books LLC,

Published authors for Beta Reads, and

Romancing the Lakes Writers Anthology Committee.

ROMANCING THE LAKES OF MINNESOTA

~ SUMMER ~

Table of Contents

About Romancing the Lakes Writers

When It’s Real by Rhonda Brutt

After a freak accident, Callie begins to wonder if dating the most popular guy in school is all that it’s cut out to be. Will Carter come clean about the truth? Or will Callie discover something, or someone, that’s more real?

About the Author- Rhonda Brutt

Break a Leg by Kathleen Nordstrom

Break a leg means good luck to an entertainer, but Liz was the general manager of the grand opening of the hotel and was not the booking agent for the singing cowboy. So what kind of luck was it that caused the accident that broke hers?

About the Author - Kathleen Nordstrom

Hot Summer Nights by Rose Marie Meuwissen

Rycca Peterson was awarded the speedboat in her divorce settlement. And now the exact same annoying boat she didn’t really want, an internet dating site her best friends signed her up on, and reluctantly attending her twenty-year class reunion, all led her to Dan Johnston. Or maybe it’s just fate? Rycca wasn’t looking for a man, but Dan may be the man she didn’t know she was looking for.

About the Author - Rose Marie Meuwissen

Lady Sylvia’s Spell by K. T. Alexander

Hector Antonov is cursed. In order to circumvent his punishment, he kidnaps a Nymph for a bride. But his unwilling wife has a past of her own. And when she decides to stay and make a home for herself, can Hector come to terms with a dream he'd long ago banished?

About the Author - K. T. Alexander

Light Bender by Kristy Johnson

Gemma did not realize that a trip home to do a simple job of documenting a major thunderstorm and verifying her mother and grandmother were safe, would draw her into a century old mystery, finding both herself and the love of her life.

About the Author - Kristy Johnson

Loon Racing by Ingrid Anderson Sampo

In Loon Racing, the reader takes a vacation trip to northern Minnesota with its eccentric residents, outlandish community events and main characters who get back on the road of life after some detours. It is a heartwarming, quirky and funny read.

About the Author - Ingrid Anderson Sampo

Movie Magic by Rachael Passan

When a movie crew comes to Lake Itasca to film scenes for an upcoming historical adventure, stuntman Flynn Donovan must dissuade a star-struck waitress’s affections.

About the Author - Rachael Passan

Putting Demons to Rest on Whitefish Bay by Ann Nardone

Tina returns to the sight of painful memories to lay her demons to rest. But, someone doesn't want the past to stay buried. Two men and even nature itself may force her to confront her old sin.

About the Author - Ann Nardone

Summer Heat by Sonja Gunter

Anna Marie Hagan hasn’t been to her family cabin on Crow Wing Lake since the summer she’d meet Chopper-aka-Christopher Thompson. Forced to inspect the cabin before listing it for sale to finalize her parents’ estate, she was taking a chance on running into the guy who’d been her first love. Has time healed their misunderstanding and will they rekindle the summer heat?

About the Author - Sonja Gunter

The Island by Jill Revak

Charlotte wants to sell the cabin she inherited in her father’s will. But when she meets Oliver, her plans take an unexpected turn. Will she be able to embrace her troubled past to take a chance at love?

About the Author - Jill Revak

The Last Tide by Christopher Edmund

Below the surface of a secluded lake, a vast kingdom seethes upon the edge of destruction and Tristan Zale finds himself prisoner to a Princess whose heart balances on the precipice of war.

About the Author - Christopher Edmund

The Letter by Linda Hamilton

After WWII ends, life begins again for all who survived. Marie Schneider leaves a farm in northern Minnesota. Sven Martinson arrives in America from a farm in Norway. Both choose Minneapolis, the City of Lakes, to look for jobs. They meet and fall in love on the shores of Lake Calhoun, only to have another war begin. The Korean War. Can this new young love survive the separation and uncertainty of war?

About the Author - Linda Hamilton

The Talisman at Gull Lake by Sara Poulos

Jack's been Jordan's childhood playmate, her teenage romance and her secret once-a-year lover. But now Jordan has met Mr. Right and it's time to tell Jack goodbye for good. But is Jack ready to let her go? Previews

About the Author - Sara Poulos

When It's Real

by Rhonda Brutt

Callie smiled at her two best friends as they left their high school auditorium, along with hundreds of other well-wishers who had just watched the commencement exercises.

Now that graduation’s over with, we’re officially seniors! Jenna locked her arm through Callie’s.

Only one more year to go! Felicity threw her hands up in celebration.

Jenna and Felicity had been her two best friends for as long as Callie could remember. Their enthusiasm was always contagious and tonight was no exception.

Let’s all do something tomorrow night. The first Saturday of summer is always the most fun. Jenna practically bounced with excitement.

We should go out to eat or do some shopping or something. How about it, Callie? Felicity turned to her friend.

Well ... I ... Callie stammered as she tucked a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear and looked down.

You’re going out with Carter, I guess? Jenna rolled her eyes.

We’re supposed to meet some people at Lake Calhoun ... Callie mumbled apologetically.

"Sounds like fun, but it’s no shock we didn’t know about it. Just because you’re hanging with that crowd now doesn’t mean we are, remember? They act like Jenna and I don’t exist," Felicity added with a frown.

I’m sure you could just show up—

Like we’d even want to. Those people are so stuck on themselves. I don’t know how you can stand it. You said eating lunch with them was bad enough, Jenna reminded her.

Callie wasn’t sure what to say. It was tough to try to spend time with her friends as well as with a boyfriend. She had dated a few guys over the past few years, but most of them had been the geeky academic type and hadn’t required as much time and effort as Carter did. Mr. Kincaid had assigned him to be her lab partner in chemistry during the last quarter of the year and eventually Carter had asked her out. On one hand, it was great to be dating one of the most popular guys in the school. On the other hand, it often forced her into spending time with his friends, most of whom were phonier than plastic, especially the girls. It was a tough dilemma to be in, trying to keep your old friends while struggling to fit in with new ones.

Hey Callie! Are you coming to the lake tomorrow? One of Carter’s friends shouted through the rolled down window of his car as he drove slowly by them.

Yeah. See you there. Callie nodded at him. Jenna scowled as the car suddenly squealed out of the parking lot. It was clear she didn’t approve.

Callie had to admit that it was nice to be accepted by the in crowd, even if her friends hadn’t been. It wasn’t as if any of Carter’s friends had ever been mean to her or anything. In the past, they had mostly just treated her as though she were transparent. But, when Carter and she became an item, it was as if a light switch had been flipped on. Fellow classmates started noticing her, greeting her in the halls, talking to her in class even. Soon she had ditched her old lunch table friends to eat lunch with Carter and company, as her Jenna and Felicity liked to call them. She wasn’t fond about having to decide which group she should hang with, but since Carter preferred his friends over hers, she usually didn’t have much of a choice.

Show up anyways. We’ll be over by Thomas Beach. I promise I won’t ignore you. Who knows, you might even meet someone new. Callie really did want them to be there.

I don’t get it. You’ve always been snubbed by his friends, and then suddenly they act as if you’ve been their friend forever, and just because of Carter. Can’t you see that? Jenna furrowed her forehead and frowned.

Yeah. Callie was well aware of this. Still it was tough. After being in the shadows for most of her life, dating Carter had boosted her popularity at school tremendously. It was nice to be treated as though she actually existed now, even if the reasoning was flawed.

Give her a break, Jenna, she likes Carter so what choice does she have? Felicity injected.

Maybe we could get together on Sunday then? she asked Callie hopefully.

That’d be great. Callie smiled with relief. She didn’t want to lose her friends over a guy, but she wished balancing both at once wasn’t such a chore.

* * * *

Callie and Carter were the first ones to arrive at the lake on Saturday night. Carter picked out a spot on the beach area near the water where there were less people and spread out a towel for them to sit on. After a few minutes, Amy, who was one of Carter’s friends, showed up.

Those sandals are adorable! Where’d you get them? She pointed to Callie’s feet.

Callie wasn’t sure what to say to her. She had found them at a yard sale up north in Fergus Falls when she’d been visiting her grandmother over Memorial Day weekend. But honesty wasn’t always the best policy when one was trying to improve one’s social status with any of these girls. Up until now, Callie had never risked saying too much about her family’s financial status. She couldn’t imagine that yard sales were frequented by anyone who would be showing up for this evening’s gathering, especially since all these girls did was talk about what everyone was wearing and what it cost. On the other hand, maybe it was time to take a chance and see how one of them would react. After all, they’d seemed to have accepted her as one of them. Maybe they weren’t as shallow as they appeared.

I found them at a yard sale. Callie smiled.

Amy began to giggle. "You are so funny! Like anyone would buy used shoes! Seriously, you crack me up!"

Callie opened her mouth to correct her but before she could speak, a guy dashed by the towel on which they were sitting and kicked sand up all over them.

Hey, watch it! Callie mumbled before she realized what was happening. She blinked the sand from her eyes just in time to see the back of the person who had jetted past them enter the water of Lake Calhoun, clothes, sneakers and all. What the heck was he running from? A creepy clown with a knife?

He must be drunk. Amy rolled her eyes as the guy began to frantically swim out from the shore before suddenly disappearing under the water.

The few people on the beach watched as he finally surfaced, took a huge gulp of air, and plunged under a second time. When he appeared again, he was holding something with one arm as he began to swim towards the shore with the other. A woman from behind Callie suddenly began to scream as she raced towards the water’s edge.

What’s he got? Callie asked, as they jumped up from where they’d been sitting.

It’s a person! Carter responded as everyone started for the water’s edge.

My nephew! Oh my God! My nephew! was all the woman could repeat over and over while tears streamed from her eyes.

Callie watched in shock as the guy hurried from the water, laid the little boy on the sand and checked his breathing.

Somebody call 911! he yelled before frantically beginning mouth to mouth and chest compressions on him.

Carter immediately ran over and dropped to his knees next to the guy. Callie knew Carter had worked as a lifeguard the previous summer. Maybe he wanted to make himself available, in case he was needed.

Callie covered her mouth with both of her hands. The child couldn’t have been more than three or four years old. She couldn’t believe she was actually seeing this. It was too unreal. This kind of thing only happened on TV, or to people who lived somewhere else. There was nothing she could do but stand and watch, and wait. This was not how she wanted to start out her summer. They were supposed to be out celebrating the fact that they were now seniors in high school but instead, they were witnessing what may have been a fatal drowning.

When the paramedics arrived, the drenched and exhausted guy who had rescued the boy quickly stepped away and let them take over. The police began containing the small crowd that had now formed since several of Carter’s friends had arrived and on-lookers had appeared from around the area. Somewhere in the confusion, the guy who had retrieved the child from the lake seemingly disappeared.

Callie noticed Carter talking with the police long after the ambulance had left with the little boy while she hung back, chatting with the others. As darkness had descended on the lake, the crowd of students decided it was best to call it a night and leave.

Why don’t I take you home? I think the party’s over for the night, especially since it never got started, and besides, the police want me to come to the station to answer more questions. There was just too much commotion at the lake for me to give them all the details, Carter told Callie as they drove away.

She nodded in agreement. What do you think happened?

Some lady had too many kids there and she lost track of one. That’d be my guess. It happens. Carter shrugged.

It’s a good thing that guy was there. Did they talk to him? Callie couldn’t remember seeing him with the police. In fact, she couldn’t even remember what he looked like.

I don’t think anyone realized what had happened exactly. I never saw him again after the paramedics arrived. Of course, if I had realized a kid had gone missing, I would have saved him myself. I’m still certified you know. Carter puffed his chest out a bit, as he bragged.

Do you think that poor little guy will make it? she asked as he pulled up in front of her house.

I guess we’ll find out. What time do you work tomorrow?

My shift is from nine until four. Callie put her purse over her shoulder.

Great. Do you need a ride?

My mom can drop me off. Can you pick me up? She reached for the handle of the door and opened it.

No problem. I’ll be there. He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss goodnight. As Callie watched him drive away, she wondered what more the police wanted to know from him.

I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

* * * *

Callie awoke early after a restless night. Images of the little boy, still and lifeless, had haunted her sleep. She quickly showered and left a note for her mom, telling her she was going to walk to the lake first, and then to the café where she worked, and that she wouldn’t need a ride. She figured an early walk would help clear her mind.

Taking a small thermos of coffee with her, she started out for the beach where she’d been with Carter the previous evening. When she got to Lake Calhoun, she was surprised to see how many people were already there. Along with the usual crowd of walkers and joggers she noticed a guy with an art easel set up in the sand right where they had been the previous night.

The artists that occasionally set up their easels around the lake fascinated Callie, particularly since art wasn’t her thing. Stick figures were about as good as it got for her. Other than this guy on the beach though, everything else looked normal about the area. There was no sign that something big had happened there the previous night, not even any yellow police tape.

Quietly, so as not to disturb him, Callie approached the guy from behind, hoping to see what it was he was working on. When she saw the drawing, she let out a small gasp.

Hey! The young man turned around to look at her, slightly startled. He was working on a drawing of the lake, with a crowd of people surrounding a small body in the sand.

Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, it’s just, well, your drawing looks so real. Were you here last night? she asked.

Were you? He raised his eyebrows as he ignored her question.

Yes. Do you know what happened? I mean, did he make it? Is he alive?

According to this morning’s news he was. He’s at Children’s Hospital.

How stupid of me. I didn’t even think to turn on the news. Callie took a sip of her coffee.

It made the paper too, although they didn’t have a whole lot of information yet when it went to press. Here, you can have my copy. I’m done with it. He reached down and picked up a folded up newspaper lying next to him and handed it to her.

Thanks, I’ll look at it later on my break at work. Callie put the paper under her arm.

Do you work close by?

Not really. But I was here last night and I wanted to see if ... well, I don’t know actually. It was awful to watch that whole scene and I just felt like I should come back down here this morning. It probably doesn’t make much sense.

"I suppose it was pretty traumatic to have to watch, but I wouldn’t say it was awful. He was saved you know. I guess it depends if you’re a glass half-empty or half-full type of person."

Maybe you’re right ... Callie looked out over the water as she thought about it.

My name’s Devin by the way. My family just moved here from North Dakota last week. I’ll be starting my last year of high school here in the fall—

Oh, then we’re the same age. Callie’s face brightened.

And you are? He held out his hand as he stood up.

Callie. She reached out and gave his hand a slight squeeze. As she did so, she got a good look at his face. He was an extremely good-looking guy. He had curly brown hair and a dazzling smile. What Callie really noticed about him however, were his eyes. They were a shade of blue that was hard to describe and they seemed to dance as he looked at her. For some reason, Callie felt as though she had seen him before. That was highly unlikely though, given the fact he’d just moved here.

Do you live around here? he asked as he let go of her hand.

Yeah. Pretty close. What about you? Callie tried hard not to stare at him but it was impossible. Looking away from him was hard.

My folks bought a house just a few blocks away. He nodded in the opposite direction from which Callie had walked.

Your drawing is really good by the way. I have a friend who likes art. Her name’s Felicity. Maybe you’d want to hang out with us sometime. We’ll probably be going to the same school.

Sure. I’m not doing anything around here yet. I have lots of free time—

Crap! The time! I’ve got to get going. I don’t have a car. It took me longer than I thought to get here. If I don’t start walking now, I’ll never make it in time for work.

I can take you. My car is right over there.

Oh, I don’t want to be a problem—

It’s not. I was about done anyway, besides, this place is filling up with people. It makes it harder to concentrate. He put his pencils and drawings away in a case and folded his easel and stool to carry.

Callie followed him across the street to where his car was parked.

Where to? he asked as they climbed in.

I work at a café over on Hennepin Avenue. I’ll show you where to go. Listen, I really appreciate this. Callie reached for the seat belt.

It’s my pleasure. It’s great to finally meet someone my age. Devin looked pleased as he pulled his car out onto Calhoun Parkway.

* * * *

By the time Callie took her break at work, she had already missed several calls from both Jenna and Felicity. Wondering what was so urgent it couldn’t wait until her shift was over, Callie called Jenna.

It’s about time you called me back! Jenna’s voice was filled with excitement.

What’s up?

Were you there at Lake Calhoun last night when that boy almost drowned?

Yeah. We had just gotten there.

Why didn’t you call me?

How did you know about it?

Everyone around here is talking about it. People have even been calling me, which is pretty weird. I always assumed Carter had been a lifeguard just so he could show off. I can’t believe he actually saved that kid! What did you do? Were you scared?

What? Carter didn’t save anybody. What are you talking about? Callie was confused.

I guess you didn’t have time to see this morning’s paper. It’s been all over the news. I thought you said you were there. He did CPR on some little kid that someone pulled from the lake. The guy on TV says he’s a hero! How could you have not known?

Callie shook her head as if to clear it. How could I not know? Because it didn’t happen that way, that’s why.

Like I said before, Carter didn’t save anyone, Jenna. There must be a mistake. We were there and we watched it happen, but that’s it. After the ambulance left, Carter talked to the police and then he took me home.

That’s not the story I’m hearing.

Wait. I have the paper from this morning in my bag. Let me look at it. Callie reached inside it and grabbed the paper Devin had given her.

While Jenna chatted away about her morning, Callie scanned the article. Carter had told the police someone pulled the child from the lake and he had done CPR on him until the paramedics arrived. But this wasn’t what happened at all. Had Carter intentionally lied to them so he’d look good? Or had an overzealous journalist jumped to conclusions and made this story up? Surely this was a just a huge misunderstanding. She’d have to ask Carter when he picked her up after work later.

This paper doesn’t have the facts right. I’ll call you tonight and tell you what happened when I have more time. Listen, I’ve only got another minute or so for my break but I wanted to tell you I met this new guy this morning—

That’s great! Felicity and I never thought Carter was good enough for you. Felicity thinks he’s only using you for his schoolwork. He always acts like—

"No, you don’t understand! I didn’t say I broke up with Carter. I said I met this new guy and I invited him to hang out with us sometime. I hope you guys don’t mind, but he seems really nice. He’s into art and he just moved here so he doesn’t know anyone. He’s going to our school in September. He gave me a ride to work this morning and we talked. I’ll tell you about it later. Trust me when I tell you he’s fine to look at too. Who knows? Maybe this will be the start of something for one of you."

"If he’s anything like Carter, then I’m sure I speak for both Felicity and I when I tell you, we’re not interested."

We’ll see about that. I’ll call you tonight after I talk to Carter. Callie got off the phone and tied her apron back around her waist. She carefully folded the newspaper and tucked it back into her bag. Surely, Carter would have an explanation for why they had made a mistake with their facts.

* * * *

Carter, that’s not what happened, and you know it, Callie said into her phone with clenched teeth as she stood waiting for him. Her shift was over and he hadn’t shown up yet to pick her up from the café.

Yeah, but who cares? The guy that pulled him from the lake vanished. Do you know how cool this is for me? My phone hasn’t stopped ringing all day.

What about your friends? They were there you know—

No they weren’t. Only Amy was, and she’ll never say a word. Everyone else showed up after the paramedics were already there. Besides, it was almost dark and there was a lot of confusion.

I can’t believe you would lie about something like this ... Callie lowered her voice.

I didn’t lie. Well, not technically. Things were just kind-of assumed, and I didn’t bother to correct them, Carter defended himself.

Oh, give me a break. Callie put the phone down for a second and took a deep breath before returning it to her ear.

Come on Callie, be a good sport. It isn’t going to hurt anything so what difference does it make?

It’s the principle of it. You are taking credit for something you didn’t do and that’s just wrong. How can you not see that?

"You never cared when I got credit for the lab work you mostly did in class. How is this different?"

Callie realized he was right. She had helped his science grade go from a D to an A, and he never did any of the work, but still, this was different. Or was it? Had he intentionally used her without her knowing it? Her friend Felicity always thought so.

I don’t need you to pick me up tonight. I’ve got another ride coming for me since you didn’t show up, Callie lied as she looked up at the darkening sky. Even if it meant walking all the way home in the rain, she didn’t want to see Carter right now. She needed to give some thought to this.

Fine. I’m busy anyway. Are you going to come over tonight?

No. I might go out with Jenna and Felicity, if I can get my chores done.

Again?

Carter, I hardly ever go out with my friends anymore. I’m always with you.

Okay, but do me a favor. If you talk to either of them, try not to say too much about what happened last night. After all, you should be happy I’m getting some recognition out of this.

What? You get recognition every day from practically everyone at school. You’re one of the most popular guys there. Try being me for a few days. Nobody recognizes people for good grades. You score a goal in hockey and you can part the seas in the hallways. But no one in the halls calls out, ‘Hey Callie, way to go on winning the math bowl for our school this year...ever.

"Look, you choose to be one of those brainy nerd types, but that’s just not my style—"

"Okay, I’m hanging up now before you really piss me off!" Callie punched the button to end the call. She pushed open the door of the café and stormed down the sidewalk with a scowl on her face. More often than not, she was beginning to think dating Carter was a bad decision.

Maybe I should just end it. He’s not really my type. Breaking up with someone really sucks though. I’m not even sure I know how to do it. Callie’s thoughts were interrupted by a car horn and then the sound of someone calling out her name.

Callie! Need a ride? Devin rolled down his window as he slowed his car down next to her. Callie nodded and he pulled into a parking spot just ahead of her to wait.

What are you doing here? She tried to pretend she was in a good mood as she climbed in to the front seat.

Stalking you! Devin grinned widely as she gave him a sideways look.

Then perhaps I should walk after all—

"I’m just messing with you. I was on my way