“Sam and Easton are off on another secret project,” Dante says. “They should be back soon. No one wants to miss?—”
“Thanks-o-weenie,” Haley and I say together. Her laugh vibrates through my chest.
Soon turns out to be not soon at all. I’ve got the dishes washed. I peer at the WaveRunner. I guess I’ve got some time. I flip open the toolbox and sift through the few tools I have.
The carburetor was a gummy wreck—the whole machine was. It reeked of stale fuel. I drained it as soon as I had it back here on the beach. But I need to finish removing the carburetor.
I steady my hands, and with my smallest wrench, I loosen the bolts and lift the carburetor free. The fuel bowl has a murky liquid in it—definitely water contamination. I was hoping it hadn’t gotten this bad. It’s slow, meticulous work, but it has to be done right. It’s going to take a lot to get the gunk out of everything. You’d think I’d have all the time in the world to work on it. But somehow I don’t.
Someone’s running down the path from camp. Zane pops out onto the beach. “Let’s go. We’re ready.”
“Ready?”
“The thing, the day—you know.” Zane pivots and zips away.
I tuck everything back under one of the few tarps we have. Easton might have come up with this holiday, but I’m sure it’s Dante who’s made the agenda. And that scares me just a little.
Chapter 26
On the Rocks
Sam
“You smell good.” Haley nuzzles her nose into my neck. “What is it? I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
“My new cologne. Do you like it?” I laugh.
“I do.” Her lips purse.
Easton shakes his head, and he pulls out a small cloth bag. “All right, everyone grab a rock. Don’t show it.” He starts with Dante, then Zane. Calvin takes the bag out of his hand, shakes it and pulls one. He passes it to me. I swish my hand around in the stiff fabric bag. My chin flicks to Easton. There are only two rocks left. But Haley, Easton, and I still need to pick a rock.
“I’ll take that from you, Sam,” says Easton.
“I want a rock.” Haley grabs at the bag.
Easton frowns. “No, trust me, Haley, you don’t.”
“I’ll share my rock with you, Sassy.”
“There’s no rock sharing,” Easton says.
“What sort of game have you gotten us into?” Zane laughs.
“Relax, I’ll explain after we reveal rocks.”
“Last time I heard something like that, I lost twenty quid. But okay, let’s do it.” Zane thrusts his hand out in front of his chest, and the rest of us do the same. Haley’s got her arms crossed over her chest, her lips in a slight pout; it has me thinking about making her do other things with them.
“Firefly, if you would do the honors.” Easton wiggles his eyebrows, and Haley drops her arms.
“Reveal,” she giggles. “I don’t know why I get such a kick out of saying that. Makes me feel like a game show host.”
We all turn our palms over, and they have four white rocks, but in the middle of my hand is a dark rock.
“Sam, you’ve got the dark rock.”
“Indeed. Now are you going to explain my fate?”
“It’s simple: to honor the day, you’re Haley’s servant.”
