Tears caught in her eyes as his hand was on her arm, his calming voice in her ear. The iron grip loosened itself, and she let out a shuddering breath.
“How did you find me?”
“Twin instinct,” he instantly said, then grinned. “Ally saw Hudson walking out of here, looking like he’d been punched in the gut. Wasn’t hard to figure out your modus operandi.”
“Stop trying to impress me by using Latin.” She wiped away a tear. “Thanks.”
“Always.” He shrugged. “Was it bad?”
“The panic attack or the breakup?”
“You really broke up?” He let out a long whistle. “I thought you guys…well…it gave me hope.”
Hope?
She blinked it away. Whatever he was talking about was a question for another day. Right now she only had room to concentrate on her misery.
Her misery of being alone forever.
“I can’t do it.” Her voice wavered. “If one photo can wipe me out for a day…what would happen when we’re back at school? It wouldn’t be fair on him.”
“Is that what he said?”
She shook her head and closed her eyes. “No.”
Zac let out another whistle. “Whoa. You dumped him?”
She flinched. “I didn’t dump him. It wasn’t like that.”
“Seems exactly like that. Anyway, I figured you would want to know his folks arrived in camp. He’s going back to Cricket Bay with them.”
“What?” She turned, and the branch wobbled. Zac’s hand shot out to steady her. He was leaving? Her heart thudded, and a wave of hypocrisy washed over her. She was hiding from him but still upset he was going?
“That’s all I know.” Zac shrugged, his eyes narrowing in on her. “Via, do you really want it to be over?”
There was a question.
A week ago, if anyone had told her she’d even have a conversation with Hudson, she would have laughed. Loudly. But now she’d kissed him, told him she was his girlfriend, had a fight with him, and spent the last hour crying about it.
It had been a busy eight days.
And she was still avoiding the question.
She swallowed. “I really like him, Zac.”
“I like him too. He’s the only guy I’ve met who is as smart as you are.”
“I don’t feel very smart right now.”
“That’s because you’re sitting up a tree. Not normally considered your best work environment. Go find a library.”
“According to Hudson, the thing I do best is avoid life.”
“Ha. Good one.” He burst out laughing. Via blinked at him.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re not avoiding life. This is life. You breathe. You live. It’s not rocket science, Vee. And I’m speaking from experience here. Go fix it while there’s still something to fix.”
She shut her eyes and leaned against the trunk. “The panic attacks keep coming back. It’s like I’m six years old again. On the stage, unable to move as everyone looks at me. I can still hear their voices.”
Zac was silent. It was unusual, and she studied his face. Finally he spoke. “Here’s what I don’t get. If that’s happening, then why can’t you remind yourself you’re not six anymore?”
“It’s not that simple. The brain is complex and automatically uses neural pathways to—” She broke off as Zac’s eyes glazed over. “Trust me on this.”
“Hey, I never question your smarts,” Zac assured her. “But I still don’t get it. Why can’t you remind yourself you’re not six anymore? Because, news flash. It’s true. You’re sixteen. Why should some lousy six-year-old be in charge? No offense. I was there and you had some nasty habits. Peanut butter and raisins?”
“That was a valid life choice,” she protested, then sighed as he raised an eyebrow. “Okay, it was gross. But you don’t understand. It happens every—”
She broke off.
It didn’t happen every time.
At the waterfall with Hudson she’d gone swimming. Something she hadn’t done for years. But with him by her side it seemed easy. And it was. Because he didn’t think she was weird.
When she was with him, she was herself.
It was the same with Zac.
And with Frankie.
None of them let her sink back into six-year-old Via.
She caught her breath as her mind began to spin. Had she been working on a false premise all this time? Problem was, there was only one way to test out her theory. And if she was wrong…
But if I’m right.
She sat up, the branch wobbling underneath her. She hardly noticed. Because if she was right, then she could still be with Hudson. And she’d always been a fast learner.
“Zac, you’re brilliant.”
“Really? Can I get that in writing?”
“Sure. But first you need to help me down from this tree. There’s something I need to do.”
She just hoped she wasn’t too late.
xxxx
“See you, Hudson.” Lulu wrapped her arms around one leg while Theo did the same on his other.
“You bet you will. I’m babysitting you monsters next week when you come home from camp. Water and bread rations,” he said, forcing his voice to be light and happy. After all, practice made perfect.
“Come on Lulu and Theo, they want to leave.” Ruth masterfully detached both kids in under a minute. Then she hugged him. “Will you call me when you get home?”
“I promise. And thanks for a great summer.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t quite work out the way you wanted.”
He’d never mentioned Via to her, but he was guessing she’d seen the damn photograph.
“Can’t have everything, I guess.”
Hudson hugged his uncle and turned to his parents. They were leaning against the rental car they’d driven up in. Turned out they’d both met at the airport and hadn’t killed each other.
He should be happy.
He sighed and limped over to them.
“All ready?” his dad said as he opened the car door.
“I guess,” he said, and took one last look around.
The white cabins were buzzing with people wandering in and out of them. The lake glittered a thousand shades of blue…and Via Mackenzie was running across the dried grass toward him.
His whole
