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been here about ten minutes.”
    “ Did you see anyone?” I
keep scanning the shore, but Griffin is the only person
nearby.
    He shrugs. “No. There’s just me.”
    My fingers cinch down around the conch, and I
shake my head, unable to sort between the dream world and reality.
The rough surface of the shell tells me it hasn’t been cleaned up
and smoothed. Its form is natural, and it didn’t come from this
lake.
    Griffin enfolds me in his arms, and I feel
myself pushed up against his chest. At one time, I would never have
let him get that close, but there’s nothing like a guy saving your
life to tell you he’s not nearly as bad as you think. He’s been the
only link I’ve kept to Hauser’s Landing. Some things are just too
painful to remember.
    “ How have you been?” His
voice is quiet and low key as it rumbles through his chest—and, by
proximity, me.
    “ Good.” I slowly pull away,
the shell heavy in my left hand. “What are you doing here?” My
voice sounds breathless, unprepared.
    “ Jimmie said if you weren’t
at the house, I’d find you here at the lake.”
    My whole body stiffens with realization, and
I avert my gaze. “Oh, so Jimmie sent for you.” Gritting my teeth, I
fold my arms across my chest and try counting to keep my patience.
Good old Jimmie. I just wonder what he told Griffin to get him down
here so fast. That I was losing my mind? Maybe I was suicidal?
Maybe I just needed the comfort of an old friend?
    “ Yeah,” he finally admits,
looking at the ground.
    “ Sorry you drove so far for
nothing, Griffin.” I start to walk away but he grabs my arm and
stops me.
    “ Damn it, Lizzie, just
because Jimmie sent for me doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be here or that
I can’t help. If you’ll let me.”
    “ I’m fine,” I snap and jerk
away, trying to keep walking. Maybe if I just leave him at the
lake, he’ll go away.
    “ You keep saying that,
Lizzie. But the thing is, I don’t think you know any other way to
describe yourself. You just tell yourself that so maybe, given
enough time, you’ll believe it. But I don’t.”
    That’s when I run back to the house. The
problem is that no matter how far or fast you run, the past always
catches you in the end.

    Chapter Four
    “ Lizzie, wait!” Griffin
shouts. I’ve almost reach the house, and although I’m a fast
runner, Griffin is determined to catch me, which causes both of us
to plunge head first in to the dirt. Slamming against the ground
knocks the air from my lungs, and I gasp, trying to take in enough
air to catch my breath. That gives Griffin enough time to get up
and kneel in front of me. His face is wan, and the expression
crossing his face hints at feeling guilty about me lying on the
ground.
    “ You okay?”
    I nod, knowing that if I could just get the
word out of my throat, I’d squeak, “Fine.” But right now words are
beyond me. So all I can do is glare at Griffin leaning over me,
gasping air as he tries to catch his breath.
    “ I didn’t come here to be
Jimmie’s spy, Lizzie.” He offers me a hand, and, as he stands he
hauls me to my feet. “I came because whether or not you want to
admit it, you need me, and, as things aren’t going so hot at home,
I damned sure need some of your time. Can’t we just leave it at
that?”
    For a moment I ponder his words and realize
he’s right. I can either cuss Griffin out for coming when Jimmie
called him, or I can look at Griffin’s sudden appearance as a gift.
Okay, so maybe I won’t go that far, but I’m willing to bet
Griffin’s intentions lie somewhere between spying on me and trying
to take care of me. If Jimmie thinks Griffin is keeping an eye on
me, he might actually loosen up, which would make it so much easier
to find Lev.
    “ Okay.” I pat the dirt from
my body and shake my head. Trust Griffin to tackle me just to get
me to talk. Or listen. As he sees me trying to clean off my
clothes, he gestures for me to turn around and pats down my
back.
    “ Good as