"Sure, let's talk," I said, although I didn't really think it would happen. Despite Jenny's warm embrace and genuine smile, I didn't get the feeling she wanted to go too deep with me, and that was fine, because I didn't want to go too deep with her, either.
Melanie's disappearance had put a huge wedge between all my relationships, especially those with the local kids. Jenny might not have blamed me for anything, but the accusations flying around, and my inability to remember anything about the night, had made things awkward.
As Jenny left, I decided I'd done my duty. I'd made an appearance. I didn't need to stay. It wasn't like anyone would miss me. I walked toward the lodge, hoping to grab a cab and head home. As I reached the restrooms, which were housed in an exterior building, a man stumbled out the door. It was James Connelly. James's brown hair was mussed. His tailored shirt was halfway out of his pants, and it looked like he'd spilled a drink on himself.
He gave me a confused look and then said, "Hey, babe. I was wondering where you were."
As James drew closer, I realized there was a serious stench of alcohol coming off him. He had so much vodka in him. If I lit a match, he would go up in flames.
"You're much prettier than you used to be," James slurred. "What do you say we do what we did before?"
"We never did anything, James."
"Sure, we did. Remember the back seat of my car? Your bedroom?"
"We were never in your car or my bedroom. You're thinking about Brooklyn. I'm Willow."
His hand came around my waist, sliding down to my ass. I quickly removed it.
"No, it was you," he insisted. "You were too young for me, but you wanted it. You begged me for it, so why not?" He took a step closer.
I put a hand against his chest. "James, stop. You're drunk, and I'm leaving."
"I was drunk the first time. That didn't matter to you."
I frowned, wondering who he was confusing me with. It didn't sound like he was talking about Brooklyn, but that was odd. They'd started dating when they were seventeen, and they were together for years.
"I can make it good for you," he said, his eyes completely dazed.
"You couldn't make it good for anyone." As I tried to leave, he put both arms around me, and I struggled against him, surprised by his strength. "Let me go."
"Just a kiss, and you'll remember."
"No." I shoved him away so hard he hit the wall of the building and then sank down to the ground.
James put his head in his hands. I turned to leave and came face-to-face with Drake Maddox.
His sharp gaze swept the scene. "Are you all right, Willow?"
"I'm fine. James is drunk."
"Clearly. I didn't know the two of you were…together." He gave me a speculative look. "Isn't he Brooklyn's boyfriend?"
"James and Brooklyn broke up years ago, and James and I are not together."
"He just tried to kiss you."
"He's out of his mind." I frowned. "If you saw him try to kiss me, you could have stopped him."
"I didn't know if you wanted him to kiss you."
"Wasn't that obvious?" I turned my head and saw that James had rolled over onto his side, his eyes closed. Most everyone was down at the bonfire, but someone would walk by soon, and that would not be good. "We need to get him up and out of here."
"That sounds like a job for the Connellys, or the Chadwicks, or your family. Hide away the mess before anyone sees it, before anyone can blame you, and then plead complete ignorance," he said with a bitter note in his voice.
"I opened myself up for that one, didn't I? Do you feel better now?"
"Not really."
"What are you doing here, Drake?"
"I want answers."
"After all these years? No one is going to suddenly remember something. No one is suddenly going to talk."
"Is that what has been decided?" he challenged.
"It's just the truth. If someone knew something ten years ago and said nothing, they're not talking now." I paused. "I want answers, too. Everyone who loved Melanie wants those answers, but they're not coming."
"They might come with the right inducement."
"What does that mean?" I asked, his answer concerning.
He shrugged. "Memory is a funny thing, especially when you're back in the place where it happened."
"You really think someone in our group hurt your sister?"
He met my gaze. "I've asked myself that question a million times. In the beginning, I couldn't imagine it was someone in our group. I was friends with everyone. So was Melanie. But the more people couldn't remember, the more they clammed up, the way they quickly exited the island changed that answer to a yes."
My pulse leapt at his words. "It's impossible," I whispered.
"Is it, Willow? You don't remember that night. So how do you know for sure that it isn't extremely possible?"
"Because there's no motive. Everyone loved Melanie."
"It might not have been about that. Maybe Melanie saw something she wasn't supposed to see, or she threatened to tell on someone."
"You're speculating."
"Yes. I've been speculating for ten years."
"It could have been a complete stranger. If she was alone, it could have been anyone. It was August. The island was packed with tourists. Hundreds came and went on the ferry each day," I argued. "You've zeroed in on one small group of people because it's easier, but you're wrong."
"I don't think I am."
The anger sparked gold lights in his dark-blue eyes, and those sparks reminded me of other emotions I'd seen in his gaze, emotions he'd given into once and then quickly denounced, leaving me heartbroken, confused and feeling like a fool. But I wouldn't be a fool again. I wouldn't believe Drake, because he'd already proven to me he could lie, that he was untrustworthy.
"Willow?" His sharp voice dragged me back to the present.
"What?"
"I said I'm not wrong. And you shouldn't fight me. You should help me. Melanie was your best friend."
"I can't help you; I don't know anything."
"I think you do. Maybe you're scared. Maybe you're protecting someone's secret. Hell, maybe it's yourself you're protecting."
My jaw dropped in shock. "You seriously think I had something to do with Melanie's disappearance?"
"You were supposed to meet her that night. You didn't. And you claim to remember nothing. You don't know where you went after Ben's party. You don't know if you were at the bonfire. You have no idea how you got home."
"That's all true. If I knew something, I would have told the sheriff. I held nothing back. I didn't protect anyone, including myself." I shook my head in frustration. "You are so off base, it's ridiculous. But you won't believe me, so it doesn't matter what I say. Just like it won't matter what anyone else has to say. You have your theory, and nothing will change it."
"The truth might change it. But I have heard nothing close to the truth."