Chapter 1: Introduction
"Hey, Tarren! I just found the perfect spot." Sammy shouted, waving both arms above her head. She normally reserves that welcome high-five-wave move to attractive guys at the beach, but I was her best friend, so I'd take it. I grinned and waved back, grabbing my towel and strolling toward her across the hot sand. The sound of laughter, sprinklers, and floaty toys were a perfect soundtrack to this hot summer day.
"Don't tell me," I called back, "it's where we always lay out.
I know, it's perfect, with the prime view of hot bods and happy families."
Sammy laughed. "Duh, best spot ever! Oh, and I've got something waiting for you."
Upon closer inspection, she was lounging under a big umbrella with a big cooler nearby and her sunglasses perched on her nose. I knew that couldn't mean anything but trouble, so I plopped myself down on the towel she'd already laid out for me and arched an eyebrow at her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I wondered.
She feigned innocence with that sly smile she reserved for when we were about to pull off some grand scheme that would surely get us into hot water. "Just wait," she answered cryptically. "You'll see."
"You know I hate surprises," I grumbled, but she just giggled, handed me an ice-cold water bottle, and settled into her own spot beside me.
Sammy's carefree, fun-loving nature always made the inner workaholic in me a bit envious, but today I let myself relax in her magnetic energy.
We spent the next half hour or so talking about everything under the sun, from her latest crush on a hot surfer dude – go figure – to my recent foray into photography. A crowd started to gather around a makeshift volleyball net nearby, with cries of victory and frustration punctuating the air.
I watched, partly intrigued, mostly distracted by all the sun-kissed skin on display. Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" strummed from someone's nearby portable radio, adding to the delightful dreaminess of the day.
Sammy sat up suddenly, a devilish twinkle in her eye. "You know what we should do?" she suggested, barely containing her excitement. I shook my head, already bracing myself for the unimaginable.
"I have a feeling I won't like where this is going."
She remained undeterred. "We should join them! Come on, Tarren, when was the last time we did something spontaneous?"
I scoffed. "You mean, besides sneaking into that late-night rave two months ago and almost getting arrested?"
She shrugged. "But that was fun, right?