A storm had blown through Love the night before, washing out the evening bonfire at the resort. Kate had been stuck inside her cabin playing Yahtzee with her sister all night. Lucas and his family had gone to a friend’s cabin across the lake for dinner, and the storm had forced them to stay sheltered there until late, which meant Kate and Lucas hadn’t gotten the alone time she’d been looking forward to the whole day before. Tonight, however, the air was fresh and the sky clear. The rain had washed away the humidity, so it was warm but not muggy. Kate clutched Lucas’s callused hand at her side as they made their way toward the center stage at Love’s Blues Festival. The blues fest was Love’s major annual celebration, and she and Lucas were going to the opening night’s performances with a bunch of other kids who were staying at the resort. Kate’s shoes were off, and she was enjoying the feeling of the still-wet grass on her bare feet. The field was packed with people who had come from miles away to enjoy the weeklong festival.
