Cassidy had been home most of this week with a brutal attitude, which made Mom cry a lot. Then she started disappearing again, staying out late, ignoring everyone when she came around for food.
Mom insisted Caleb invite Emery and her parents for dinner. He took a risk and invited them for Friday night. No way Cassidy would be home before dawn.
Her parents declined since her mom had a cold. But Emery was coming.
He worked an extra shift at the Starlight, then ran by Biggs for a bouquet of flowers. At home, he showered, gelled his hair, and snuck a splash of Dad’s Hugo Boss. In the kitchen, he asked Mom what he could do to help with dinner.
“You can set the table.” Still in her work clothes and covered with a big apron, signature slippers on her feet, Mom checked the lasagna. The whole house smelled of meat, cheese, and sauce. “Was Cassidy with you at the rink?” she said. “I called her and left messages, but she never called back. What’s the point of paying for cell service if she’s not going to use it.”
Oh, she used it. Just not to talk to Mom. “She wasn’t at the rink.” He hoped Mom would leave it at that because he knew where Cassidy had been all afternoon: at the beach, wearing a bikini that made him blush, while some muscled airman from Eglin wrapped his tattooed arm around her naked waist.
“Are you excited?” Mom said. “About this girl? What’s her name?”
“Emery. She’s just a friend.”
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with her.”
“She’s cool. The guys like her.”
“The guys? Like Shift, Jumbo, Hollingsworth?” Mom said, properly impressed. “Well, personally I like how her father called your dad. He’s looking out for her.” She stepped to the back porch facing their neighbor on the right. “Caleb, I’m going to see if Cassidy is with Allison. Her phone must’ve died.”
Allison was Cassidy’s best friend and co-conspirator. Mom was knocking on the wrong door there.
Ten minutes later, she arrived home from Denial Town. “Alli said she’s at the Starlight.” Mom looked pleased with that answer. “You must’ve missed her.” At the fridge, she collected the salad fixings. “Apparently Riley Stebbins is in town visiting her grandparents, and she dragged Cass to the rink. Although . . .” Mom paused, talking to herself more than Caleb. “Jennifer and I played cards last week, and she never mentioned Riley coming to town.”
“I’m off to pick up Emery, Mom.” It was a bit early, but another minute of Mom’s reasonings and he’d break, rat on his sister—who absolutely deserved it—but tonight was about Emery coming to dinner.
When he pulled up to the Sands, Mr. Quinn waited outside Cottage 7. “Come on in,” he said, offering his hand. “Want a Coke or Dr. Pepper? Em, Caleb’s here.”
She came out of her room in a pair of white shorts and a pink top, flowers in her braided hair. Her tawny complexion had even more freckles—which made her hazel eyes look super cool. She was the prettiest girl he’d ever seen.
“How do you like her hair?” Mrs. Quinn said. “We picked the flowers from Delilah’s garden.”
“Nice” was all he could manage, since his heart was banging against his chest. But she was so much more.
“Bye, ’rents.” Emery kissed her mother, who’d retreated to the small couch under the window, pulling a blanket over her legs. “Bye, Dad, and yes I have my phone, and yes I’ll be home by ten.”
“Please thank your parents for inviting us,” Mr. Quinn said, with a look over at his wife. “Hopefully we can make it another time.”
Caleb held the passenger door for Emery as she climbed in, filling him and the truck cab with her soft, clean scent. Every part of him was intensely aware of her. Could he just stare at her all night and not be a weirdo?
Dinner was just the four of them—Dad, Mom, Caleb, and Emery. Thank goodness Cassidy was a no-show. The knot in his gut eased away when Dad said grace and Mom offered Emery a glass of sweet tea.
The table conversation was peaceful and fun. His folks peppered Emery with the usual questions: Where she was from? What did her parents do for a living? How did she like school? They were impressed she was an honor student who lettered in two sports. Even better, she made Dad laugh with a story about snowboarding into a tree.
“Our daughter is a talented athlete,” Mom said. “Have you met Cassidy?”
“No, not yet.” She glanced at Caleb. “So you’re going to be the starting quarterback?”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Dad said. “He’s got quite an arm and a good football IQ.”
“Cassidy can launch that softball from center field to home plate.” Mom dished more salad onto her plate. “Emery, more lasagna? You must take home a couple of pieces for your parents.”
“Thank you. Dad is crazy for Italian food. Can I help wash up, Mrs. Ransom?”
“No, no, I’ll let them soak while I mix up the brownies. You and Caleb can set up the game he wanted to—” The kitchen door banged against the wall as a very drunk Cassidy stumbled inside.
“I’m home.” She flung her arms wide, wearing a stupid grin. Her hair stuck out like she’d been in a wind tunnel. “And I’mdrunk.” She dropped into the chair next to Emery’s, laughing. “Hey, you ... you’re Emery. My brother is inlooovewith you.”
