“What happened?” I ask.
“Judd got a little overenthusiastic during his solo.” Wes stands up and does an imitation of someone beating the drums. “And then he kicked one—you know the big one that sits on the floor? He knocked it loose and it hit the guitar player, pushing him off the stage. He was so busy holding up his guitar that he didn’t try to break his fall.”
“They had to call the paramedics. His whole face was bleeding,” Charlie adds.
I can tell they really feel bad about finding it funny but also can’t seem to stop. And now I’m laughing because they’re laughing.
Then Charlie stops abruptly. “Wait. Where have you been? You left Superior almost two hours ago.”
Sophie and Wes are waiting for my answer, too.
“Oh,” I say, while my mind spins and spins for a believable story. “I went for ice cream.”
Sophie’s eyes narrow. “By yourself?” She knows the probability of that is low.
“No. Not by myself.”
And now we’re all staring at each other. It is a staring contest like we had when we were little. No one moves. No one blinks. They’re waiting for me to tell them who I was with, and I’m trying to decide what to actually fess up to. I don’t want to lie to them, but I also remember what Leo said outside Superior—I like that this is just ours. I’m not ready to give that up.
“You have to tell us,” Wes says, his hand gesturing to the three of them. “You know this is killing us.”
“A friend,” I answer. I’m not lying. I very much think of Leo as my friend.
“A. Friend.” Charlie enunciates each word. “What’s this friend’s name?”
“Someone I saw in the parking lot when I was leaving. We decided to go for ice cream.” They’re going to drag it out of me, but they’ll only get a little piece at a time.
For some reason, though, Charlie likes my nonanswer. He jumps up from the front steps and exclaims, “Knew it!” He really doesn’t know what he thinks he does.
My phone is vibrating in my back pocket, but I don’t dare pull it out right now. If it’s Leo, I don’t want an audience.
I start up the stairs to the front door. “I’m heading to bed, since I have to be back out there in the morning.” I stop and turn toward Wes. “Can you be here at seven?”
He groans but agrees.
“The party is a pool party at the same club as the golf tournament, so I can make an appearance there, I think. I can meet you to get my phone for a few hours, then we can swap back when the party is over,” I say.
Wes looks relieved. “Oh, that makes it easy. Thought I was going to have to go in like Charlie and Sophie did.”
“I can hang with you for a few hours until I have to head home,” Sophie says as she wraps her arms around his waist.
“Good, because I think out of all of us, I’m the least qualified to act like Olivia to her mom.”
Charlie heads down the front walk and turns toward Wes’s house. “See y’all tomorrow,” he says, leaving Wes to stay behind and say his good-byes to Sophie.
I head inside to give them a little privacy.
Once I’m in my room and in my bed, I pull out my phone and check my messages. I can’t swipe open the one from Leo fast enough.
L:I had a really good time tonight
L:Can I see you tomorrow?
I let out a squeal and I’m glad no one is inside to hear me.
ME:I had fun too and yes I’d like that
L:How about an early dinner? Or a movie?
