My heart bangs even faster. What could he be talking about? “The great news first.”
“We are going to New York. And we can leave as soon as you want.” His eyes are serious, skittering over my face.
“Like, before I finish senior year?”
“Yes! You can finish there if you want. You’re eighteen, so you’re free.”
“But, like, how?”
Luke tugs his chain wallet out of his pocket. Flips it open. Pinches out some bills. Five hundreds, which he fans out. “And this is just the first of it. I have five grand in the bank. Should clear by tomorrow.”
My jaw drops; my mouth hangs open. I’m wondering if he’s robbed a store or something. Anxiety shoots through me. “Luke, how? Where did you get this?”
“Well, that’s the bad news part.” He combs a hand through his hair, exhales. “Ready?”
“I’m not sure.”
“It’s about Nellie.”
Did he steal from her? From her house, at the party?
“I don’t understand. What would this have to do with Nellie?” The sawing of the cicadas is so loud, I feel the need to shout at him. For this and other obvious reasons.
“Well, her mom paid me today. I know this is gonna sound crazy, but it’s how we have the money to live our dream. It’s enough to get us there, get our own place—”
“But paid you forwhat?”
“She wants me to take Nellie out on a date—”
“What?”
“Just one date. That’s it. A few hours. Nothing more.”
My head spins. I don’t know what to think. Thisiscrazy. And that woman is fucking insane! “Does Nellie know?”
“No! That’s the thing.No onecan know. I wasn’t supposed to tell a soul. So keep it hush-hush.”
I feel ill, thinking of him out with Nellie. “But you won’t have to, like, touch her?”
“No. None of that. I just have to take her out. And then you and I will be free. We can leave next week, seriously.”
I look through the woven vines, down at our little cabin.Think of Pa inside—I’ll miss him for sure, and baby Molly—but when I think of Mom and Julia, well, fuck it, I quickly realize I can’t get out of here fast enough. Can’t miss this opportunity to be with Luke. In New York City! Together, without worrying who will know about us. Nobody will care! Nobody will be watching us, spying, judging.
“Say you’re in!” Luke’s eyes dance over my face; his hand clutches my wrist.
“Yes! But one date and that’s it. And then we leave next week.”
“God, this makes me so happy. I hate it here,” Luke says, laughing.
“Not as much as I do!” I laugh back, my eyes filling with tears.
He tugs me into him, cradles me, starts kissing me again. My vision swims with stars.
He snakes his hands under my dress, thumbs down the top of my panties. It feels so good, it’s almost excruciating—I could scream—but I chew the bottom of my lip instead, my hips moving against his hand. Luke is so delicate with me; I can’t wait to finally go all the way with him. But I’ll wait until we’re in New York, in our own bed, safe. It’ll be all the more special then.
“That feels so good,” I purr in his ear.
“That’s all I want to do, make you feel good.”
