“I don’t make promises anymore.” Livy smiled. “Besides, I won’t have to. You’re coming with me.”
Guttural laughter—and Coca-Cola—spewed from my lips. “Obviously you’ve forgotten who my father is.”
Livy didn’t laugh. Crestfallen, she gripped the table ledge. “I havenotforgotten who your father is, trust me. But, SuSu, you’re twenty years old. You should be making your own decisions.”
“Maybe you can do stuff like that in your house, but I sure can’t in mine. As Dad often reminds me, I won’t be a legal adult until I’m twenty-one.”
“Yeah,” she said sarcastically. “We can’t drink, we can’t vote, we can’t gamble, but we can damn sure put automatic weapons in the hands of our eighteen-year-oldunderageboys and send them off to Vietnam to be shot to hell.”
“Livy!”
She gasped, thrust a palm over her mouth. “Oh, SuSu, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” She reached over to squeeze my hand. “Vietnam just gets me so angry.”
With a loud sigh, I squeezed back but quickly let go.
“Technically we’re still minors, but who’s following that rule these days?” she said.
“Me!My parents made it very clear. If I’m on their payroll, I abide by their rules. They pay for everything. Except my clothes.”
“Ugh,” Livy moaned, throwing her head back.
“Would you rather I not go to college? Work here the rest of my life?” I gestured toward the cooks in front of the griddle.
“Of course not. I just think there’s a way around it. It’syourlife! You should be living it the wayyouwant to.”
“Believe me. I fully intend to live my life on my own terms, the second I turn twenty-one.”
Livy’s eyes widened. “You’re gonna let your parents police you for another solidyear?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re lucky, Livy. Most parents aren’t as lenient as yours.”
“I think they’ve figured out I’m gonna do what I want, so they might as well support me.” She grinned. “Within reason.”
“Can you imagine my dad if I came to him and said, ‘Hey, Dad, Livy wants me to go to an outdoor music festival with her. I need you to support me on this.’” Lifting in my seat, I leaned halfway across the table. “‘Oh, and by the way, it’s in New York. I’ll need seventy dollars to cover my expenses.’” I sat back down, took a bite of my burger.
“Oh gosh. Don’t do that.” Livy sliced her hands through the air like an umpire. “Listen, you’re wrong about the money. The tickets are only eighteen dollars for all three days.”
I covered my full-of-cheeseburger mouth, speaking through slits in my fingers. “I only make a dollar thirty-five an hour.”
“If you consider we’ll be seeing the best bands in the world,andcamping for free, it’s a bargain.” With palms in the air, she gave me a fixed stare.
“Maybe a bargain for you.” I glared back like she was crazy. “Are youlost in space? You know I can’t go. Besides, you’re talking about driving all the way to New York. How many hours is that?”
“What happened to your sense of adventure? There was a time when you would have jumped on the stage with the Beatles.”
Sadness pricked an old wound. “Not anymore.” As quickly as the sorrow arrived, hearing her mention the Fab Four kindled a thrill I hadn’t felt in a very long time. So I reconsidered. “Will they be there?”
“Maybe. The only live show they’ve played in three years was that rooftop show in London. But even if they aren’t there, the festival will still be outta sight.”
I fingered the gold cross around my neck, zipping it back and forth on the chain.
“Come on, SuSu. You need this,” Livy begged. “Please come with me. I’d love for you to meet my boyfriend.”
More than anything I wanted to go. But I’d have to run away to do it. After an extra-long pause filled with mental turmoil, I zeroed in on my oldest friend’s face. “I appreciate what you’re doing. I swear. But there’d be hell to pay.” Leaning back in the booth, I gave her my final answer. “No way, José.”
Livy rested her chin on the table, then lifted her eyes. “Are you one hundred percent sure?”
Even though deep down inside I was torn—so torn—I said, “Maybe after I turn twenty-one there’ll be another Aquarian something or other in New York. We can go to that one.”
