“Do you want me to like, come home at a certain time, or not come home, or what?” Jane asked. “I can crash with Lexi.”
My stomach tightened. “Come home! There’s nothing—we’re not—he’s just walking me home. Because it’s late. I swear, he’s just looking out for me.”
“Abby.” She leveled a look, half pity and half disbelief. “No. He’s walking you home because he wants in your pants.”
“Right, you’d think so, except I actually think he wants to, like, make sure I’m not murdered.”
“Cute. No. Boys don’t walk girls home because they’re so goddamn nice.”
I couldn’t help myself; I burst into giggles. “Thank you for the warning. Are you okay if I leave?”
“Yeah, the boys and Sydney are still here. I lost Stella and Lexi, of course. God forbid my bestie wants to hang out with me.” She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “That was mean and bitter. I am happy for them, I’m happy for them. I’m happy for them.”
I hugged her. “See you later.”
Noah and I left the beach, heading down the long, dark road. On either side of us, hedges loomed like dark shadows. Diamond-like stars scattered against the inky sky. Despite myself, I was glad to have Noah by my side. “Sorry you’re missing the party.”
“It’s always the same party.”
“How very existential of you.” I slid him a look. “It’s not like any party I’ve ever been to.”
“No?”
“My friends and I aren’t exactly drink-on-the-beach people. Also, we don’t have a beach.”
“What kind of people are you, then?”
“Standard-issue honors kids. Vaguely artsy and aspirationally alternative.” My school was too small to have real cliques—the theater kids also played varsity sports, and the band geeks did Model UN. “What about you?”
“I don’t know. Normal, I guess.”
Suspicious. “People who think they’re ‘normal’ are usually popular.”
“Bold claim.”
I raised my brows at him. “Are you saying you aren’t popular? You’re rich, confident, and classically good-looking.”
“Classically good-looking?” He sounded amused. “Thanks?”
“I’m just stating facts.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to mistake it as a compliment.”
“Apology accepted,” I said airily. “Also you’re tall, and everyone likes tall people. Tall people are more likely to be elected into public office. As are white men, obviously. Did you know, despite being less than one-third of the population, white men hold the majority of all elected positions?”
“Not Jews, though.”
“Sure, though being part of a minority doesn’t cancel out your other privileges.”
“Are you always so political when you’re drunk?”
“No idea. I’ve never been drunk before.”
“You’venever—”
“I heard me the first time, thanks.”
We walked a few moments in silence. Then Noah leaned overand almost absently ripped a plant out of the earth.
