“It should.”
“Cool. I’ll let the next guy know.” She’s drawing circles in the sand between us with one finger, meaningless loops that look like a challenge.
I huff what’s meant to be a laugh, but it comes out more as a regular old scoff. I can’t figure Wren out. She keeps surprising me.
She glances up, finger pausing. For a few—or maybe a lotof—seconds, we stare at each other. I’m annoyed with her. More annoyed with myself. I don’t know what to say. I’m not going to admit I came so hard that I couldn’t tell if she had. That I lasted for as long as possible.
Wren smirks at my disgruntled expression. “You asked.”
“I know.”
We both hear the irritation in my tone, and Wren’s smile widens before her gaze drops to the sand. The circles resume.
“You free tomorrow night?” I say, topping the list of dumb things I’ve done tonight.
“No.” The circles have stopped, but she doesn’t look up. “That’s our last night here. There’s a big family dinner. But”—the drawing resumes—“I could sneak out after it.”
“You know how to get to the marina?” I hope my voice doesn’t betray the irregular thud in my chest.
“Yes.”
“I’ll meet you there. Midnight.”
Wren salutes me. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
I snort as I stand. “Happy Fourth.”
She calls, “You too,” after me.
The entire trek back to my truck, I have to battle the urge to look back. But if I did, there’s a chance someone would see the grin stuck on my face.
7
This could end badly, I decide, dangling from the trellis like one of the wild roses.
Dinner at the country club took forever. Everyone there came over to our table at some point. I would have expired from boredom if not for Kit cracking jokes the whole time or Lili talking about her upcoming trip to London for a friend’s wedding.
We only got back to the house an hour ago. I think my parents are asleep, but I wasn’t willing to risk running into one or both of them. Sneaking out my window again seemed like the only option.
I swear under my breath as the painted wood creaks. I’m halfway to the ground. A fall from this height wouldn’t kill me, but it could do some damage. Equally concerning, I’d probably bring the trellis down with me, wake up the whole house, and wind up grounded for the rest of high school.
Thirty stressful seconds later, my foot connects with solid ground. I release a long, relieved breath.
“What are you doing?”
I whirl, hand pressed against my pounding heart, as if I can physically slow the rate. “Shit, you scared me,” I say, a nervous giggle slipping out.
Rory doesn’t appear amused. She crosses her arms across her chest. “That didn’t answer my question.”
“Snack run?”
My sister shakes her head. “The kitchen is fully stocked.”
“What areyoudoing?” I attempt offense as a defensive strategy.
Amusement flickers across her face. “You think you’re the only one allowed to stay up late or keep secrets?” Her gaze drops, surveying my outfit. “You’re going to meet Marina Guy?”
I gape at her. “How did you know?”
