I checked my phone.Seriously, Everest… How long does it take someone to buy a beer? I texted him:Are you OK?Because now I wasworried.
“I’m ready when you are?” Liamsaid.
I looked up from my phone and pushed a lock of hair behind my ear. Tamara was whispering angrily at Taryn. Even though I couldn’t hear what was being said, from the way both girls glared my way, I guessed it had to do withme.
I sighed. “I should really find Everest firstthough.”
“We’ll look for him on our wayout.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek, combing each food truck we passed for Everest. Just as I spotted him sitting at a picnic bench next to a girl, I got a text back:I’m fine. Just ran into a friend. YouOK?
Liam must’ve followed my line of sight, because he said, “You want me to tell him I’m bringing youhome?”
He started toward Everest, but I touched Liam’s arm to stop him. “No. Don’t interrupt him. He’s had a toughmonth.”
I typed back:I’m fine.I would send him a message once I was at theinn.
I walked alongside Liam, drained from the strange night. I was glad I was going home early. If I didn’t sleep and relax, I’d be a complete mess for therun.
“Are youblack?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “I think you have me confused withAugust.”
“Funny. I meant as awolf.”
A lopsided smile formed on his lips. “Yeah.”
Even though the air around Liam shimmied with the crisp, warm scent of mint and musk, I wanted confirmation. “Were you out in the woods onWednesday?”
Henodded.
We passed boisterous groups of teens—slightly younger than I was—and it reminded me of high school, of the cliques I’d never been a part of. I wondered if Liam had been popular back in school. I bet he was. I bet all the guys in the packwere.
“Do you go to college?” I asked, turning away from the gaggle of tweens pointing at Liam, faces flushed from the sight ofhim.
“I graduated a monthago.”
“Andnow?”
“Now?”
“What are your work plans?” Iasked.
“I’m planning on picking up where my father leftoff.”
“Realestate?”
He nodded. “What aboutyou?”
I drew in a long breath of sweet, sticky air. “I don’t know. I just want to get through this summer, and then I’ll see where I’m at inSeptember.”
“Not so certain about winninganymore?”
I wasn’t certain of anything anymore, but I didn’t tell Liam this. Instead, I stared quietly ahead of me, at the long lines of parked cars bathed instarlight.
“How are yourbruises?”
I blinked at him. “Mybruises?”
