“We should get one of the coin-operated telescopes on the Harborwalk moved in here so you can get a better look at the boatyard,” Evie says in a bored voice, squeaking the stool.
“I’m just curious.”
“Yep. I’m curious too. Curious why a notoriously hardboiled lone wolf like Phantom would suddenly destroy a very public piece of town history in a fit of Hulk-like rage.”
Ruh-oh.
“So strange,” she says, not looking up from her book. Her eyeliner is extra dark today, and she’s rearranged the enamel pins and buttons that line the lanyard of her Siren’s Book Nook ID badge—we wear them hanging around our necks—so that the topmost one saysWhen Doves Cryand the one beneath it saysHeathcliff, it’s me.
“Lots of things are strange,” I say, trying to mimic her cooler-than-cool unbothered tone. “Like how you have been dating the prince of Beauty. I mean, it would have been nice to know we were at a Summers house last night, as in Levi Summers, the king of town?”
“Hey, cuz? We were at Levi Summer’s brothers’ house last night,” she says saucily.
“Oh, were we?”
“Surprise.”
“It’s just …” I sigh. “You know … I felt really stupid when Lucky told me that.”
Her eyes flick to mine at the mention of Lucky’s name. “First of all, I didn’t realize it mattered. And second, I had a life here before you showed up and probably will after you’re gone.”
Lucky said the same thing. I guess everyone thinks I’m just a blip, a twenty-four-hour-long disappearing story, not a permanent part of the town’s feed. She’s not really being mean about it, just honest, so it’s hard to argue.
“You wouldn’t happen to have his phone number, would you?” I ask, super casual.
“Levi Summers?”
I give her a faux-catty look. “Lucky’s.”
“Ah, your old palLucky,” she says, pretending to catch on. “Nope, can’t say that I do. No need to call him. He’s in here every afternoon after school.”
Only, school is out now. And then there’s the tiny matter of him taking the fall for me.
Across the street, the boatyard office door opens, and several people exit onto the sidewalk: Lucky’s parents, Nick and Kat. An older couple—his grandparents. A few more dark-haired people with the same chiseled builds and smiling faces. Aunts and uncles,I think. Three kids. And a perky Latina in a professional-looking pantsuit, carrying a briefcase.
Then there’s Lucky. I almost didn’t recognize him. He’s wearing black dress pants and a tie with a button-up shirt.
“Whoa,”Evie says, leaning over the counter to peer out the window with me. “Got to admit. Phantom cleans uprealnice. No wonder he’s knocking up girls left and right. He’s the male Medusa. Don’t look into his eyes. Might get you pregnant.”
“Gross, Evie,” I mumble. But now I’m curious. “I heard about Bunny Perera. Just how many girls are there?”
“Who really knows? Several? None? Everyone was surprised about Bunny. Certain blond rowers I know that shall not be named ever, ever again because they are dicks, and I can’t believe I ever allowed myself to trust them—”
Yikes. Honestly, I’d rather not discuss Adrian Summers ever again either. Ever-ever.
“—these certain people said the whole Bunny and Lucky thing must’ve been a one-time hookup situation, because they definitely weren’t an ongoing item. Maybe it’s just a rumor. Or maybe he’s a serial dater.”
I don’t like that. Atall. It reminds me of my mom’s dating habits, all wrapped up in lies and sneaking around, and kids at school whispering “Wild Winona.” It makes me a little sick to my stomach, to be honest.
I don’t know why I care. Lucky can do what he wants.
“Why is he dressed up like that?” I ask. Irritated that he mightbe a serial dater. Irritated that it bothers me. That I don’t know anything about a boy I used to know, who stuck his neck out for me. “Looks like he’s going to church or a funeral.”
“Or an arraignment,” Evie says. “They’re going to the courthouse.”
Stomach in knots.Guilt. Shame. Worry.
“Entire Karras family en force,” Evie notes. “Aunts, uncles, grandparents. I think that’s Kat Karras’s sister and two of her kids. Damn. They aren’t screwing around.”
