“So, you’re friends with Alicia?”
Emma looked up. The only thing she could see was the orange glow of Amanda’s cigarette tip.
“Yeah,” she said, cautiously.
“You know her older brother?”
“Sure.” Emma had known Chet all her life. He was three years older, and was kind of like her own big brother, only better. He’d be the first to tease her, but also the first to stick up for her if someone else bugged her on the school bus. When they were kids, Chet and his friends used to play hockey on the frozen expanse of Candlewood Lake, and Alicia and Emma would skate crooked loops around them, begging to be included. The only bone she ever broke was in fourth grade during one of those games. Chet had picked her up and carried her all the way up the steep lakeside hill, across the street and straight to her front door, where her frantic mother took one look at her purple wrist and drove her straight to the hospital. Last year Chet had graduated and gone off to Colgate, so she didn’t see much of him. Now he was home for the summer, working at the beach as a lifeguard. The one time she’d seen him, Emma had been surprised by how much older and sophisticated he seemed. God, she hoped college did the same thing for her.
“Is he single?” Amanda asked her now.
So that’s why she was even speaking to Emma.
Alicia had mentioned something about a college girlfriend, but that was back at Christmas. “I don’t know. I mean, I can find out for you,” she added. She wondered if that sounded too eager.
Courtney was staring at her with mild interest.
“You ever hook up with him?” Amanda was so direct. Emma couldn’t tell if she was messing with her or just trying to glean more information.
“Sort of. Once.” It was a big fat lie. The closest contact Emma had had with Chet was when he pulled her into a headlock and gave her a noogie. She was the kid friend of his kid sister. But Amanda didn’t know that.
“Seriously? Like were you two a thing?” Now Courtney was paying attention.
Emma pictured Alicia’s face if she could only hear her now. She’d be pissed, because not only was Emma outright lying, but she was using her brother to do it. Not cool.
“It was no big thing,” she added quickly, trying to sound casual. “He’s more of a friend now.”
Courtney shrugged, her gaze already sliding away in the direction of the boys, but Emma could feel Amanda staring right through her. She wondered if she believed a word of it.
From the shoreline in the distance there was the clamor of voices, and the girls turned their attention back to Chicken Rock. “Hey, Amanda! Dewey wants you to hold his junk for him while he jumps.” It sounded like Kyle.
Both girls laughed, and Amanda shouted back, “Don’t be a pussy, Dewey!”
Emma rolled her eyes, grateful for the dark. Why did some girls feel like they had to resort to that kind of lingo around guys?
There was a peal of laughter, followed by three loud splashes. Moments later their voices drew closer. The boys climbed up the ladder, all three amped from the jump. Amanda started the engine and the boat roared to life. “Turn on the music!” Dewey shouted. He held up a six-pack, and everyone reached out.
Emma sat still, watching Sully out of the corner of her eye. He tugged his shirt down over his wet chest and flopped down next to her again. “Too chicken?” he asked.
“What? No. I didn’t feel like it tonight.” She’d jumped before.Though certainly not at night. And certainly not while drinking. “Next time.”
He pressed a cold can of beer into her hands. “Here’s to next time,” he said.
For the rest of the night they drove around, music blaring, until the beer was gone and the Wild Turkey bottle was empty. Emma found her head starting to flood with a strange warmth. Was she getting another buzz? Whatever it was, she kind of liked it. She felt her insides uncoil. Even though the night had started as balmy, it was cooler out on the water and the temperature had dropped with the late hour. She didn’t realize she’d begun to shiver in the wind until Sully passed her his towel. It wasn’t exactly dry, but she didn’t object when he draped it across her shoulders. When she was sure no one was looking, she held a corner of it to her nose and inhaled. It smelled like sunscreen and pine, and she smiled to herself in the darkness. She was pretty sure if she pressed her nose to Sully’s neck it would smell the same.
When they finally dropped her off at her dock, Emma’s head was swimming with alcohol and fatigue. And something more. “Thanks,” she said, as she stepped off the boat and tried to balance herself.
Dewey laughed. “Whoa, better get your land legs, Emily.”
“Emma,” she corrected him. And then she laughed. Because she was drunk and feeling bold. She was sick of being a dormouse. “My name isEmma.”
Dewey stood and saluted. “Okay,Emma.”
She braved a glance at Sully to find that he was watching her. “Next time,” he said.
The nose of the boat turned away. Emma waved. To her shock Amanda Hastings lifted a hand. “See ya.” It felt like some kind of permission had been granted.
Giggling, Emma stumbled all the way up the hill, her heart pounding.This was maybe the best night of my life.The patio door was unlocked,thank God, and it slid silently across its tracks. On the stairs, she tripped and fell hard, banging her shin. But no one came out of her parents’ room, and no lights went on.
