Brad looked uncomfortably between the two of them. “She didn’t mean it like that, Em.”
“I didn’t,” Alicia insisted. “I said sorry.”
They ate for a while in silence, and Emma fought the memories coming back to her. Even here at camp, they flashed in her mind like snapshots: Sitting on the bench seat with Luci in her lap. Jake at the wheel, reaching behind his seat for the cooler. Emma helping him with the lid, passing him a beer. The look on his face when she reached for another. Twisted off the lid.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to shake the memory away.
“So, does it hurt?”
“What?” Emma opened her eyes to find herself staring up at Amanda. Her gaze was cool, not exactly concerned.
“Of course it hurts,” Alicia told her.
Amanda ignored this.
“Not so much anymore,” Emma said. She glanced past Amanda to her usual table. Sully, Christie, and a few others were talking and eating.
“I heard your dad’s boat was totaled. Bummer.”
Emma swallowed. Her father hadn’t said anything about theboat to her, and she’d been wondering when he would. He loved that boat.
“Yeah, it was a bummer.” She looked at Amanda. What did she want?
“So, my dad and mom are away. I’m having people over Saturday night.” She looked at Alicia. “Is your brother home for the summer?”
Alicia nodded warily.
“Cool. You should bring him.”
“My brother?”
Amanda regarded her. “If he’s around, you three should come by.” It was clear to Emma then. Amanda didn’t care about the boat accident. Or inviting them to a party. Emma was Amanda’s connection to Alicia’s brother, Chet. This was about Chet.
Alicia perked up. She either wasn’t getting it, or didn’t care. “This Saturday? Yeah, I think I’m free.”
Brad, who’d remained silent until now, leaned forward. “What time is the party?”
Amanda flicked her gaze in his direction. “Who are you?” Before he could answer, she returned her attention to Emma and Alicia. “If Chet is around, feel free to stop by.” The message was clear. They were invited—if they brought Chet. Amanda didn’t wait for a reply. She was already heading back to her table.
“Cool! See you Saturday,” Alicia shouted after her.
Emma elbowed her gently. “Chill.”
Next to her, Brad stared at his lunch. “You’re not missing anything,” Emma told him. “I’ve heard her parties are lame, and it’ll probably get broken up by the cops anyway.”
But Alicia was too overcome to notice. “Oh my God. We’re invited to Amanda Hastings’s keg party! I have to come up with an excuse for my parents. What are you going to wear?”
Emma set her lunch down. She wasn’t hungry anymore. Amanda probably wanted to date Alicia’s brother Chet. She probably wanted to make her boyfriend, Steve, jealous. Emma would have to warn Alicia about all of this before they decided whether or not to go. Did she even want to go?
From Amanda’s table across the sand, Sully looked up. Before she lost her nerve, Emma waved. Sully waved back.
She really hoped Chet was free on Saturday night.
Perry
The Metro-North commute back to Connecticut was a sweatbox. Midway between Chappaqua and Mount Kisco the air-conditioning went out. By the time the train pulled in to Southeast Station, Perry’s dress shirt was stuck to his back. The car smelled of overheated vinyl and body odor. It was nauseating.
Thank God it was Friday. Emma would have finished her first couple of days back at camp. The family could slow down and relax for the weekend. But not on the lake. Despite the perfect forecast, Perry had no intention of going anywhere near the lake.
