I tell Leo we’ll be right back and let Cora reach for my hand. I take it, hope no one’s paying that close of attention, and we walk out to the beach.
Chapter 56
CORA
Thecoldbarrelsintome the second we step outside. That’s what you get for Michigan in November.
I laugh, not because it’s funny, but because the shock of it feels good against the warm buzz floating through my head.
“Whoa,” I sigh, pulling Leo’s jacket tighter around my shoulders. “The wind makes it much worse.”
Lane doesn’t laugh.
He’s still holding my hand, guiding me on the wooden steps leading from the deck to the beach like I might tip over at any second.
Which, to be fair, is possible.
The sand is cold even through my shoes, crunching faintly as we walk farther away from the house. Behind us the music is still thumping through the walls, but out here it sounds distant. Muffled. Like the lake has swallowed most of it.
The moon reflects across the water in a long silver line. For a moment, neither of us say anything. The beach is empty, the cold not worth braving by the rest of the party patrons.
Lane finally lets go of my hand once we’re far enough away from the lights and drops onto the sand. “This is close enough to the water, Peaches.”
I smile at the nickname and follow his lead, plopping beside him. The cold seeps through the fabric of my jeans almost immediately.
“Okay,” I groan, rubbing my hands together. “This might have been a slightly bad idea.”
Lane glances over at me. “You think?”
“You’re very dramatic tonight,” I groan while looping my arm around his, leaning my head against his shoulder.
“I’m not dramatic,” he argues. “You’re drunk.”
I tilt my head back toward the sky. “Debatable.”
He exhales beside me, the sound quiet but heavy.
“Can you make me a promise?” Lane’s voice lures me in, like he’s going to tell me a secret.
“Maybe.”
“Can you promise not to take open drinks from strangers? Really, anywhere is a good rule of thumb, but especially at parties.”
Did I do that? I try to piece together the drinks I had and it’s fuzzy.
Nodding, I agree. “Yes. I can keep that promise.”
The wind roars off the lake, cutting through the air as waves roll in and out. Lane watches me. I can feel it.
“Do you ever feel like you did college wrong?”
Lane frowns. “Huh?”
“Like…” I gesture vaguely toward the house behind us. “Everyone in there seems to know how to do it.”
“How to do what?”
“College.”
