Page 21 of Summer After Summer

“Good. What time?”

“It’s at six. We can meet here and walk over? Or—sorry—did you want to pick me up?”

“That is usually how dates work.”

I sink in the sand. He knows how dates work. Because he’s dated before. Unlike me. “Okay, then pick me up. At Taylor House. Do you know where it is?”

“I’ll figure it out. Dress code?”

“Oh, um, I think the guys wear jackets?” I look to Ashley for help.

She’s grinning from ear to ear, pleased with herself and enjoying my discomfort. “Jacket, no tie is fine. Chinos, pressed shirt, those shoes or something better.” Ashley points to his boat shoes. “Can you handle it?”

“I think so.”

“Good. And you’ve had lobster before, right? You know about the bib?”

“Ash!”

“I’ve had lobster before. I know about the bib.”

“No offense or anything, it’s just a lot of people are surprised to see a bunch of rich people wearing plastic bibs with lobsters on them.”

Fred laughs. “No offense taken. I’ll see you tonight, Olivia? Five forty-five?”

“Yes.”

“Did you want a lounger today?”

“Yes, please.”

“I even have cash,” Ashley says. “Aren’t you proud of me?”

We pay and Fred walks us to my spot. I want him to linger, but I’m also nervous about talking to him in front of Ashley. So instead, I help him lay my towel out, and let my fingers tangle with his and hope he knows by my smiles and silence how happy I am, and nervous too.

“I’ll see you later,” Fred says when everything’s set up. His eyes rest on me, and the world slows down, and again my mind fills with that word, kiss, but now’s not the time or the place. Instead, he turns and walks away, and I watch him until he reaches the other guys. He winces at an especially hard shot in the shoulder from Dave.

“Do you love me again now?” Ash says as she arranges herself on her towel.

“I never stopped.”

“Is there room in your heart for both of us?”

“Ha ha.” I sit down and bring my feet up on the lounger. “Dinner at the club. Yikes.”

“It’ll be great. And by the night’s end, the mission will be complete.”

“He’s not going to kiss me in front of my father and everyone.”

“No, but on the beach after, during the fireworks. You’ll see. It’ll be perfect.”

I try to imagine it, what his lips will feel like, how magical it sounds. But I’m worried about what comes before. How my father is going to react. What bringing Fred to this dinner will mean to him. “You think William will be okay with it?”

“Why should he care?”

“Fred doesn’t have any money.”

“This isn’t Shakespeare, Olivia. He’s not going to, like, ask for your hand in marriage.”

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