Page 59 of Again, In Autumn

“We have some, thanks.” The fake plastic flames seem like a good place to keep my attention.

Adam grunts and hoists himself higher in his seat. “I’m surprised you were able to keep the leg. With all that first aid training you’ve got, I assume you made a tourniquet with a belt?”

He’s joking, but it doesn’t feel like a joke. I feel like I’m being made fun of. There’s a bite to his tone.

I say, “I did think of slicing the bone, a la Civil War style, but figured I’d let it heal naturally. This time.”

“You keep your hacksaw close?”

“In my bra. Like a serial killer.”

Adam tilts his head. “I hope you keep your passport and a stack of hundreds close by, too. I know how fond you are of making a quick getaway.”

The others don’t hear this dig. Kate makes a face, but she doesn’t ask questions.

“That’s because I don’t like being unprepared,” I say slowly. “Or caught off guard.”

His eyes land on my drink, close enough to me that he would be focused on my eyes if we were alone or either of us had the bravado. We’re speaking in code. He’s wondering what I had to feel off guard about.

When you’re eighteen and a boy you’ve known for two months asks you to marry him, you’re caught off guard.

Kate takes a sip of her orange drink. She says, “If I get deserted on an island, I want Vienna with me. She’s little miss prepared.”

“In the way a doomsday prepper is prepared?” Adam mocks, taking my shift to watch the candles.

I know what he’s insinuating. “I’m not afraid,” I defend. “I just like to have things that I might need, like a sewing kit in my purse and extra toilet paper in the closet.”

He raises a brow. “And on this island, are you weaving palm frond door mats for your tree house or making an S.O.S. sign with sticks?”

“Neither,” I reply sharply. “I’m clubbing her to death with a coconut and drowning myself in the sea to save us from dying of starvation on a deserted island.”

Adam sputters on his drink.

Meanwhile, Kate, oblivious to our conversation, raises a hand and waves at someone across the room. “I haven’t seen Natalie is years, I’ll be right back!”

She’s about to drop the famous-musician-is-my-date card to a friend from high school and receive the same look I project when something unexpectedly rings half-price at Target.

Adam wipes a dribble off his chin.

David also stands. “I’m going to chat with Freddy Potter, he owns the place. I’ll see if I can get some free food. He and my mom dated in high school. There’s a chance he’s my real dad and owes me one.”

Francesca complains about how Kate didn’t order her a drink and motions for the waitress. Behind me, the open dance floor collects a few more bodies.

Older teens huddled together like they’re at a school dance. A well-dressed couple showing off their ball room dancing lessons. Date night dancing for parents and new couples.

The lights change colors every thirty seconds and the DJ switches to a slow song.

“Adam,” Francesca begins, “We only came here, like, once that summer, didn’t we? Do you remember?”

He nods thoughtfully. “Uh, yeah, I remember. We came a few times.”

She shakes her head. “I swear it was only once.” To Maggie and Diego, she explains, “Heddy didn’t like us coming here because she knew we were getting alcohol. David was always so afraid she had her minions from the psychic shop spying on us and that they would go tell his parents.” She cranes her neck. “You know, they have great crab dip here. I’m going to get Dave to order us some free crab dip. David!”

She gets up, and Adam also excuses himself to use the bathroom. I notice two young girls in the crowd looking at him and pointing, covering their mouths, and squealing. Diego asks Maggie to dance, and I assure them that I’m fine here alone. Which, I’m not for long.

“Vienna?” Ashton Potter leans over my chair. I’d recognize her anywhere. Her sister, Brooke, and I were summer friends. We took the same art classes at the rec center every July.

“Hi!” I say, giving Ashton a hug, getting a mouthful of her dark curly hair.

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