Page 73 of Promise Me Nothing
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Hannah
I find Lucas waiting in the loading bay with a super smiley Paige, and a bike basket full of beer.
“Get ready for a fun Friday night, girl! We’re going to Sand Dune Park!” And then she tips back her beer and finishes it before chucking the bottle into one of the recycling bins behind Bennie’s.
I look back at Lucas. “Where?”
“It’s this huge mountain of sand in Manhattan Beach. It’s usually closed at night, but Wyatt’s mom is friends with someone in City Council and blah blah blah,” he rolls his eyes. “We can stay as long as we want.”
I feel a little ridiculous that my attitude about this sand mountain changes slightly when I hear Wyatt’s name mentioned. I mean, he might not even be there tonight. Right? Right. Besides, he just wants to be friends anyway.
“And what do we do there?”
Lucas shrugs. “Drink. Set up a bonfire. Sled down the mountain.”
“It’s really fun, and you’re going toloveit,” Paige enthuses.
I laugh at how excited she is. “Alright, when do we leave?”
“As soon as Wyatt gets here.”
My neck flushes.
“He should be here in about…” Lucas looks at his phone. “Less than five minutes. Want a drink while we wait?”
He stands from where he’s seated on a bench near the bike rack, then pulls a beer out of the basket attached to the back of his bike.
I take it, twist off the top, and tilt it back.
Vodka is more my jam if I’m going to drink. Truthfully, I’m not really a beer fan. But the cool ale feels good as it rushes down my throat. And I just know I’m going to need a little liquid courage to get through this evening without feeling like a bumbling mess.
“You started without me?”
I choke. Spray some of my beer out of my mouth, luckily not hitting anyone since they’re standing to my right. I cough a few times, then glance over at Lucas, Paige and Wyatt through watery eyes.
Paige is giggling, Lucas looks concerned, and Wyatt has a grin on his face.
“Someone’s thirsty.”
Paige continues her giggle fit, though she smacks Wyatt in the chest.
“Sorry,” I wheeze, coughing one more time and tapping my chest. “I guess I got a little overzealous.”
“No kidding.” Wyatt walks over to where I’m standing and takes the bottle out of my hand. “If you wanna get into a chugging contest with us, be prepared to lose, Pier Girl.”
He winks at me, then chucks my bottle into recycling. “We doing this?” he asks, clapping his hands and then rubbing them together. “Because I’ve invited a few people and have someone dropping off supplies as we speak.”
“Yes! Does that mean s’mores?”
Wyatt gives Paige a nod.
“Let’s go!” she cries, her excitement pouring from her like a tidal wave, and then she rolls away on her bike.
Lucas and Wyatt laugh. “Wrong way, Paige!” Lucas calls after her, and she loops her bike around to come back to us.
“Oopsie!” She giggles and heads off towards The Strand.
