Night Road - Kristin Hannah [28]
The bell tinkled gaily above him; she could barely hear it over the sudden acceleration of her heartbeat.
He never came here alone. Amanda was always with him, hanging on to him like that Louisiana moss you saw in horror flicks. Lexi slipped behind the counter so there was something between them.
“Hi,” he said, moving toward her.
“Hi. You … want ice cream?”
He looked at her intently. “Meet me at LaRiviere Park tonight.”
Before she could answer, the bell tinkled again and the door flew open. Amanda rushed into the shop and sidled up to Zach, putting her tentacle-arm around him. “Hey, Lexi. Thanks for keeping an eye on Zach for me. At the dance, I mean.”
Lexi couldn’t smile, even though she wanted to. “You want ice cream?”
“No way. It’s too fattening,” Amanda said. “Come on, Zach. Let’s go.” She moved toward the door.
Zach stayed where he was. Ten o’clock, he mouthed. Please.
Lexi’s heart was pounding as she watched him follow his girlfriend out of the shop.
Ten.
She would be an idiot to think he really meant for her to meet him at the beach. He was dating Amanda, the human Post-it note. They were the most popular couple in school.
And it would hurt Mia if she found out. A kiss at the dance was one thing, almost understandable even, ordinary. This—sneaking out to be with him—would be something else. A bigger lie.
Lexi couldn’t do it. Shouldn’t do it.
She glanced over at her boss. Don’t do it, Lexi. “Uh, Mrs. Solter? I was wondering if I could leave a few minutes early. Maybe nine-fifty?”
“I’m sure I can handle closing up by myself,” she said. “Hot date?”
Lexi hoped her laughter didn’t sound as nervous as it felt. “When have you ever known me to have a hot date?”
“Those boys at your school must be blind, that’s all I’m saying.”
For the remainder of her shift, Lexi refused to think about the decision she’d made. She focused on her job and did it to the best of her ability. It wasn’t until later, when she left the shop, that nerves got the best of her.
She was an idiot to do this, but she kept walking.
Main Street was quiet on this chilly autumn night. Lights glowed through restaurant windows, but there were few patrons at this hour.
She passed the brightly lit Island Center grocery store and kept going, past the ferry terminal, past the Windermere Real Estate office and the Lil Ones Nursery School. In less than five minutes, she was out of town. Here, black stained the sky; a bright blue moon glowed above the towering treetops. There weren’t many houses out this way, and the few that were here were mostly summer homes for Seattleites, and their windows were dark.
At the entrance to LaRiviere Beach Park, she paused.
He wouldn’t be here.
Still, she followed the winding asphalt road down to the sandy stretch of beach. Moonlight shone on the tangle of giant driftwood piled up on the coarse gray sand.
There were no cars in the parking area.
Of course there weren’t.
She walked out to the beach. The pile of giant driftwood—whole trees washed up onto the shore and tangled together—lay like giant toothpicks on the sand. A brightly lit ferry chugged through the Sound, looking like a Chinese lantern against the black water. Behind it, the Seattle skyline was a tiara of colored lights.
“You’re here.”
She heard Zach’s voice and turned. “I didn’t see your car,” was all she could think to say.
“It’s at the end of the other lot.”
He took her by the hand and led her to a place where he had a blanket spread out on the sand.
“I guess you’ve brought a few girls here,” she said nervously. She needed to remember that. What was special for her was ordinary for him.
He sat down and pulled her gently down beside him. She immediately took her hand back. She couldn’t be smart when he was touching her, and she needed to be smart. This was her best friend’s brother.
He said, “Look at me, Lexi. Please,” and she was helpless to resist. He tucked a curly strand of hair behind her ear. It was the