“Ha! Wouldn’t you like to know.”
They walked past a huge mansion on the way to the beach, and Evie couldn’t stop staring at it. It was stone and cedar, with a huge front porch, a roof that rose to a point in several places and then leveled off in others, all of it topped off with at least a dozen chimneys. She decided it was beautiful and interesting to see in the evening light, but it would probably creep her out after dark.
“We should take off our shirts before we get close to the beach.”
“Why?” Evie looked at her sister like she was insane.
“So we can arrive at the party already in our bikini tops. That’s cooler than taking them off in front of everybody and basically announcing to the world that our parents wanted us covered up like nuns.”
“Oh.” Evie removed her shirt. “Now what? Do we just throw them in the grass or something?”
“God.” Amanda grabbed her shirt and balled it up with her own, then shoved them into a mailbox by the road. She flipped up the red flag. “That’s so we don’t forget them on the way home.”
Eventually, they made it to the public access stairs to Haven Beach. Clancy was waiting at the top of the steps, leaning against the railing with his hands in his pockets.
Evie’s heart skipped at least two beats at the sight of him. He was so totally cute. He wore jeans, too, thank God, and an old and faded Red Sox baseball jersey. His face busted out into a happy grin as soon as he saw her, but when he noticed Amanda, he couldn’t hide his disappointment.
“I know. I’m sorry. The only way I could come tonight is if I brought Amanda.”
Clancy shrugged. “Hey. No problem. I’ll make it work.” The girls followed him down to the beach, and Evie already knew deep down in her soul that this would be a night she would remember for the rest of her life.
Clancy walked up to a woman in a mermaid costume sitting at a table. “These are my guests, Ma. Evie and Amanda.”
“Welcome, girls.” She snapped a neon green wristband on each of them and gave them a friendly smile. Evie thought his mom was pretty. “The bracelet lets you into the buffet and drink station.” Then she stamped the top of their hands with big red letters: UNDER AGE. Gee. Embarrassing enough?
“Thank you so much,” Evie said.
True to her word, Amanda was off like a shot, already heading up the beach. “I wonder where she’s going.”
“There’s a party up there. A bonfire.”
“How did she know about it, though?”
Clancy shrugged. “We can go check on her later if you want, make sure she’s safe. It’s not too wild of a party, but you never know what young kids will get into.”
Evie glanced around the crowded beach. Once she knew no one was looking at them, she kissed Clancy softly right on his lips and gently touched his chin. She felt a little stubble, which made her strangely warm all over. “You’re so sweet to me.”
Clancy shrugged again. “Of course I am. You’re sweet to me.”
Oh, how her spirit twirled, her legs danced, and her heart sang that night. She barely talked to another soul for the entire four hours. It was all Clancy Flynn, everywhere she went. They ate together at a little folding table. He devoured three ears of corn and refilled her lemonade without even being asked. They walked at least a mile down the beach, holding hands and talking, and turned around and headed to the bonfire to check on Amanda. She was dancing but not drinking, thank goodness, and Evie reminded her what time she needed to be ready to go.