The Long Sleep
Page 17
I was shocked. “I don’t want to see the last of you.”
He took his hand away from the ignition, which he’d been about to turn on. “Really? I thought—the way you kept going to visit him . . .”
There went my face again. I couldn’t meet his eyes. “You know what I realized? I didn’t even know the guy. I only just met him. It was all in my mind. I mean, I’m sure he’s a very worthy person, but I—because of what happened—I was romanticizing. Just like Evan’s obsession. It wasn’t real.” I was utterly mortified and turned even further away.
Rick was silent. Then he said, “Well. That’s nice to know.”
I tried to change the subject. “Are you going somewhere? You’re all dressed up.” He was. In an actual suit and tie.
“This is a holiday, you know,” he said.
“I know. And I’m still wearing my rolling in the woods outfit.”
“You’ll have time to change. Dinner’s not until two. That’s what your mom said.”
“How did she . . .?”
“It’s what time she invited me for. But I want to get there early and make myself useful.” He started the engine.
“Rick—”
He turned it off.
“I’m glad she invited you. I’m really, really glad.”
I knew he was still bothered by my interest in Hank, who really was a worthy person, but not the same as Rick. Not to me, anyway. I forced myself to look into his eyes.
Those green eyes. They moved closer and closer until I had to shut mine. I think he shut his, too.
He came up for air and muttered something about taking things easy because I was underage.
“A year and a half,” I said, “and then I won’t be anymore. If you can wait that long.”
“I can wait. Can you?”
the end
About the Author
Caroline Crane began her long writing career with six award-winning books for young adults. After that came adult novels of mystery and suspense and one nonfiction book, Murder and Mayhem in the Catskills, for The History Press. Her novels have been translated into several languages, and some were book club selections. One, Summer Girl, became a made-for-TV movie starring Kim Darby and Barry Bostwick.
These days Caroline writes for both adults and young adults, and also has some plans for middle-grade fiction. She lives in the rural Catskill area, not far from her daughter and family, and shares a home with her dog and cat.
Caroline invites you to visit her website at carolinecrane.com/
Other work by the author at Melange Books, Fire and Ice
Twenty Minutes Late
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