Will remained silent.
Scott shook his head as he raised a finger, emphasizing his point. See, heres the thing. The last thing you need is to get serious with a girl. You need to concentrate on whats important.
Youve got a full-time job, you volunteer trying to save the dolphins or whales or turtles or whatever, and you know how much we have to practice to get ready for the tournament. You dont have enough time as it is!
Will said nothing, but he could see Scott growing more panicked with every passing second.
Ah, come on, man! Dont do this to me. What on earth do you see in her?
Will said nothing.
No, no, no, Scott repeated like a mantra. I knew this was going to happen. Thats why I told you to go out with Ashley! So you wouldnt get serious again. You know whats going to happen. Youre going to turn into a hermit. Youre going to blow off your friends so you can hang out with her. Trust me, the last thing you need is to get serious with
Ronnie, Will filled in.
Whatever, Scott snapped. Youre missing the point.
Will smiled. Did you ever realize you have more opinions about my life than your own life?
Thats because I dont mess things up like you do.
Will gave an involuntary twitch, flashing back to the night of the fire and wondering if Scott was really so clueless.
I dont want to talk about it, Will said, but he realized that Scott wasnt listening. Instead, his gaze was focused over Wills shoulder, on a spot down the beach.
Youve got to be kidding, Scott mumbled.
Will turned around and saw Ronnie approaching. In jeans and a dark T-shirt, of course, looking as out of place as a crocodile in Antarctica. A huge grin spread over his face.
He started toward her, drinking in the sight of her, wondering again what she was thinking.
He loved the fact that he couldnt completely figure her out.
Hey, he said, reaching for her.
She stopped, just out of reach. Her expression was serious. Dont kiss me. Just listen, okay?
Sitting beside him in the truck, Ronnie remained as enigmatic as ever. She stared out the window, smiling faintly, seemingly content to watch the scenery.
Ronnie brought her hands together in her lap. I want you to know my dad wont care that youre wearing shorts and a tank top.
Its only going to take a few minutes.
But its supposed to be a casual dinner.
Im hot and sweaty. Im not going to come to your house for dinner with your dad dressed like a bum.
But I just said he wont care.
I care, though. Unlike some people, I like to make a good impression.
Ronnie bristled. Are you saying I dont?
Of course not. For instance, everyone I know loves to meet people with purple hair.
Though she knew he was teasing, her eyes widened and then narrowed suddenly. You dont seem to have a problem with it.
Yes, but thats because Im special.
She crossed her arms and stared at him. Are you going to be like this all night?
Like what?
Like someone with no shot of ever, ever kissing me again?
He laughed and turned toward her. I apologize. I didnt mean it. And actually, I like the purple streaks. Its who you are.
Yeah, well, youll just have to learn to be more careful with what you say next time. As she spoke, she opened his glove compartment and began sifting through it.
What are you doing?
Just looking. Why? Are you hiding something?
Feel free to sort through all of it. And while youre at it, maybe you could straighten it up a bit.
She pulled out a bullet and held it up so he could see. I suppose this is what you use to kill ducks, right?
No, thats for deer. Its too big for a duck. The duck would be shredded to pieces if I shot it with that.
You have serious problems, you know.
So Ive heard.
She giggled before settling into silence. They were on the intracoastal side of the island, and between the ever-growing sprawl of houses, the sun was glinting off the water. She closed the glove compartment and lowered the visor. Noticing a photograph of a lovely blonde, she pulled it out and examined it.
Shes pretty, Ronnie commented.
Yeah, she is.
Ten bucks says you posted this on your Facebook page.
You lose. Thats my sister.
He watched as her gaze flickered from the photo to his wrist, eyeing the macramé wristband.
Whats with the matching bracelets? she asked.
My sister and I make them.
To support a worthy cause, no doubt.
No, he said, and when he said nothing else, he was impressed that she seemed to intuit that he didnt want to say anything more. Instead, she carefully tucked the photo back in place and lifted the visor again.
How far away do you live? Ronnie asked.
Were almost there, Will assured her.
If Id known it was this far away, I would have walked home. Since were heading farther and farther away from my house, I mean.
But you would have missed my scintillating conversation.
Is that what you call it?
Do you plan on insulting me some more? He glanced at her. I just need to know whether or not to turn up the music so I dont have to hear it.
You know you shouldnt have kissed me earlier. It wasnt exactly romantic, Ronnie shot back.
I thought it was very romantic.
We were in a garage, you had grease on your hands, and your buddy was gawking.
A perfect setting, he said.
As he slowed the car, he flipped down his visor. Then, after making a turn, he came to a stop as he pressed the remote. Two wrought-iron gates slowly slid open, and the truck rolled forward again. Excited at the prospect of having dinner with Ronnies family later that evening, Will didnt seem to notice that Ronnie had gone quiet.
19Ronnie
Okay, she thought, this was ridiculous. Not just the grounds with the sculptured rose gardens and hedges and marble statues, or the massive Georgian mansion supported by elegant columns, or even the overpriced exotic cars that were being waxed by hand in an area reserved for such thingsbut all of it.
It wasnt just ridiculous. It was beyond ridiculous.
Yeah, she knew there were rich people in New York with twenty-three-room apartments on Park Avenue and houses in the Hamptons, but it wasnt as if shed ever spent time with those people or been invited to those homes. The closest shed ever come to seeing a place like this was in magazines, and even then, most of those had been flyover shots taken by paparazzi.
And here she was, wearing a T-shirt and torn jeans. Nice. At the very least, he could have warned her.
She continued to stare at the house as the truck zipped up the drive, turning in to the roundabout in front of the house. He came to a stop directly in front of the entrance. She turned to him and was about to ask whether he actually lived here, then realized it was a stupid question. Obviously he lived here. By then, he was already getting out of the truck.
Following suit, she opened her door and stepped outside. The two men washing the cars glanced at her before quickly going back to work.
Like I said, Im just going to rinse off. It wont take long.
Fine, she said. Really, there wasnt anything else she could think to say. It was the largest house shed ever seen in her life.
She followed him up the steps that led to the porch and paused briefly at the door, just long enough to see a small brass plaque posted near the door that read, The Blakelees.
As in Blakelee Brakes. As in the national automotive chain. As in Wills dad didnt simply own an individual franchise but had probably started the entire business.
She was still trying to process that simple fact as Will pushed open the door and led her into a massive foyer centerpieced by a grand staircase. A dark-paneled library beckoned on her right, while some kind of music room opened to the left. Directly ahead lay a huge, sun-filled open room, and beyond that, she saw the sparkling waters of the Intracoastal Waterway.
You didnt tell me your last name was Blakelee, Ronnie mumbled.
You didnt ask. He gave an indifferent shrug. Come on in.
He led her past the staircase toward the great room. At the back of the house, she saw a massive covered veranda; near the water, she caught sight of what could only be described as a midsize yacht parked at the dock.
Okay, she admitted it. She felt out of place here, and the fact that everyone probably felt out of place the first time they came here was no consolation. She might as well have landed on Mars.
Can I get you something to drink while I get ready?
Um, no, Im okay. Thanks, she said, trying not to gawk at her surroundings.
You want me to show you around first?
Im fine.
Somewhere ahead and off to the side, she heard a voice calling out.
Will? Did I hear you come in?
Ronnie turned to see an attractive woman in her early fifties, wearing an expensive linen pantsuit and holding a wedding magazine, step into view.
Hey, Mom, he said. He tossed his truck keys into a bowl perched on the entry table, right next to the vase of fresh-cut lilies. I brought someone over. This is Ronnie. And this is my mom, Susan.
Oh. Hello, Ronnie, Susan said coolly.
Though Susan tried to hide it, Ronnie could tell she wasnt pleased about having been surprised by Wills unexpected guest. Her displeasure, Ronnie couldnt help but think, had less to do with the unexpected part than the guest part. Namely, her.
But if Ronnie noticed the tension, Will obviously didnt. Maybe, Ronnie thought, it was a woman thing to be able to sense things like that, because Will went on chatting with his mom with casual ease.
Is Dad around? he asked.
I believe hes in his office.
Before I go, I need to talk to him.
Susan shifted the magazine from one hand to the other. Youre leaving?
Im having dinner with Ronnies family tonight.
Oh, she said. Thats wonderful.
Youll like this. Ronnies a vegetarian.
Oh, Susan said again, turning to scrutinize Ronnie. Is that right?
Ronnie felt as if she were shrinking. Yes.
Interesting, Susan said. While Ronnie could see that it was anything but interesting to Susan, Will remained oblivious.
Okay, so Im just going to pop upstairs for a few minutes. Ill be right back.
Though Ronnie felt like telling him to hurry, she didnt. Okay, she offered instead.
With a couple of long, loping steps, he was heading up the stairs, leaving Ronnie and Susan facing each other. In the ensuing silence, Ronnie was acutely conscious of the fact that as little as they had in common, they were united in their unhappiness at being left alone with each other.
Ronnie felt like strangling Will. The least he could have done was warn her.
So, Susan said, forcing a smile. She looked almost plastic. Youre the one with the turtle nest behind your house?
Thats me.
Susan nodded. Shed obviously run out of things to say, so Ronnie struggled to fill the silence. She motioned toward the foyer. You have a beautiful home.
Thank you.
With that, Ronnie was at a loss for words, and for a long moment, they faced each other awkwardly. She had no idea what would have happened if the two of them had remained alone.
But thankfully they were joined by a man in his fifties or early sixties, dressed casually in Dockers and a polo.
I thought I heard someone come in, he said, walking toward them. His demeanor was friendly, almost jocular, as he approached. Im Tom, aka Wills dad, and youre Ronnie, right?
Its a pleasure to meet you, she responded.
Im glad I finally have a chance to meet the girl hes been talking about.
Susan cleared her throat. Will is going to be joining Ronnie and her family for dinner.
Tom turned toward Ronnie. I hope you dont make anything fancy. The kid lives on pepperoni pizza and burgers.
Ronnie is a vegetarian, Susan added. Ronnie couldnt help noticing that Susan said it in the same way another person might have said she was a terrorist. Or maybe not. Ronnie couldnt exactly tell. Will really, really should have warned her about what to expect, so she could have at least been prepared. But Tom, like Will, didnt seem to notice.
No kidding? Thats great. At least hell eat healthy for a change. He paused. I know youre waiting for Will, but do you have a few minutes? I want to show you something.
Im sure shes not interested in your airplane, Tom, Susan protested.
I dont know. Maybe she is, he said. Turning to Ronnie, he asked, Do you like airplanes?
Of course, she thought, why wouldnt the family have an airplane? Lets just add that to the equation. This whole mess was Wills fault. She was going to kill him as soon as she got out of here. But what choice did she have?
Yeah, she said. Of course I like airplanes.
She supposed she had an image in minda Learjet or Gulfstream parked in a personal hangar on the far side of the propertybut it was a fuzzy image, since the only private jets shed ever seen were in photographs. Still, this wasnt what shed expected at all: the sight of someone older than her father flying a remote-control toy airplane and concentrating on the controls.
The plane whined as it skirted over the trees, swooping low over the Intracoastal Waterway.
Ive always wanted one of these things, and I finally broke down and got one. Actually, this is the second one. The first one accidentally ended up in the water.