“In fact,” Marissa says, her voice beginning to drip with contempt, “Abe used to be in love with me. But I wouldn’t give him the time of day.”
“Give it a rest, Marissa,” Craig says from next to her, taking a sip from his drink. But Marissa’s watching Abe, a story obviously under the surface. I hate that he’s silent in return, as if she’s demeaning him somehow. I want to punch her for that.
“Things have obviously changed since then,” I say seriously. “As far as I can tell, you’re the one in love now.”
Her eyes snap to mine, and from next to me I hear Abe snort back a laugh.
“It would seem that way,” she says. “The question is, why?”
“Be quiet now,” Abe murmurs. I wonder if he broke her heart and if that’s why she’s lashing out now.
Marissa’s eyes blaze, but she falls silent, opting to watch the fire instead. Craig changes the subject, something about Margie once coming on to him when Santo was out of town.
The party goes on for another hour, the laughs slowly coming back. Abe does a dead-on impression of Santo, and it’s hilarious to hear about Molly’s new job at a local breakfast place. Turns out they’re all servers somewhere.
Marissa doesn’t participate in any of the stories, and she avoids any conversation with Abe altogether. She won’t even look at him. This entire night would be uncomfortable, it should be, but I’m wrapped up in the moment. It’s the first time since Colorado that I feel like I have friends.
Next to me Abe yawns, lifting his arms over his head before resting one casually across my lap. He bends his head closer. “We should go,” he says. “It’s late.”
I nod, checking the time. If we leave now, I’ll still make curfew. Abe gets up and says good-bye to his friends. Across the fire Marissa sits motionless, not acknowledging any of us.
I try not to stare at her as I say good-bye to the rest of the party, but her eyes have glazed over, the lower lids brimming with tears. Sorrow fills me, and I take a step toward her before Abe takes my hand, pulling me in the other direction.
We walk back to the car, the desert air getting crisp the farther away from the fire we get. “Did you have fun?” Abe asks, opening the door for me.
“I really did. Maybe next time I’ll actually camp?”
“Intriguing thought.”
I catch something out of the corner of my eye and turn to see Marissa standing on the hill, the light from the fire illuminating her from behind. Her arms hang at her sides and her shoulders are slumped. She looks absolutely desperate.
“Elise,” Abe says, smiling softly at me. “I’m gonna go say good-bye.”
“Sure.”
He leaves, walking toward Marissa as she moves to meet him halfway. I open the passenger door and get in, closing it quietly. My window is still down from the drive up and I can hear them talking. I feel like I’m spying.
“That wasn’t very nice of you, Riss,” Abe says, reaching to brush her red hair behind her ear. “I thought we were past all this.”
“I’m sorry,” she answers automatically, without reacting to his touch.
“I know you are.” He leans forward and kisses her forehead, pausing there a long moment. When he pulls back, Marissa grabs his forearms as if trying to keep him close.
“You don’t need me anymore, do you?” she asks, her voice choked off.
“You were out of control tonight,” he says quietly. “It hurt my feelings.”
Marissa doesn’t respond. The whole conversation is surreal and I have no idea what’s going on. They must have had a romance gone tragically wrong. I don’t want to be in the middle of something like this.
“Be careful of the cliff beyond the tents,” Abe tells Marissa. “It’s a nasty fall to the bottom. Don’t go wandering off by yourself, okay?”
Marissa is frozen, and at first I’m not even sure she heard him. But then she nods slowly, before leaving to walk silently up the hill back to the party.
Abe seems rejuvenated when he gets in next to me, the interior light illuminating him. “Marissa’s not a fan,” he says. “But she wanted me to tell you good-bye.”
She didn’t say that, but I don’t want to admit that I was listening. “She seems pleasant,” I respond. “Ex-girlfriend?”
“Sort of. But she hates me now, in case that wasn’t obvious.”
“Oh, it was.”
Abe chuckles, doing a three-point turn to get the car turned around to head back toward town. When we’re moving, he reaches to brush his fingers down my arm, over the place where my scratches are now fading. “As long as you don’t hate me, Elise,” he whispers. “The rest of them can go to hell.”
My eyelids flutter and I’m suddenly tired, completely drained as if I’ve been working all night. I lean my head back against the seat, Abe’s hand slowly caressing my skin. Comforting me as I drift into a light sleep. We’re not far when a high-pitched howl breaks in the distance. Startled, I sit up, Abe’s hand falling from me. I try to see out the window but it’s too dark.
“Coyotes,” Abe says, clicking on the radio. “They come out late at night around here. Lots of vicious things do.”
The car’s headlights cut through the desert night, and ahead of us the world is blank. A film reel of desert playing over and over. I see Abe’s fingers twitch as if he means to reach for me again, but instead he adjusts the volume and puts his hands on the steering wheel.
I lean back into the seat, staring straight ahead as a voice nags at me. Because although I’m tired, I hear words in the back of my mind—even though I’m sure I never heard them said out loud.
Jump off the cliff.
CHAPTER 10
Abe touches my shoulder to wake me up when we finally arrive at my house. We’re parked in my driveway and it’s only ten thirty, a half hour early for my curfew.
“Thanks for taking me out, Abraham,” I say, my voice a little sleepy. “Who would have thought you were such a gentleman?”
He scowls. “Don’t use my full name. And I am a gentleman. Or at least I am to you.” He pauses. “Right?”
“You are indeed charming.” I unbuckle my seat belt, grabbing my purse from the floor as he shuts off the engine.
“Which is impressive. I’m usually bored with girls after one day.”
I laugh. “I must be special.”