sound nearly as nervous as I feel.
âDoubtful.â Abe takes his hand from mine to undo his seat belt. He looks past me to where the party is. âBut we should head over. I wouldnât want you to miss your curfew. Not on our first night.â
He gets out, walking ahead to where the people are. When they see him, a few jump upâgirls hug him, guys slap his hand. Abe has that way about him, attracting people without even seeming to try. Maybe thatâs whatâs worrying me, the idea that Abe is so much more experienced than I am.
I push back the anxiety that continues to linger, and open the passenger door to cross the sand. The night has cooled considerably, but as I get closer, the flames from the huge fire lick out toward me. The heat is divine on my skin.
âThere she is,â Abe announces, as if he was just talking about me.
âHey, Elise,â a cute guy with a pierced lip calls from where heâs sitting on a canvas folding chair.
âOh,â I answer, surprised he knows my name. âHi.â
âThatâs Craig,â Abe says, coming to stand next to me. He leans against my shoulder but doesnât put his arm around me. Instead he points out a stunning redhead. âThis is Marissa. Sheâs feisty, so watch out for her.â
Not sure how to respond to that, I just say hi and she does the same.
âBridget,â he continues, moving down the line. âOf course, Molly.â Molly has short brown hair, kind of like Lucyâs, and she giggles the minute Abe says her name.
The girls are practically drooling over him. This is going to be so awkward.
I meet Fernando, Johnny, and Pete, but before the introductions go on too long, Abe finds me a seat on the far end of the half circle. Iâve barely sat down when Marissa calls to Abe, using her finger to invite him over. Abe touches my shoulder as he passes, saying heâll be right back.
âDrink?â Fernando asks me, motioning toward the cooler.
âNo, but thank you.â Iâm still watching Abe. And I know itâs stupid, but Iâm a tiny bit jealous. This is supposed to be my date, not a visit to the Abe fan club.
Craig is readying the hibachi with charcoal when I catch Abe close to Marissa, whispering something in her ear. She closes her eyes, leaning into him, and a sinking sensation fills my chest. Just then Abe notices the insecurity on my face.
He stands, Marissaâs hands falling from his shoulder. He ignores her when she calls his name and he crosses the space between us, stepping right over the fire as he heads toward me. My heart speeds up.
âSorry,â he says simply, and drops down in the sand next to my chair. âHad to tie up some loose ends.â He looks sideways at me, waiting for my reaction.
âIâm sure,â I mumble, surprising myself with how bitter I sound. But Iâm not going to let Abe humiliate me. I donât care how cute he is.
He lets out a low whistle. âWow. That shoulder is cold, Elise,â he whispers, glancing past me. âI wasnât flirting, if thatâs what you think.â
âI didnâtââ My breath catches as Abe reaches over me, his arm across my waist as he opens the cooler to pull out a can.
âExcuse me,â he murmurs.
His touch sends my pulse racing once again, and I donât feel insecure anymore. Instead, Iâm smiling. âYou could have asked me to get that for you,â I say.
âI know.â Abe pops the top on the soda and takes a drink.
Â
When the charcoal is ready, Abe moves to help me grill my hamburger, burning the outside for what he claims is âmaximum flavor.â At one point he even brushes his lips over my ear when leaning in to talk to me. Iâm so comfortable with him. I canât believe I havenât known him all my life.
About an hour after we arrive, his friends are a little drunk. Abe and I are roasting marshmallows,