Free Deceived: Lured from the Truth (Secrets) by Melody Carlson Page B

that.”
    I smile at him. “That’s okay.”
    He nods with an uneasy expression. “Maybe … but my uncle would definitely not approve.”
    “Oh.” Now I step back too. “Sorry then.”
    His lips curve into a smile. “Don’t be too sorry.”
    I giggle. “Actually, I’m not.”
    “Just don’t tell my uncle.”
    “You can count on that.”
    “Now I better let you go join your mother and your boss — before someone spies us down here.”
    “That’s probably a good idea.” I sigh happily. “Thanks for everything, Josiah.”
    “Thank you!” he calls as he turns and skips down the stairs.
    Thanks to an opened bottle of wine, my mother and Nadine are both giggly and happy, and neither of them seems overly concerned or curious as to where I’ve been. But then why should they be since they think I was at church? And I was at church.
    “The fireworks are really amazing.” I sit with them on the terrace that overlooks the lake.
    “You made it just in time,” Nadine says. “I think they’re about to have the grand finale.”
    I smile to myself as we watch more explosions, thinking I already experienced the grand finale … when Josiah kissed me. No fireworks, no matter how fantastic, could ever compare to that.
    “You probably need a ride back to your dorm now,” my mom says sleepily. “Since you work in the morning.”
    I point at the empty bottle of wine. “But you’ve been drinking.”
    She frowns. “Well, that’s true … but not enough to — ”
    “Why don’t you just let Rachel take your car,” Nadine suggests.
    Mom’s not too sure, but we both talk her into it, and before long, I’m parking in the lot a couple blocks from the dorm. As I’m getting out and locking the car, I hear a girl’s voice. “I didn’t know you had a car.”
    I turn to see Steffie coming toward me. “Oh, hi. It’s not really my — ”
    “If I’d known you had a car, I mighta been nicer to you.” She laughs like this is amusing.
    “It’s actually my mom’s car.” I turn toward the dorm, but Steffie seems to be walking with me now. Actually she’s staggering, and a few steps behind. “Have you been drinking?” I slow down, waiting for her to catch up.
    “Jus’ a little,” she says in a slurred voice. “Jus’ celebratin’ the new year.”
    “It’s not New Year’s,” I point out.
    “Oh … I mean … well, you know what I mean.”
    “Independence Day?”
    “Tha’s right.” She holds up a fist. “My independench day.”
    For some reason this makes me laugh. “Yeah, whatever.”
    Now she waves a finger at me. “Now you tell me somethin’, Rashel. You tell me … who was that handshum guy the other night? The guy who looks like … oh, you know, that vampire dude. Edward! Who is that Edward you were with? I wanna know.”
    Considering her condition tonight, I’m surprised she even remembers that night at Frederico’s. And I’m tempted to just blow her off now, but I stop myself. Maybe it’s because of Reverend Jim’s sermon or maybe it’s because of how Josiah reached out to Monique, but I decide to be nice to Steffie. I even catch her arm, steadying her before she stumbles on the boardwalk.
    “That handsome guy happens to be my boyfriend,” I say proudly. And I don’t even think it’s a stretch to say that anymore. Of course he’s my boyfriend. We’ve gone out; he’s kissed me. If that’s not a boyfriend, what is?
    “So you have a car and a boyfriend?” She shakes her head slowly. “Who wudda known?”
    Instead of trying to straighten her out on the car, I tell her a little bit about Josiah. And although it’s lame, I kind of enjoy talking to someone about him. What girl doesn’t want to tell another girl that she’s fallen in love? “His name is Josiah,” I say in a dreamy way. “And I was with him tonight.”
    “Tonight?”
    “Yes. For the whole evening. And we kissed during the fireworks and it was amazing.”
    She giggles. “Sounds like a real hot