Free The Long Ride by Bonnie Bryant

about Stevie’s interview, including the hat. It was a useful way to change the mood because the image of Stevie in the feathered hat was so hilarious.
    â€œAnd I guess she won’t be the only one with a new look this summer.”
    â€œYou have to wear a uniform while you mow lawns?” Lisa asked.
    â€œNo, of course not,” he said. “But I will be spending the summer in the great outdoors, getting a tan that will be the envy of everyone but lifeguards.”
    â€œYou be sure to wear sunscreen,” said Lisa.
    â€œDon’t you want me to be a bronze god?”
    â€œBetter to be pasty white than to have skin cancer.”
    â€œMaybe a little tan?”
    â€œMaybe,” she said, relenting. “Just a little. If you get too handsome, the girls will all be after you, and I don’t want that!”
    â€œI’ll beat them off with a stick,” Alex promised.
    â€œThat’s what I like to hear,” Lisa said. “Now, here are my CDs. Which ones do you think I can’t live without for the summer?”
    Alex studied the CD holder and started pulling out boxes. He made three piles. “These are mine that you borrowed,” he said, pointing to the first pile. “And these are yours that you should take with you.”
    â€œWhat’s the third pile?” she asked.
    â€œYours that you want to lend to me for the summer,” he explained with a smile.
    She was about to protest when the phone rang. She walked into the living room and picked it up.
    â€œHey, Lisa! You’re there. It’s Skye. I’m on a quick break, so I don’t have long to talk, but I heard you’re coming out here—that’s great! Listen, will I get to see you?”
    â€œI don’t have a lot of plans, like, for instance, I’m not in any television shows or anything. My schedule is pretty much open. You’re the one with all the work.”
    â€œWell, not so much I can’t visit with friends sometimes. And there’s something else.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Lisa asked.
    â€œUm …,” he said. “I guess it’ll be better to talk about it when you get here. When’ll you arrive? Want me to send a car?”
    â€œNo thanks, Skye. My dad’ll meet me.”
    Alex peered through the doorway, looking curious. “Who are you talking to?” he whispered.
    â€œSkye Ransom,” she mouthed back.
    The concern on Alex’s face was immediate and obvious. She shook her head as if to dismiss his worry. She slipped her hand over the mouthpiece. “Just a friend,” she added in a whisper.
    Alex nodded broadly in a general display of disbelief.
    â€œLook, you’re going to be so busy it’s going to be awfully hard for us to get together,” Lisa said, as much for Alex’s benefit as Skye’s.
    â€œNever too busy to see a friend,” Skye told her.
    â€œI’ll call your service when I get to my dad’s house and we can talk.”
    â€œGood idea,” Skye said. “But why don’t you call me at home? You’ve got the number, right?”
    â€œRight,” she said. “And you have my father’s number in case we get crossed up.”
    â€œOf course,” he said. “From the last time you were here. That was so much fun, wasn’t it?”
    â€œYes,” she said, remembering the great time they’d had when she had come to California for her father’s wedding. Lisa was uncomfortable with the idea that Alex might misinterpret what Skye was saying to her, so she was revealing as little as possible about the other end of the conversation. But she was also uncomfortably aware that Alex knew perfectly well what she was doing.
    â€œI bet you have to get back to the set now, right?”
    â€œWell, in a minute,” Skye said.
    â€œOkay, then I’ll talk to you when I get out there.”
    â€œIt’s a date,” he said, and hung