met my eyes, his gaze compelling and his faint dimples enhancing his smile, hinted at mysteries of “what could be” between us.
Not that I was flirting with him or anything.
I was just being polite and showing my gratitude, like anyone would do after being rescued. This had nothing to do with passion, desire, longing …
Get a grip! I ordered myself. Dyce was too old for me — even if I didn’t already have Eli. And it would be unfair to risk Sharayah’s heart on some guy who already had a girlfriend. She wasn’t here to make important decisions, so it was up to me to protect both of us.
Besides, Dyce was going back to his Emmy.
And I had a temporary life to resume.
Still, I couldn’t help but wonder … would I ever see him again?
13
My thoughts were all about Dyce as I retraced my steps down the path, replaying what he’d said and what I’d said back — which now seemed so lame that I burned with shame. What had I been thinking? Drooling at him and practically begging him to let me buy him a drink. Did mature college girls say stuff like that? I didn’t think so.
Good thing I’d probably never see him again.
As I reached a shopping area bordering the beach, I recognized Sadie’s dark braids. She was moving briskly despite carrying bulging shopping bags.
“Sadie!” I called but my voice carried away in a salty breeze and she didn’t even glance my way as she entered an artsy boutique.
So I hurried after her.
The store, called
Moving toward her, I started to call her name — then stopped with my mouth frozen open. Sadie had been adjusting the straps on her bag with one hand, but her other hand had snaked out toward a rhinestone watch. There had been a quick flash of fingers, like a magician’s disappearing act. Now you see the watch — now you don’t.
Before I could decide how to react, or even what to think, Sadie caught my reflection in a mirror on a glass counter.
“Rayah!” She whirled around to face me, scowling. “Where have you been? It’s about time you showed up.”
“Time … um … ” I glanced at the tray of sparkling rhinestone watches in their rainbow reds and purples; they were pretty but made of tacky plastic and priced under ten dollars. How time flies — especially with Sadie’s quick- fingered help.
But was I sure what I’d witnessed? Why would Sadie bother to steal? She wore ultra-chic clothes, kept her hair and nails manicured and smelled of costly perfume. She had no reason to steal a cheap watch.
“I hope you have a good explanation,” Sadie accused me, her ruby-glossed lips pursed angrily.
“Me? But you just—”
“Where have you been?” She didn’t wait for me to answer. “I’ve been back to the car twice, walked the beach at least a hundred times and even checked the restrooms, which were seriously gross. I’ve been looking all over!”
“You have?” I shook my head, confusion making my head ache. Nearby, a clerk with pierced eyebrows narrowed her black eyes and watched me closely, as if my overall windblown, anxious attitude set off her suspicions. Ha! She had the wrong girl. But I couldn’t rat out Sadie.
Sadie’s shopping bags swayed, her hands waving as she talked excitedly. “Mauve said we’d meet back at the car but no one was there. I planned to leave my bags there, then go out to eat. But I couldn’t find anyone and carrying all these bags was killing my arms. So I called Mauve and she said she was still with Alonzo and would hook up with us later. She told me you had the keys to the car and that you’d be waiting there. Only you weren’t.”
“Sorry, but I’ve had some … um … problems.” I hesitated.
How much should I tell her? She’d been clear about her feelings for Warren and would be hurt. Worse — she might not believe me. And there was the whole shoplifting thing, too. Both topics I didn’t have the energy to discuss in the middle of the crowded store.
“Where exactly is Mauve?” I asked.
“Some sushi restaurant.” Sadie waved her hand, a turquoise and gold ring I’d never seen before sparkling from her pinky finger. Was it shoplifted, too?
“Oh, so she did go there,” I said with a nod. “I thought she and Alonzo changed their plans.”
“You thought wrong. Who told you that?”
“Um … I don’t remember.” Inside, I seethed — more lies from Warren the scumbag. “Anyway, I’m really sorry you couldn’t get into the car. But I’m here now, so let’s go put your stuff away … unless you’re not finished shopping.”
“There’s nothing for me in this tourist trap.”
“Sure there isn’t something you want to buy?” Or pay for, I thought.
“No. I’m done shopping — for today anyway,” she added with a laugh. She patted my arm and gave me a little push. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Reluctantly, I followed her out the door, the sound of wind chimes echoing in my head.
“Mauve wants us to join her later at a dance club called Revolution,” Sadie told me as we walked to the street. I was now carrying two of her bags.
“I don’t have enough energy for standing. Dancing? I don’t think so.” A truck whizzed by us, stinking of exhaust and whooshing up a breeze that tangled my hair.
“Have you eaten dinner yet?” Sadie asked.
“Dinner? I can’t even remember lunch.”
“This is not the time to diet. You’re already too skinny, anyway. Let’s pick up something to eat.”
But as we neared the car, it was guilt that was gnawing at me more than hunger. In the store, I hadn’t tried to stop her. Did that make me an accomplice? It wasn’t too late to do the right thing. All I had to do was tell her I knew she stole the watch and that she had to return it. But I didn’t know her that well and was afraid of how she’d react. What would the real Sharayah do in this situation?
In that split-second, a window in my mind opened to reveal a memory. Not my own, but one belonging to Sharayah. She’d been staying the night in Sadie’s private dorm room while Mauve had a “friend” over; she was lying on Sadie’s couch, a thick textbook propped on her chest as she tried to study. But her eyelids felt heavy and the textbook even heavier, so she gave in to an afternoon nap. She was just settled into a relaxing sleep when Sadie entered the room.
Not in the mood to talk, Sharayah kept her eyes closed, feigning sleep. She listened to Sadie’s footsteps, expecting her to flop onto her bed for a study session or tackle the homework on her desk. But the footsteps paused, then moved in the opposite direction — toward the couch.
Everything I saw, heard and felt came from inside Sharayah’s body, as if we’d merged together in memory. Together we lay still, listening to Sadie’s soft breaths, so curious now we peeked through the wispy hairs covering our face to watch Sadie bend over. When Sadie stood, I recognized the black purse in her hands — the same purse that I’d found a shocking amount of money in. Sadie snapped opened Sharayah’s wallet. She chuckled softly as she flipped through green bills, plucking out a few and slipping them into her own pocket. And all the while Sharayah
