“Are you doing okay?”

“I’m fine. Thank you. That was really nice of you. You don’t have to take care of me like this.”

“You said you didn’t want to go home. I’m not going to just leave you somewhere.” I crack open my beer and take a long sip. She does the same. Even though it’s a little chilly at night, the cool carbonation calms my nerves.

“So you’re going to spend your evening hanging out with me? Don’t you have somewhere better to be?”

I cock my head in her direction. “Please.”

She smiles. “What were you doing at that party anyway?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” I reply, avoiding her question.

She lets out a deep sigh and rests against the wooden rail that leads to the water. “I was told it would be fun. I guess I didn’t take into consideration who I was talking to.”

I nod and am about to reply when I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. I don’t need to check it. I know it’s Hale. I completely forgot that I was supposed to be unloading this pocketful of eight balls to those punks at the bonfire.

Shit. I have over four ounces in my pocket as we speak. She doesn’t deserve this, to be around me when I’m carrying so much. Nothing is going to happen, but God forbid I get caught, she would get pinned too, just for associating with me. I need to get rid of it, fast.

It’s a dumb thing to do, but I’ll stash it in the storage pocket of my bike while she isn't looking. She takes a small walk around the street corner to see some of the houses. When her back is turned, I ditch the package. I go ahead and stash my phone too. I don’t want to hear anymore shit from Hale, and I’d like to pretend for a moment that he doesn’t exist.

Sierra

“Want to go for a walk?” he says as he raises his hand toward the beach. “It’s really quiet out here. No bonfires or crowds.”

I nod, squeezing his jacket around my body. It smells like leather and sea air. There’s a hint of smoke there too, but I find the combination warm and comforting.

“Do you want your jacket back?” I ask, hoping he’ll let me keep it on.

“No, it looks better on you anyway.” He walks toward the beach without letting me see his smile as he says that. It’s a sweet compliment but it almost feels like a fact coming from his mouth. Like he doesn’t intend to make me feel better with the compliment.

“Thanks,” I whisper as I follow him over the sandy planks that connect the street to the beach. Once we reach the sand, my breath is caught in my throat. It is so gorgeous out here. The only light is the moon and it shimmers against the surface of the ocean like a lightbulb.