Nantucket Red by Leila Howland

Author:Leila Howland [Howland, Leila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“So I’ve started the list,” Liz said as she walked in, a notebook under her arm. I had promised Liz that we would make a list going over the pros and cons of her moving back to England or staying in America when she woke up. She, too, was dressed for work, but hadn’t quite managed to pull herself together. Between the circles under my eyes, Jules’s runny nose, and Liz’s ill-buttoned shirt, we were a sad crew.

“Oh, hello,” Liz said to Jules. “We can have fresh towels delivered to you. What room are you in?”

“I’m not staying here,” Jules said, dabbing her eyes with the towel.

“How did you know where to fi nd me?” I asked Jules.

“I just looked around. I opened doors until you were standing behind one.” I laughed. It was so Jules, so blazingly confi dent.

“Pardon, but who are you exactly?” Liz asked.

“Jules.”

“I’ve heard about you,” Liz said and crossed her arms.

“Good things I hope?”

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Liz shook her head no.

“We had a rough time last year,” I said and shrugged.

“Yeah,” Jules said, as if last summer was a very, very long time ago. “We did.”

“Hey,” I said. “What did Zack have to say about all this?”

“I didn’t tell him.” She watched sudsy sheets going around in the washer and said quietly, “I only wanted to talk to you. Hey, you know what I want, like more than anything? One of our adventures.”

In the old days, our adventures involved sneaking into dances at the boarding schools within driving distance and playing “exchange student,” or putting balloons up our shirts and walking around a mall like regretful pregnant teens, or taking the bus to Boston and getting hot chocolates at the Four Seasons Hotel. During those excursions we created our own world. We moved in synch, spoke in code, and laughed so hard that hot chocolate came out of our noses.

An adventure with Jules would be the perfect escape.

Between waitressing and covering for Liz, I hadn’t had a single day off since I’d landed on Nantucket. I had almost four thousand dollars, but I was tired. Tired of taking drink orders and carrying plates of calamari and never being able to catch up on sleep. And last year, Liz had been my wild yet sensible British ally, buying me lingerie and texting me sex tips. But ever since her breakup, she was in bed by eight thirty. She’d stopped wearing mascara. Her walk had lost its swagger. I’d seen my mom go through heartbreak.

I’d watched her retreat into a mental castle and pull up the 150

NANTUCKET RED

drawbridge, and something similar was happening to Liz.

Once again, I was on the other side of the moat, unable to reach the lonely lady. Yes, an adventure was in order.

“I have the best idea,” I said. Our eyes met in mischief.

“Yay!” Jules gave me a quick, hard hug. “Text me.”

Watching her leave, I felt like I’d just heard an old favorite song on the radio.

Liz squinted with concern. “Be careful, insect.”

151

Twenty-six

“nasty!” i said

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