Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic Read Free Book Online Page B

our window, Elliott Bay and Lake Washington, the latter being the second-largest natural lake in the whole state. You have Qwest and Safeco Fields, home to the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners, respectively. Mountains Baker, Rainier, and the Olympics look as if they are just beyond the city, though are many miles away. It's awesome.
    "Remember all the time we spent at Point Defiance?" I ask.
    "Of course, us and Jake, going to the zoo, hanging out at the beach."
    "I loved pushing Jake in the water. He'd get so pissed!"
    "Well, the water was freezing. Do you remember the Leather Man?"
    "Yeah. That old guy that used to lie on the beach every day? I haven't thought about him in years."
    "I hear he went there every single day. He would swim then lie on the beach. All year round."
    "No wonder his skin looked like an elephant's ass."
    "Remember I snuck up on him one day while he was sleeping, just so I could touch his skin and see what it felt like," Kaylee says.
    "Yeah, you said ... what was it? It felt like what an armadillo looks like, or something crazy like that."
    "Well, it did," Kaylee squeals.
    I take a bunch of pictures of Kaylee. She makes a different goofy face with each push of the button. She grabs the camera from my hands and starts photographing me. I'm a tad bit shyer in front of the camera than Kaylee. Most of the pictures are of me with my hands in front of my face, hiding. Then we take a self-portrait, Seattle looming in the background. We continue to reminisce as night falls. The Seattle skyline lights up, surrounding us in an endless sea of stars.
    I eat slowly, savoring every bite, not only because the food is delicious-mouth-watery-goodness, but also because I'm here with Kaylee and I don't want it to end. This is as much a part of my plans as any of the rest, a first date with her, a real date, not a hanging out with friends, watching movies, goofing around date. It's the right time to tell her how I feel, in the dimly lit restaurant, the twinkling Seattle skyline just outside the window.
    "Kaylee," I begin.
    "Yeah," she says. She looks beautiful in this light.
    My tongue twists, and suddenly I can't go any further. I just stare at her stupidly, unable to think, unable to breathe.
    "What is it, Austin?" Kaylee asks. "Are you okay? Oh my God, are you choking?" She rushes over, slaps me on the back to dislodge anything that might be stuck in my throat. Of course, the only things stuck are my words.
    I feel like a moron. Finally, my tongue moves again, but not in the direction I intend. "I'm okay. Ready to go?" Such an idiot.
    "Sure," she says. I think maybe I see disappointment in her eyes, but then I decide it's wishful thinking. I ask for the bill and fake death when it arrives. Kaylee tries to give me a stern look, but ends up in a fit of giggles. I leave a huge tip. It's well worth it, to have had this night, to have shared it with Kaylee. We have our waiter take our picture before we leave. We enjoy the ride back down to the safety of the hard concrete below, then head back to Tacoma.

Chapter Ten
     
    I crash in the car, as we drive back across town, dead from the busy day. I wake to Kaylee's voice saying sweetly, "We're here." I scan my surroundings blearily, blinking to clear my vision.
    "No, no, no. Not here, not yet," I say, realizing we're sitting in front of my house.
    "But you're exhausted. It's been a really, really long day. I'm kind of tired myself, you know."
    "I know, but I'm not. We're not done yet."
    "Not done?" Kaylee asks, confused. "What could you possibly want to do now?"
    "It's still early, right? What time?"
    Kaylee pulls her cell phone out of her purse and checks the time. "Nine. It's nine o'clock."
    "Yes, nine! It's still early. The evening's just starting."
    She rolls her eyes and asks, "So where do you want to go, then?"
    "Kyle's."
    "Kyle's." She was getting into the habit of repeating every destination just after I announce it.
    "Yes," I answer.
    She stares at me for a moment with