Emily Calls It (The Emily Series) Read Online Free Page A

something else about him I couldn’t quite pin down. Maybe it was spending the school year in San Francisco . Maybe living in the city had added a little polish to him and I was picking it up. I wanted to know more, which kind of surprised me.
    After dinner I was completely stuffed. I ate everything on my plate, not the least bit self-conscious about it. That whole act of eating a little green salad on a date never really appealed to me. Scott was a good eater too, but that wasn’t unusual for a nineteen- year-old guy. At least not in my experience. We both relaxed after our plates were cleared.
    “I was thinking, Emily, maybe we could go out to the lake?” He paused and played nervously with his napkin. I thought it was cute.
    “That sounds nice.” And it did. It was a warm night and a walk by the lake sounded like a pleasant idea . I hadn’t been back since the summer before, and I alwa ys enjoyed being there. It was manmade and had once been a deep valley. It was a couple miles below the highway surrounded by camping spots. Leading to the lake was a long expanse of lush, green lawn spotted with purple clover. During the day you had to be careful not to step on the bumblebees, but at night you could run around without the threat of a sting. I’d spent every summer there since grade school.
    “Come on,” he said playfully taking my hand. We passed my car on the way to his.
    “Hang on a second.” I paused at my passenger door and reached inside for my sweater. It was a warm night, but you never know.
    “Nice car.” Scott commented with a smirk. Why did everyone have to make fun of my car? Yes it was old, big, and bright turquoise, but come on.
    “What? I love my car.” I swung the door shut , waiting for the creak and slam of older car doors . Scott just smiled, running his hand along the roof. He was making fun of me, but I didn’t really mind.
    He opened the passenger door of his car and rested his folded arms on the top of it while he watched me sit. It seemed I always lucked out with the chivalrous dates. And who was I kidding, I loved it. I reached across and unlocked his door for him, nestling into my seat and fastening my seat belt. His car was smaller than mine, but that’s not news, as mine’s kind of a tank. Scotts’ car was a Saab of some sort, a car I’d never ridden in before. The ignition wasn’t up by the steering wheel like you might expect, but instead lower on the console. Pretty cool.
    On the way to the lake we talked more, mainly about school. I listened to him, of course, but my mind started to wander. Would he try to kiss me? If he did, how would I react? Usually I knew the answer, but tonight even my own emotions, as they came, were unexpected.
    The heat hadn’t dissipated at all, even by the lake, so no need for my sweater. I guess I’d become used to living by the ocean and the whole “breeze off the water” thing didn’t apply here. I slipped off my sandals as we walked across the grass. The cool grass felt almost cold underfoot. I watched each step for the bees even though I knew there wouldn’t be any lurking. Scott looked at me sideways with a grin.
    “You know there aren’t any bees, right?” How did he know that’s what I was thinking? I let out a half-sigh, half-laugh and started walking normally. We reached a picnic table, and Scott sat on the top resting his hands beside him.
    “What’s interesting,” I used the table seat as a boost to sit next to him, “Is how still and tranquil the lake looks. I don’t remember it like this, and I’ve been coming here for years.”
    “You probably haven’t seen it at night recently.”
    “I guess you’re right.” I leaned back resting my hands behind me. “It’s really pretty here. I almost forgot.”
    “Yeah, I felt that way too . Now I really appreciate how peaceful it is here.” He leaned back.
    “I haven’t heard many people say that, but you’re right. I can’t believe how much I took for granted