Waiting Spirits Read Online Free Page B

Of course, she knew her father’s answer to that particular point: “And if most girls were eating toad sandwiches, would you want one, too?”
    â€œStop being so hormonal and put some lotion on my back,” she said to Carrie. “I want to get a start on my tan.”
    â€œAll right, all right. Just give me a minute, will you?”
    As Carrie began to arrange her things on her towel, Lisa stretched out on her back and closed her eyes. The sun against her skin was warm and soothing, the sound of the waves a few yards away gentle, rhythmic, and wonderfully relaxing. Lisa thought she might go back to sleep and catch up on some of the rest she had lost the night before.
    â€œOkay,” said Carrie, “give me the bottle.”
    Lisa opened her eyes, then smiled. For Carrie, going too the beach was a major expedition. After spreading her towel neatly across the sand, she had pinned it down at the corners with carefully selected items from her beach bag. At the top was her Walkman. Next to the Walkman was a pile of comic books. And next to them were the teen fan magazines that Carrie loved. Running down the side of the towel was a revolting array of Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Fritos. Kneeling in the middle of all this was Carrie, wearing a bright yellow two-piece bathing suit, which did nothing for her. She had sunglasses perched on her snub of a nose.
    â€œIf you want me to do your back you’ll have to roll over,” she said.
    Lisa lay on her stomach and luxuriated in the feel of the sun on her shoulders. “Yow!” she cried when the cold lotion hit her skin. But it warmed up quickly, and felt good.
    â€œUh-oh,” said Carrie. “Don’t look now. But there he is!”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œThe hunk!”
    â€œCarrie, shut up,” said Lisa, lifting her head to see who Carrie was talking about.
    It was the boy she had spotted the week before. Lisa blushed. He was walking toward them!
    â€œCarrie! Did you do something to attract his attention?” She had a horrified thought. “Did you wink at him?”
    â€œI’m not that stupid,” whispered Carrie. “Chill out. Maybe you just got lucky.”
    The boy stopped in front of them. “Lisa?” he asked.
    She scrambled to her feet, suddenly feeling uncovered. She wished she had picked a bathing suit that wasn’t quite so tiny after all! Nervously she ran her fingers through her curly, dark brown hair.
    â€œYour mother told me I’d find you here,” said the boy.
    Lisa gave him a puzzled look. “I’ve heard a lot of lines before, but… “
    He laughed, and Lisa found herself smiling, too. His laugh was deep and rich, not at all forced. It was the kind of laugh she always found attractive in a guy.
    That fit. Everything else about him was attractive, too. His thick hair, long and parted in the middle, had been bleached by the sun to the color of light straw. He had impish blue eyes and a full mouth. He was lean, yet his faded cotton shirt had to stretch across his broad shoulders.
    â€œActually, I did stop to talk to you about a pickup,” he said. “But you’re the one who has to do it. Your mother wants you to get these things on your way home.” He pulled a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. “She sent this to pay for them,” he added, handing her a twenty dollar bill.
    â€œWhy did she send this with you?” asked Lisa, trying to get her bearings.
    â€œMy dad and I are doing some work at the place you rented. The owners sent us. When we got there this morning, we realized we needed some more tools. Dad sent me back to get them, and your mother asked if I would be going by the beach on the way. I lied and told her yes.”
    â€œThat was pretty forward of you,” said Lisa. But the smile on her face made it clear she was delighted he had taken the liberty.
    â€œIt seemed like a good way to get to meet you,” he said.