Page 65 of One Last Time

28.Turn Noah into a human ice-cream sundae

29.Go to Berkeley together for college!

30.One last dance on our DDM machine at the arcade

“New item,” I told him. “One final dance on this old gal—July fifth.”

“Hmm,” he murmured approvingly. And then, “You sure you got the time for it?”

I glanced at number twenty-three, the mini-golf night I’d missed yesterday. Lee had crossed it through lightly in pencil. Half done. Kind of done. Not done enough.

“Absolutely,” I told him, reaching up to chuck a finger under his chin. “Now get that mopey look off your face, okay? I know I’ve been crazy busy the last couple of weeks—working, looking after Brad, spending time with Noah as well as doing all the bucket-list stuff, but this is important to me, too, Lee. And Ipromise you,I’ll be here for one last dance, no matter what. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Lee gave me a soft smile, his head tipping onto my shoulder. “You’re such a mushy loser sometimes, Elle, but I love you.”

“I love you, too, buddy.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

It was dark out by the time Lee and I got back to the beach house. We had the next couple of days all planned out. Race day may have been the biggest thing on the list (and the biggest coup to pull off), but it was by no means the end of it. We’d managed to plan our weekend at Berkeley, too.

Indoors, the lights were on in the rumpus room and laughter filtered out from that direction.

“Who’s that?” Amanda sang down the hallway.

“Tweedledum and Tweedledumber,” Rachel replied, followed by a giddy laugh.

“I resent that!” Lee and I called back in unison, which only made her laugh more.

In the rumpus room we found them watching their way through a bunch of old home movies. A mostly empty box of chocolates sat between them and—

“Where did you guys even get wine from?” I asked. Jealousy tinged my voice to see them hanging out, having a girly night in together. I knew I’d have been welcome if I’d been around, but even so.

“I went to see my parents,” Amanda said. “Picked up some more clothes and stole some wine from them. They’re not gonna miss it. Just like they’re not gonna miss their only daughter when they’re too busy fighting. Ha-ha!”

I exchanged a glance with Lee, not really sure how to react.

Amanda topped their glasses off. “To self-involved parents and their stashes of wine!”

Rachel laughed again, swatting at Amanda’s knee like she’d said something truly hilarious. “Where’ve you guys been?” she asked us.

“Was it a bucket-list thing?” Amanda wanted to know.

Lee and I exchanged a look and nodded. I didn’t think either of us was about to explain how our old favorite arcade game was being retired soon, and what a big deal that was. Although in fairness, they’d probably take us more seriously while they were tipsy than any other time.

“We saved you guys some dinner,” Amanda told us. “Mac and cheese.”

“We grabbed some burgers on the way home,” Lee said. He glanced at me. “But I’m gonna heat up some mac and cheese. You want some?”

I smiled. “Nah, I’m good. So, uh, did Noah join you guys for dinner?”

Both the girls shook their heads. Amanda said, “Haven’t seen him. I tried calling him, but he sent me to voice mail, like a tool.”

Rachel scoffed. “Toad the tool.”

They both dissolved into giggles again.

“Aww, but he doesn’t look like a tool here.” Amanda gestured at the home movie. It was Fourth of July, judging by the fireworks and the flags. On the screen, Noah was holding a toddler Brad on his shoulders. She wriggled around to peer over the back of the sofa at me. “Was it about Levi?”