Surfside Sisters(21)

“…and I told my parents, and they’re so happy for me. I mean, I know Tommy and I are only eighteen, and we’ve got four years of college to slog through, but we’re so much in love I know we’ll stay together even after college.”

“Lucky for you Smith and UMass are about three inches apart,” Keely joked. “You’ll have to spend sooo much time traveling to see each other.”

“Listen, Keely. I still want to write novels, and I am serious about getting a good education, and I’ve told Tommy this and he totally understands. But he’s not into studying as much as I am. He’s an action guy. He’s really all about getting out on the ocean, having a deep-water fishing business, but his father’s pressuring him to get a college degree, so he is.”

    Keely nodded, listening. Isabelle couldn’t talk fast enough. Keely had never seen her quite like this. She wouldn’t be surprised to see Isabelle spin right up to the ceiling.

“Sorry sorry,” Isabelle said after a while. “I’m hogging the conversation. Tell me about you. Do you like your classes? Do you like your dorm? Have you met any cool guys? Gone to any insane parties?”

Keely held her hands up in a “stop” sign. “Whoa, Isabelle, slow down. You act like you’re on speed.”

“I feel like I’m on speed. And look, I haven’t drunk a sip of coffee!” Isabelle held up her glass as evidence. “Sorry. Seriously, I want to know how you are.”

“I’m good. I like all my classes except physics, which seems invented by a committee of asylum inmates.”

“Ha!” Isabelle laughed. “Keely, you’re so funny! I’ll have to tell that to Tommy. He’s good with physics, but I hate it, too.”

And Isabelle was off again, confiding Tommy’s every phobia or preference, why he didn’t like sugar in his coffee, how he had seven shirts exactly alike because that saved him from thinking about what to wear, his favorite beer—of course Whale’s Tale Pale Ale—his favorite food—Mexican.

“Who’s his favorite superhero?” Keely teased.

“Oh, Superman, for sure.”

Keely couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing.

Isabelle went quiet. “You’re making fun of me, aren’t you? I don’t even care! I love that I know Tommy chooses Superman. I love knowing everything about him! I love knowing what kind of toilet paper—”

“Stop right there. I refuse to listen to a Smith College student, a woman attending the same college Sylvia Plath attended, talk about her boyfriend’s toilet paper.”

    “Sorry. I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve been dying to share this with you, Keely. I didn’t want to email or text you about it. It’s too important for that. It’s too huge! And you’re always working or in class, so it’s hard to talk to you.”

“It’s fine. I’m truly happy for you, Isabelle. I hope this lasts.”

“Why wouldn’t it last? Don’t you think Tommy can be faithful—”

“Whoa! I never said that. I meant I hope you can have everything you want without any problems. I mean, like, you can’t write while you’re spending all your free time with Tommy.”

“I know. You’re right. I know I’m on a high right now. I know this mad crazy rapture phase can’t last, but I’m sure our love will last. And I’m not stressing about writing now. I mean, my classes are really challenging. I have to work hard to keep up. Everyone is so much smarter than I am. So my life is basically two parts: school and Tommy.” Isabelle stopped to catch her breath.

“Very cool, Isabelle. Seriously.”

“So what about you? Have you met anyone special?”

“Guys are everywhere.” Keely shrugged. “I’m not in the mood for dating, really.”

“Because you’re in love with Sebastian?”

Keely dropped her eyes to her coffee cup. “I never told you I was in love with Sebastian.”

“You never had to. I am your best friend.”

“And Sebastian’s sister.”

“What, you think Sebastian and I sit around talking about love and feelings? I’ve never told him how you feel about him.”

“I’ve never told you how I feel about him!” Keely snapped.

“I know. But I’ve got eyes. The way you stare at him says it all.”

“Well, that’s embarrassing.”

“Stop it. I don’t mean everyone understands you. I get it because I’m your best friend. And I wish you would talk to me about it, about Sebastian. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, too, you know.”

    Keely’s heart ballooned with hope. “How does he look at me?”

“Not like you look at him. He’s a guy. Plus, he’s older. But his eyes go all soft when he sees you. When he sees you, he smiles.”

Keely met Isabelle’s eyes. “He sent me an email when he first started college. He told me I’m beautiful.”

“Wow.”

“I emailed him back. But his next emails were short, like duty messages.”

“It was his first year in college. A lot of people get overwhelmed during their first year.”