She shrugged. “Marin is at her grandma’s for a week so she wasn’t going. Besides, they probably only played country music.”
“You should’ve gone.”
But I knew you wouldn’t be there.
“You asked me here to chew my ass about a dance I didn’t go to?”
“No.”
“What are you doing out here, anyway? Did your bike break down again?”
“Funny. It was a great night for a ride. I lost track of time. When I pulled over, I realized I wasn’t far from your place.”
“So you called me.” Instead of just showing up at her house. That made no sense. Especially if Boone thought she was at the dance. What was going on with him? He acted…jumpy.
“You got any decent tunes in that piece of crap car you’re driving these days?” he asked.
The Mercedes was hardly a piece of crap and he knew it. Boone also knew that the only reason her dad had bought it was for the safety features, including an excess of air bags. “I’ll play music as long as you don’t bitch about what it is.”
“Deal.”
She rolled down the windows and plugged her iPod into the stereo system. She mimicked his pose against the car, standing opposite him.
Boone grinned when the music started. “Foo Fighters. Cool.”
“Don’t get used to it. The next song might be by Flogging Molly.”
“I don’t even know what the hell that is, McKay. You’re more ur-bane than me.”
“Right. Seriously, West, what’s up? It’s not like you to text me, demanding I meet you out in the middle of nowhere. Especially this late.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Since when is ten late?”
“Since my dad grills me about where I’m going at ten at night and who I’m going with.”
“Did you tell him you were meeting me?”
“Yeah.” She smirked. “He said not to let you drive my car.”
“Smartass.” Boone paused and tipped his head toward the sky. “As much as I love how bright the moon is, I miss seeing the stars on nights like this.”
“Me too.”
Neither said anything for several minutes.
“But this moon-gazing shit is killing my neck.” He moved to lean next to her. “Much better. So, what are your plans for this summer?”
“I’ve thought about becoming a carny.”
“Yeah? What’s the appeal? Getting hooked on meth? Hooked on pot? Hooked on fried food? Or is it getting to rip off little kids every day? Maybe you’ll grow a mustache and get a bad tattoo.”
She laughed. “You’ve weighed the pros and cons way more than I have. I was just in it for the unlimited cotton candy.”
“What’s option two for your summer?”
He was more persistent than usual, so she hedged, in case he had a specific reason for asking her plans—like he wanted to spend the summer with her. “I don’t know. It depends.”
“On?”
“How much my mom and dad argue over me and where I should be. My mom’s boyfriend bought a place in Paris with an extra bedroom, so she wants me to stay at least half the summer with her.” She shot him a sideways glance. “I haven’t mentioned this to my dad yet.”
“Why not?”
“I just found out yesterday. He’ll ask me what I want to do, and like I said, I’m not sure.”
“But he gives you a vote in your options?”
“Yes. What about you? Now that you’ve graduated, what are your plans?”
“Well, that’s the reason I asked you to meet me.”
Her stomach performed a hopeful summersault.
But as usual, he didn’t elaborate. He just kept looking skyward.
“Boone? I’m lousy at guessing games, remember? So just tell me.”
“I won’t be here this summer because I joined the army.”
Sierra gave him a ten-second pause and hip-checked him. “You have a bizarre sense of humor sometimes.”
He faced her. “I’m not joking. I joined the army.”
A sick feeling took root as she realized he was serious. Then she exploded. “Why would you just up and do that?”
“It wasn’t an impulsive decision. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”
“How long?”
“Almost three years. Since my youth forestry counselor suggested it when I was sixteen.”
And this was the first time he’d mentioned it? After all the time they’d spent together? “But we’re at war! The military sends the newest recruits over there.” Another horrible thought occurred to her. “You’ve got medical training, which means they’ll put you on the first cargo plane and drop you right in the middle of a combat zone.”
“Sierra. That’s what I want.”
“To get yourself killed?” she demanded.
“No, to help keep others from dying.”
“But you do that every day as an EMT.”
“It’s not the same. I can’t make a living as an EMT in rural Wyoming. I’m tired of being broke and there are a lot of things I’d like to do with my life that I can’t do if I’m stuck here.”
“Then go to college like normal people do.”
Boone scowled at her. “If I don’t have money for a car do you really think I’ve got money to go to college? Or that anyone will lend me the money?”
“Then we’ll ask my dad. He’ll float you a loan. Heck, he’d probably just give you the money since you saved my life.”
He pushed off the car. “I don’t want your money or your charity.”
“What? I’m only trying to help. You took that the wrong way.”
“Did I? What part of making it on my own is confusing to you? I have to do this. I want to do this.”
“So there’s no talking you out of it.”
Boone shook his head. “It’s a done deal.”
She wanted to scream at him, throw herself at his feet and beg him not to go, but that was the epitome of childish. Instead, she tossed off a breezy, “Fine. Whatever. Go be a hero. Get yourself killed. Later.” She sidestepped him and ducked around the front of the car, hoping to make it inside before her tears were obvious.
But he latched onto her upper arms and forced her to look at him. “You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do.”
His gaze roamed over her face. “Then why are you crying?” he demanded softly.