Meg at Sixteen by Susan Beth Pfeffer Page A

to Grace. Meg slipped out of the room behind him. They walked out of the house quietly, and with dignity, and it wasn’t until they had reached a safe distance on the beach that they whooped and hollered and hugged each other with abandon.
    â€œKiss me,” Nick said, and Meg did, not caring if Aunt Grace and her legion of servants were all watching with binoculars from the back windows. “I didn’t think I could survive that,” he said. “All that time with you in the room, and not being able to touch you, to hold you.”
    â€œI wanted to sit by your side,” Meg said. “But I knew how angry that would make her.”
    â€œShe was angry enough,” Nick said. “And she’ll be angry again soon.” He stood for a moment, then he pressed Meg to him, and they kissed again. But then he backed off.
    Meg looked at him. “What’s the matter?” she asked. She knew she had no experience kissing, and undoubtedly Nick could write a book on the subject, he was so good-looking, but everything had felt right to her.
    Nick smiled, and it was his smile again. “Nothing’s the matter,” he replied. “Well, everything is, but except for that, nothing. It’s just I want you so much, and the one honest thing I said to your aunt was that I respected your purity.”
    â€œThe hell with my purity,” Meg said, dazzled by her own daring.
    â€œNo,” Nick said. “Besides, there’s a lot I have to say to you, and we don’t have much time. Walk with me, the way I told your aunt we would.”
    â€œKiss me first,” Meg demanded, and she was pleased with how quickly Nick acceded.
    â€œI love you, Daisy,” Nick said. “I thought you were beautiful last night in that ridiculous dress, but now that I see you in daylight …” He paused long enough to kiss her one more time. “Do you still love me?”
    â€œDo you doubt it?” Meg asked.
    Nick shook his head. “I just can’t get over it,” he said. “How perfect you are.”
    â€œMe?” Meg said. “I’m not perfect. I mumble and I stoop and I’m not nearly as grateful as I should be. And I really don’t have any money. Just a little trust fund.”
    â€œThat’s more than I have,” Nick said. “It’s more than we’ll need. Maybe I wouldn’t have fallen in love if you did have money. Did you ever think of that?”
    â€œI haven’t had a chance to think of anything,” Meg replied. “Except how much I wanted you to be real.”
    â€œI’m real,” Nick said. “But Daisy, listen to me. I just told your aunt a packful of lies. And she’s bound to find out, starting with a phone call to Mrs. Sinclair. I am persona non grata there right now. As a matter of fact, I was kicked out first thing this morning. Before breakfast. If your aunt’s called already, and she probably has, she must know that.”
    â€œWhere are you staying?” Meg asked.
    â€œI found a room at an inn for a day or two,” Nick said. “When I get a chance, I’ll find a boardinghouse to stay in for the rest of the summer. I’m not leaving you, Daisy. I have enough money, if I’m careful with it, to make it through until graduation. Free room and board was a blessing, but it wasn’t a requirement. I just have to be careful, that’s all.”
    â€œI wish I could give you some money,” Meg said. “It’s my fault, after all, that the Sinclairs kicked you out. I can give you the check Uncle Marcus sent me for my birthday. Would that help?”
    â€œOh Daisy,” Nick said, and he kissed her again. Meg wasn’t sure whether that meant yes or no, but she knew she didn’t care. “Forget your money,” he said. “Whatever you do, you must never give me any of your money. We’re doomed if you do.”
    Meg nodded. “But if you won’t