Ali's Pretty Little Lies (Prequel)

Fifteen: Playland Isn't Just For Kids.

The following afternoon, Ali stood in the doorway at Rive Gauche. Bartenders in crisp white shirts flitted around pouring drinks and cleaning glasses. A waitress rushed past with a tureen of rich-smelling fondue. A few girls from school were sitting in a booth, including Melissa Hastings, who had already noticed Ali and was glowering Ali craned her neck, looking around for Nick—he was working today and had asked if she'd stop by during his break—but she didn't see him anywhere.

She was so happy he'd texted. In some ways, she needed to see him, needed to confirm to the world that she liked a guy. Finding that heart on Emily's notebook had shaken her to her core—she'd dropped the notebook and run out of the bathroom as fast as she could, mumbling a lame excuse and the others and begging Jason to come pick her up right away. How had she not sensed Emily's feelings? All those times Emily had defended her, all those compliments she gave. Even yesterday, Emily had been content just sitting on the couch in the dressing area watching Ali model the jeans in front of the three-way mirror. Ali had changed in front of her a zillion times, thinking nothing of it. This totally explained why Emily had watched Ali so closely when she did that sexy dance to the Justin Timberlake album a few weekends ago. And she'd made a contented little sigh when Ali was finished, like she'd dream about Ali later that night...

Ali wasn't sure how she was supposed to handle it. It was clear Emily was terrified to tell Ali her feelings. She probably knew Ali would tell her she didn't feel the same way and that their friendship would crumble. Emily was too valuable of a friend for that, though—she was so easy to talk to and, more than that, so controllable. She did anything Ali asked—Ali would never find a sidekick like that again.

"Earth to Alison?"

Ali looked up and saw Nick in the doorway, dressed in Rive Gauche's white shirt and black pants. "Hey," she said with a big smile. Just being with him again made her suddenly feel so relaxed, as though she'd slipped into a warm bath.

A beep sounded, and Nick glanced down at his phone. After staring at the screen for a moment, he dropped it in his pants pocket. "So," he said, grinning at her, his blue eyes bright and clear. "Do you want to go on the merry-go-round with me?"

Ali almost burst out laughing. "Are you serious? The one in the kiddie playland down the hall?"

Nick smirked. "Why? Are you too cool to go on a merry-go-round?"

Normally, Ali would have said yes, but something about riding a merry-go-round with Nick seemed kind of fun. "I'll go if you go," she challenged.

"You're on." Tingles shot up Ali's spine as he grabbed her hand. Together, they walked out of the restaurant and down the long corridor, passing a cluster of stores, including Woof, the luxury pet store. When she'd first taken his sister's place in Rosewood, she'd spent hours in there, admiring the cashmere blankets, leather pet clothes, and organic treats even though her family didn't have a pet. This is a place where even dogs have to wear the right clothes, she'd thought.

Nick looked at the store. "Are you a dog or a cat person?"

"A gerbil person, remember?" Ali teased. "But I guess I'd pick cats over dogs."

"That means you're aloof and mysterious," Nick said.

"Or that I don't like dog slobber," Ali pointed out.

"Or that you don't like watching dogs hump everything that moves."

Ali burst out laughing.

They passed Chanel, Bloomingdale's, and a high-end kids' store, chatting about school, homework, and Nick's new job—he'd already had a woman who could've been his mother hit on him today. "It was totally weird," he admitted. Then he looked at her. "Have you ever gone out with anyone older?"