Chapter 39 #2
I tip up her chin and search her blue-gray eyes, seeing my future in them. “Good, because I like you this way.”
EvanAnn
Damon beats me to the dining room table this time. I take the seat next to him and lean my head against his shoulder. I just want to go to sleep. It’s been a grueling week, and next week doesn’t seem like it’s going to get better.
“I’m going to have to make a decision about Mia soon,” I say softly. It’s weighing on me, but I know it’s coming.
“And you don’t want to?” he asks, taking my hand and threading our fingers together.
I shake my head against his shoulder before I straighten and look at him.
“She’s my friend, and I really think she’s the best actor for the role.
But we’re almost to tech week. I’ll have to decide when’s the last day she can come back in and still be in the play.
She’s missed a week of rehearsal. We have one more week before tech week. ”
“If I missed two weeks of practice, I wouldn’t expect Coach to put me in the game.
Even if I was ready for it.” Damon brushes my hair behind my ear.
“You’ll make the call you need to make when the time comes.
I’m sorry you have to make this decision, but I know you’ll do what’s best for your production. ”
He’s right about missing rehearsal and still expecting to slot in.
Maybe she’s practicing, or maybe she’s so distraught she isn’t even thinking about the play.
It makes sense to tell her she’s out, but I’m all tangled up inside over it.
Just like when Jackson accused Mia of being the stalker.
It doesn’t feel right because she’s my friend, but if it’s true, I’ll have to do something about it.
I look down at our hands and then up into his blue eyes. “I don’t know how I would have made it through this year so far without you.”
He smirks. “I think things would have gone differently without me in your life.”
“Probably.” I lean in and kiss him after verifying our parents aren’t in the doorway. “But it wouldn’t have been half as fun.”
His eyes darken, but he just leans in and kisses my temple. “I’m glad I was here for this.”
My eyes widen in surprise because the alternative would have been going off to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing hockey. There’s this resolve in his eyes that floods me with warmth. That maybe, given the choice, he’d choose me.
“How’s the play going?” Mom walks into the room and sits opposite me. Her gaze flicks to our joined hands, but she doesn’t mention it.
“Recording the rehearsals is a game changer. There are things I miss when we’re doing run throughs, but now that I have playbacks.
..” I take a breath. “And I forgot how much I enjoy acting. I love directing too, but it’s nice to step into someone else’s shoes for a while.
Even if my character is killed in the end. ”
“Spoilers,” Mom says, pretending to be horrified.
“You’ve had your whole life to figure out the end of Othello.” I roll my eyes but smile at her.
“Fair.” Mom glances to the door as Adam walks in. Her tone softens when she says, “Hey you.”
He sits next to her and kisses her softly before turning to us. “Did Damon tell you?”
“I hadn’t gotten around to it yet.” Damon leans back in his chair and turns to me. “The Yale coach wants us to come up this weekend. We’ll fly out after Saturday’s scrimmage. It’s going to be quick, but we’ll get back late Sunday night.”
“That sounds exciting.” I squeeze his hand.
Yale could be an option for me. It’s not ideal though, but there are a lot of colleges within train or driving distance that could work better for undergrad.
It would mean a little long distance, but better than flying across the country to see each other.
“I really wish you two could go with us.” Adam brings my mom’s hand to his lips. “But I understand. It’s just not the right time for EvanAnn.”
“Maybe Mom could go with you,” I say. “It’s only one night. I could stay with Cam or Hawk if their parents would be okay with it.”
I can’t meet my mom’s eyes. It took a lot for me to even offer that. But it’s not like I’ll be left alone, and I can tell Adam really wants to take my mom with. I wish I could go with Damon and experience campus with him.
“We could have them over for dinner on Wednesday night to discuss it. It would be good to get everyone on the same page.” Adam smiles. “But I don’t see why not.”
Mom opens her mouth and closes it, but what can she really say? Is she worried about me sleeping with my boyfriends? Because that ship sailed when they found me in Damon’s bed.
Besides, she was willing to let me stay with Chase’s parents. Or would she have said no to that? Adam offered, but she already knew Chase and I had broken up at that point.
“Nothing new happened this week,” I say.
This week meant a lot more rehearsals for both plays, and homework and tests are ramping up. No one has the time to mess with anyone else.
“Okay, that’s settled then,” Adam says. “EvanAnn can spend the night with one of her other boyfriends, and we’ll all go up to Yale for a night.”
Damon’s hand squeezes mine. He and the others worry about me, but it’s not like they won’t know where I am. Besides, either Hawk or Cam would have stayed with me while he was gone anyway. We’re just going to stay at their house instead of ours.