35 EVIE #2
A waitress came up to him, asking if he’d like anything else. “Ev? Want anything? Another drink?”
“Yeah, that’d be great, thanks.”
“Could we get two waters and ...” He eyed the empty pitchers at the table. “Two more pitchers, please?” She nodded and hovered around him a little closer than necessary before reluctantly disappearing back into the crowd.
“Still making the girls swoon, I see?”
“Eh, whatever,” he said, blowing it off.
“Speaking of romance, our girl over there tells me you have some new boyfriend, plays in a band or something?” He pointed his drink toward Kate.
I smiled widely and felt my cheeks warm.
“So I guess that means I can’t persuade you to go to dinner with me before you leave? ”
Always the flirt, I thought, smiling. “I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. But thank you.”
He took a drink and nodded, considering me sideways. “Hmm. Well, good for him. And you. I hope he’s taking good care of our girl.”
“He is. Thanks. We’re happy.” I took a long drink and leaned over, nearly having to shout in his ear over the loud music. “And what about you? Seeing anyone?”
“Sometimes!” he said, laughing. “Maybe I’ll even find someone my parents like as much as they liked you!”
“Impossible!”
“Probably right.” He smiled gamely. “But maybe someday down the road.” He looked at me closely. “Are you and this guy that serious?”
I nodded. “Yes. Very. In fact, we’re planning to move in together. I’m moving to London.” I put a finger up to my lips. “Shh. I haven’t told Kate yet.”
He suddenly looked surprised and then seemed to swallow a look of disappointment before brushing it off. “Whoa, look at you! All swoony and making grown-up plans! Well, he’s a lucky guy.”
“Thanks, Steve.”
“Wow. London. Okay then.” He met my eyes and gave me a long look. “Wherever you go, you know I’ll always be here for you. No matter what. Right?”
“Back at you.”
“Okay then.” He stood and kissed the top of my head. “All right. Who’s up for pool?” he announced, raising his arms in the air, effectively ending the conversation and gearing up for more fun. He always had so much life in him. It’s hard to believe he’s gone.
“Still sexy as hell, isn’t he?” Kate said, taking his empty seat. “Hmm. A hot, successful guy who treats girls well. Tell me again why you two haven’t ended up together yet?” she asked, feigning confusion.
I shook my head. “No way. He and I are so different. It would’ve never worked, and we all know it,” I replied. “And besides, if you like him so much, why didn’t you ever date him?” I joked.
“Ew, no, that would be ... just no. But I will thank him for introducing me to a certain gentleman.” She raised her beer. “Like that super-cute roommate of his who I get to marry! I’m getting married!”
“You’re getting married!”
I hugged her again, and just as she eyed Jim across the room with a grin, the jukebox blared into action, and I instantly recognized the intro to a Mayluna song. “Ooh, I love this song!” Kate exclaimed.
“Hey, Kate! About this song? So, I have something to tell you.”
“Be right back, Ev!” Kate shouted over the din of the crowd and the blaring music.
Suddenly missing Carter like crazy, I quickly escaped to the bathroom, where a line of girls with glassy eyes waited. I pulled out my phone and dialed the number.
“Hey!”
Carter laughed at the sound of my overly chipper voice. “Oh no, you’re drunk, love!”
“Am not. Well, maybe just a little, but I’m fine. And I miss you like crazy!”
“Where are you? I can barely hear you.”
“At a bar downtown with some friends from school. A little mini-reunion. Here, listen ...” I held the phone up so he could hear his song playing.
“Ah, I see. Made you miss me, huh?” he said, groaning.
“Absolutely! And what are you guys up to?”
“We’re headed out to some club. Alex’s idea. I have no idea where.”
“Two more days until I get to see you!”
“Two more days!” he replied. “And then forever.”
A girl bumped into me, moving me forward in the line. “I’d better go. I love you.”
“You too, love. And please be safe tonight, okay? Be careful getting home.”
“Don’t worry, I think we’re all crashing at Steve’s. You be safe, as well, okay?”
I heard the pause on the other end of the line. “Hold on, you’re staying at Steve’s? As in, high school boyfriend Steve?”
I smiled. “As in, ancient history, nothing for you to worry about Steve.”
He grew quiet. “Ah. I see.”
“It’s no big deal. I promise.” I hoped he could hear how true it was.
“All right, well ... you’d better be dreaming of me while you’re sleeping, in three layers of clothing, in Steve’s house tonight.”
“I always dream of you.”
We said our goodbyes, and I rejoined my friends just as the Mayluna song ended.
I don’t remember much from the rest of that night, if I’m being honest. There was a lot of alcohol, and it was hours before we finally ended up back at Jim and Steve’s place after the bars closed.
But at some point, I called him again, and a woman answered his phone, full of innuendo.
“Carter’s phone, I’m sorry he’s busy right now.
” I don’t remember the details, only that I’d nearly thrown up when I’d heard her voice.
There had been some sort of scuffle for the phone, and when Carter got on the line, trying to explain, “It’s not what it sounds like,” I’d hung up on him midsentence.
The next day, I would learn more about that night and that of course I’d had absolutely nothing to worry about.
It truly had been an unfortunate mess of bad timing—my call coming in just as Alex had been making a bad choice with one of his new fans.
She’d snagged Carter’s phone when I’d called.
But at the time, from three thousand miles away, it hadn’t sounded that way. The night went hazy after that.
The next morning, the shrill jingling of my phone pierced through my head. The side of my face was stuck to the leather of the sofa I’d slept on at Jim and Steve’s place.
“Shut it the hell off. It won’t stop ringing,” I heard Kate whine from elsewhere in the room. I opened my eyes, and the floor spun. I had no idea where my phone was, but after a few minutes, it rang again, earning another chorus of moans.
Steve picked up my phone then, answering it. “Whoever you are, please, for the love of God, stop calling.” He’d been sleeping nearby and sounded groggy. “Dude, chill out,” he said into the phone. “She’s right here.” He struggled to reach the phone up to my face.
My head pounded as I dragged the phone to my ear. “Hello?” I croaked, trying to suppress a wave of nausea.
“Evie, where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you for hours.” The sound of Carter’s voice brought back the misery that had gotten me here.
“Hmm. Have you?” I couldn’t muster even a little sympathy, thinking of the woman who had seductively answered his phone.
“Evie, we have to talk. But first, you sound awful. Where are you? And who the hell answered your phone?”
“Always sooo protective. And funny question, I could ask you the same thing.”
“Nobody. Which should be obvious. Are you planning to hang up on me again?” I could hear the anger in his voice.
“I don’t know.” I sighed.
“Can we please talk about this? What the hell is going on?”
“She was right there. She had your phone. I don’t like this. I miss you.”
“You think I’m not wishing you were here too?” he snapped. “What the hell happened? Was that supposed to be some kind of payback, having some guy answer your phone while you sound like you’re about to throw up a bottle of tequila? Because that was really shit, Evie.”
“I don’t know. Maybe. It was just Steve, by the way.”
Silence. “You slept in his room?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Really?” His voice was icy.
“No. And by the way, it’s no picnic for me watching women throwing themselves at you every night.”
“I realize that. But it’s not exactly easy for me either. Trusting. We’re even in this, you know.”
I closed my eyes. “I know. I’m sorry.” I genuinely was.
“I love you, Ev. And this is going to get easier. We’ll get to be in one place. Together.”
“Okay. I love you too.”
“Listen, I’m so sorry, but I have to run. Do me a favor—drink some water, eat something, and take an aspirin. I’ll see you in a couple of days, okay?”
The conversation was over, but the sting remained for both of us. Drinking lost its appeal for me after that night; I won’t lie.
But he was right—it was supposed to get better. It did for a little while.