"Will you come over tonight?" he asked in return. "There's something you should know, and I want to explain it when we're alone." I stopped breathing again. His tone was too serious for it to be anything good.
I nodded slightly, my chest burning in a storm of panic.
Evan pulled into a parking spot and glanced at me, then did a double take. I knew the panic was evident―I wasn't even trying to hide it. "Em, I'm sorry," he consoled. "That sounded much worse than I meant it to. You don't have to worry, I swear."
I nodded.
He met me on my side of the car and pulled me toward him. "I love you," he said softly, his blue eyes filled with sincerity. "Know that before you spend the whole day freaking out. Okay?"
"Okay," I whispered.
Before he could lean down to kiss me, I heard, "And that's Evan and Emma, one of Weslyn High's power couples. Evan's gorge' but don't even bother looking―he won't see you."
I poked my head around Evan, astounded. Jill walked by with a petite blonde with big doe brown eyes and pouty red lips. The girl's eyes darted away when they connected with mine, realizing I'd overheard them.
Evan took my hand and turned toward them shaking his head in amusement. When he spotted the new girl, he offered warmly, "Hi, Analise."
She quickly replied, "Hi, Evan," with an abashed smile, her cheeks turning rosy.
Jill dragged her off quickly, most likely to get the inside story on how they knew each other.
"How do you know the new girl?" Sara asked from behind us. I turned quickly, unaware of her approach.
"Good morning, Sara," I greeted.
"Good morning," she acknowledged before turning toward Evan and demanding, "So?"
"My mother hired Analise's mom to work for her new consulting firm," he explained. "They moved here from New York."
"I'm sure my parents will be taking hers out for dinner soon enough to welcome them to Weslyn," Sara sighed.
"It's just her mom," Evan noted. "I think we're supposed to have them over for dinner on Friday. In fact, I'm pretty certain your parents are coming too."
"That's not surprising," Sara returned with a roll of her eyes. "Is she a junior?"
"I think so."
As we walked by her and Jill in the hallway, I took a closer look at the new transfer who was receiving so much attention. She was very pretty in a pure and innocent sort of way. Her fair skin made her red lips and blushed cheeks that much more pronounced, reminiscent of a porcelain doll. Her blond hair tossed in waves, barely touching her shoulders; she nervously twisted a strand around her finger. She seemed shy, barely able to make eye contact with anyone, but she'd certainly found the best person to tell her the ins and outs of the social hierarchy at Weslyn High.
And for no reason I could explain, other than pure territorial insecurity, I didn't want to picture her having dinner at the Mathews' dining room table. I was ashamed of myself for even thinking it, but the guilt didn't make me change my mind.
"My mother's hoping you'll come over for dinner tonight," I told Evan before he departed for his locker.
"Are you feeling okay, Evan?" Sara asked, interrupting us. "You look tired."
"I'm trying to get over something," Evan admitted. I was instantly struck by his meaning, wanting to know more than ever what he was planning to tell me.
Then he responded to my invitation with, "Sure. We'll go to your house after practice." He kissed my cheek and walked away.
"And you seriously need to start wearing concealer." Sara shook her head as she looked me over. "You could probably count the number of times you've slept through the night on one hand, and it's doing a number on the circles under your eyes."
"Thanks, Sara," I huffed, stopping in front of our lockers. "It doesn't help that I live in the creepiest house in Weslyn. And as much as your black wall looks chic during the day, at night I swear it breathes."
"Maybe you should try the medication your doctor prescribed," Sara advised. When I didn't respond, she changed the subject. "How's Rachel? Or better yet, how's Jonathan?"
I smirked sardonically at the eagerness in her voice. "Fine. Although she did see your textbook last night and was ready to give me step by step instructions before Jonathan walked in and overheard. I wanted to die."
Sara laughed. "Did you read it?"
"No!" I shot back quickly, making her laugh harder. "I don't think I'm going to. You can have it back."