“What about somewhere else later then.”
I bite my lip, dragging my teeth across it. “My fiancé is coming in two days.”
“Not your fiancé, but wonderful. Are we throwing him a welcome party?”
“No we aren’t doing anything of the sort.”
He grins. “So, about later.”
“Not happening.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going out.”
His brows shoot up. “Oh?”
“Yes.”
“You?”
“Is that so hard to imagine?”
“Absolutely.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, I am. With Chastity and Sierra.”
He laughs. “My sister is taking you and Chastity out? Yikes.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I hope Chastity can hold her whiskey.”
I grin in spite of myself before I shake it from my face. “I can’t meet you later, Rowan. Not tonight, and not anymore.”
“We’ll see,” he says with a smug smile on his face.
“I’m serious.”
He steps closer. “Yeah?”
“Mhmm,” I whisper.
His hand slides over my hip.
I let him.
He pulls me closer to him, and I let him do that too.
Because I want him to. Because I want him.
What are you doing?
I pull away from him suddenly.
“I have to go,” I say quickly.
“Well maybe I’ll see you later.”
I shake my head, unable to form words as I turn and walk away, forcing my feet to move in front of each other.
“Trust your heart, my dear. And there you will find the moral way and God’s love.”
It should be great advice, except for one small detail.
I can’t trust my heart, apparently. Because my heart is doing everything in its power to lead me astray, and to lead me down the path of wickedness.
Chapter Twenty-One
Evangeline
“We shouldn’t be here.”
I roll my eyes as I turn back to Chastity.
“Chas, relax, it’s fine.”
“Fine?” she squeaks, glancing around at the rock posters plastering the dark walls of the venue. Two guys in tight black t-shirts and tight jeans walk past carrying beers, beers that splash as they jostle each other and laugh.
Chastity gasps, taking a step behind me.
“Chastity, honestly.”
“Eva!” she snaps. “This place is wicked.”
“It’s just a little less polished than church.”
Church, which Chastity is dressed for. An ankle length skirt, a blouse buttoned to the frilled collar, and a cardigan sweater to top it all off. I actually can’t knock the outfit too hard — I do own like four versions of it if we’re being honest.
“We should go.”
“It’s going to be fine!”
“I don’t even see Sierra.”
“Hey!”
Thank God.
I smile as she runs up. “Hi!”
“You guys made it!” Sierra’s in skinny jeans and a black leather jacket, looking as cool as I wish I could dress. I’ve got jeans, though mine don’t fit nearly as good as hers. And a long-sleeved shirt.
That’s me dressing up to go out, apparently — Mom jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.
Yikes.
I notice Chastity glaring at the beer in Sierra’s hand.
“Should we go in?” Sierra nods her head. “They’re going to start soon!”
“Yeah, sure! Let’s get a drink!”
Both of them look at me and I shrug. “What? We aren’t in church.”
Sierra laughs. “Right you are, c’mon.”
She tugs my hand, pulling me along.
“C’mon!” I say to Chastity dragging her along after us.
Five minutes later, we stand in the dark crowd, waiting in anticipation for Sierra’s friend’s band to start. The beer is cold in my hands, and Rowan’s right — it probably isn’t my drink. But I need something to make me look like less of a dork on a church retreat and more like the cool type who goes to rock concerts.
That and I was too intimidated to ask the tattooed guy behind the bar to make me a margarita with salt.
The band takes the stage as the crowd starts cheering. I can feel my heart pounding with excitement, as if I’m the one about to play for a crowd of strangers. But nevertheless, all my senses go on overdrive as I gleefully take in the room.
I’ve never been to a rock concert.
I’ve never been anywhere close to something like this.
The lights dim, a blue light fills the stage, and the electric guitar clangs across the small crowd. Chastity tightens her grip on my arm, and I turn — where I’m excited, she looks terrified.
The singer starts to sing, a good looking guy with long hair and a beard, and the crowd goes nuts as the rest of the band comes roaring in.