"Everett." I scold him.
"Please, Leo. For my sanity, just take it."
That stupid please gets me. "Fine but promise not to trace it unless it's an emergency. And I'm not using it unless I absolutely need to. Deal?"
"Fine."
"Whatever."
The both say at the same time.
After school, I tell Ev how I won’t be going to work for a couple days while things settle down. He insists on driving me home, and for a second, I consider it. But that means he could also come over at any time, unannounced and uninvited, and I fear too much what my mom might do or say. Ev is reckless in his love for me, with no consideration for his own safety or future. I can’t let him ruin it.
I have to protect him—and Ski—from her.
I tell Ev that I am fine, again. That she didn’t physically hurt me. I tell him about the trashed house and having to dip into my college fund, but honestly, I think I got off easy. It could have—and has been—worse.
Before we part, Ev invites me over for Christmas dinner with his family.
“Ev, I don’t think that’s a good idea. They know who my mom is, don’t they?”
“They don’t care, Leo. They just want me to be happy. And I am with you.”
He embraces me in a giant hug, his arms trapping my head against his chest. "Come on, pretty bird. I want you to meet them. They can be a little much, but they love me. They will love you. I know it."
His poor, naive heart. He has no idea the kind of bias people like his parents have toward my mom and, by extension, me. Especially since my skin doesn’t look like theirs. And I could totally be judging them prematurely, but I have seen the way his mother and father have looked at me around town. I hear the whispers. I may keep my head down, but I am not blind.
“I told them about you months ago. They know I’m happy and that you’re it for me. They want to meet you.”
I pull out of his embrace, "They do?"
"Yes. I promise, it will be fine. Okay, it might be a little awkward at first. I'm not going to lie, they were pretty set on Nat and I being together forever but I talked to them and they are coming around."
"Yeah, that does not make me feel better." I push him away and go to walk away. But he doesn't let me. He follows after me, catching my arm and spinning me. Grabbing my cheeks between his obnoxiously large hands, he squishes my cheeks and kisses my lips.
"Stop. I'll be there. You're not doing this alone. Okay?"
Good thing Gage has been showing me how to have a backbone. It may be time I need it.
“Okay.”
“Ihate when Everett is out of town. How many stupid galas and fancy events does one family need to attend?” I ask Gage as we walk the path to Mill’s. This is my first day back after taking a week away. I knew I needed to let things settle with my mom. She tends to forget a lot of things so I knew if I backed off from work and stayed home, it would all blow over.
“You are dating the mayor’s son. They are filthy rich and only get richer by doing stupid shit like this. Although if you ask me, there is something else going on with Mr. Rowan. No mayor of small-town Oregon is that wealthy.” Gage responds as he picks at his fingernails.
I take notice, looking closer and see that his fingernails are all torn up. “Why do you do that?” He looks at me and I motion toward his nails.
“Just a bad habit, I guess. I like to keep my hands busy.”
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Yeah. But that’s okay.” He continues picking, looking down at his hands. I want to reach out and stop him from hurting himself but I also know he isn't comfortable with being touched so I refrain.
“You are so strange.” I chuckle and we continue our walk.
Silence stretches on and I think about what Ev is doing now. I imagine him in a fancy tux and plastering on his beaming smile to appease his father and mother. I can’t wait till we are out of here and he doesn’t have to pretend to be happy. He can just be himself.
As I’m walking down the sidewalk, I notice a coin and lean down to pick it up but Gage stops me. “Wait. It’s tails up. Those are unlucky.”
