She pushes her chair with a screech. “Whatever,” she says, stomping toward the door.
I scrape back my own chair. “I should go.”
“No—” Everett starts, but I’m already on my feet. He sighs and gets up too. “I’ll walk you home.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I want to,” he interrupts, and so we head back to the trail.
We walk in silence again for a bit. He’s way too close for comfort. Or maybe it’s because his shoulders are so broad that his body can’t help but almost brush mine.
About halfway to the Shipley place, Everett gives me a sidelong look and says, “Here’s the thing, Gemini.”
“I don’t like that nickname.”
“Yeah, you do,” he says, and damn if he isn’t right. Idokind of like it. “Anyway, the thing is, I’ve lived in this town my entire life. I know everyone. Literally everyone, and that’s not an exaggeration. Do you realize how boring it is when you know everyone?” He lets out a dramatic groan before flashing me a playful grin. “I need new blood. I need you.”
I laugh. “So that’s all I am to you? New blood? Entertainment?”
“Nah. I’m joking. But you seem cool. Easy to talk to. I just want to get to know you.”
Reluctance lodges inside me. Letting him get to know me is the worst possible decision I could make.
But…maybe it couldn’t hurt to get to knowhima little better.
“I really like your dad,” I say.
He blinks at the sudden change of subject. “Yeah? He’s all right, I guess.”
“What about your mom? Are your parents divorced?”
His smile doesn’t exactly disappear, but the dimples do. “She died when I was a kid.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks, but it was a long time ago. Hasn’t been easy for my dad, raising us alone. I mean, you’ve met my sister.” He gives a dry laugh. “But we’re all good. You lost your mom too, huh?”
My throat constricts as I feed him the story Maggie concocted. “She died in a car accident.”
“Shit. That’s rough. I’m sorry too.”
There’s real emotion in his eyes as he voices that. He’s not the typical meathead, popular jock, like the ones I knew in Allentown. He seems so earnest, I can’t help but lean into him. Everett notices, his expression dancing with mischief.
“So what do I gotta do to convince you to go out with me? I could take my shirt off to sweeten the deal?”
My jaw drops. “Oh my God. Please don’t.”
He throws his head back and laughs, and I can’t fight a smile, because not only is this guy cute and down-to-earth, he’s also kind of funny. The total package. No wonder girls go mad for him.
I move even closer, licking my lips, and he moves in, too, tracking the gesture. He’s going to kiss me. My heart rate accelerates at the thought.
But then reality comes crashing in, causing me to take a hasty step back. I can’t do this. I can’t get too close to anyone in Starling.
I put on a casual tone. “So, uh, what are you going to do after graduation?”
He clears his throat, raking a hand through his hair again. I’m starting to realize he does that when he’s unsure of himself. “Uh, me? Alabama. Roll Tide.”
“Really?”
