Page 106 of Striking Range

I will never get enough of it. There will never come a day when I look across the table and wish to see another face.

“What are you thinking about so seriously?” Everett asks, raising a brow.

“Oh, nothing. I’m just reminiscing about that time you slipped on your dirty laundry and blooded your nose.”

He groans, rolling his eyes at me. “You’re so mean.”

I am, and Everett doesn’t realize the depth to which it saturates inside of me.

Soon enough, Jenny brings our food to the table, and our conversation is cut short. She places a basket of chicken strips and fries before me as her eyes catch where Everett has intertwined our hands over the tabletop.

“What is…” She pauses, flickering her curious gaze between the two of us. “Oh! And this whole time I thought you two were best friends!”

She laughs, laying a hand over her heart.

“What do you mean?” Everett asks, clearly oblivious to what she’s seeing as he stares at his food hungrily.

“I just wasn’t aware that you two were dating! It’s so nice to see young couples these days.”

Everett freezes, his hand gripping mine so fiercely that I can feel his pulse. I think his idea that being far away from Rockhill means we’re free to be as we are is starting to fall apart right before his very eyes.

“Thanks, Jenny,” I cut in. “We aren’t really screaming it to all the citizens of Sinclair quite yet, though.”

She nods quickly, bringing her fingers to her lips to mime that her mouth is sealed. “Oh, yes! Of course! I won’t tell a soul.”

With a wink, she disappears once more, and Everett’s grip on my poor fingers loosens.

“Thank you,” he breathes out, releasing me completely so that he can eat.

“No big deal,” I murmur.

We eat in silence for a while, our shoes bumping underneath the table. The calm chatter of the diner is creating a nice atmosphere as I steal glances at Everett existing before me.

This is nice. It’s exactly the same as every other time we’ve sat in this very booth, and it’s nice.

As Everett cleans his plate, he clears his throat, suddenly leveling me with a hesitant expression. “So, I wanted to talk to you about… Well, about my plan.”

Oh. I was not expecting this to be on our date itinerary.

“I’m pretty sure you won’t want to hear most of my opinions on the matter,” I respond bluntly, shoving another fry into my mouth.

Some of the ketchup drips onto the basket in front of me.

“I’m not asking for your opinion on the actual plan, as much as the after,” he explains. “I want to make sure, before the time comes, that you will do it.”

I stop midbite, asking, “Do what?”

“That you’ll come with me. That we can run away together.”

All of the chatter, the clanking of silverware, the shouting of the cook, are suddenly sucked out of the diner. It is just Evie and I, stuck in this silent moment.

I hadn’t truly considered my response before now. Sure, I pondered what I should do, but not what I would say if he asked. And now he’s asking, looking at me with those sweet, honey eyes, and I’m frozen.

“Um… I….” My voice trails off, my eyes falling to the bit of food I have left.

“I know it’s sudden,” he rushes out. “But I think we could find a nice place and live there, you know?”

“I have to take my RN exam after I graduate, Evie.” The words leave me in a soft, scared whisper.