Out of Breath (Breathing, #3)(108)

‘But you can’t expect her to open up and trust you with emotions and thoughts she’s probably never expressed before, and then not trust her in return.’

I hated it when Sara was right.

I about freaked when I saw Evan and Sara returning together. She knew he’d been in my room. I could tell when she shook her head at me as she climbed the steps to the deck. I sunk down in the chair, averting my eyes. I didn’t get a chance to ask Evan what they talked about before he, James and Jared left for Nate’s to help set up for another of their infamous parties.

When I returned from shopping with the girls, we spent the day on the beach. I threw on a pair of jeans and a tank top, along with my black Converse for the party. Sara scanned me up and down.

‘We just bought some amazing dresses today, and you’re wearing this? What am I going to do with you?’ she sighed.

‘Love me for who I am,’ I replied with a smirk.

‘I do,’ Serena chimed in.

‘Serena, don’t encourage her,’ Sara said. ‘Besides, your wardrobe consists of black … and black.’

I interceded. ‘I think Serena is very fashionable.’

‘So do I,’ Serena added defensively.

‘Okay, I apologize, Serena. You do know how to mix up your black. But I’m sorry, Em. You need an intervention.’

‘Did James take your car, Serena, or did they go in the Scout?’ Meg asked, avoiding any contribution to the attack on my fashion sense.

‘Whose car is that anyway?’ Serena asked. ‘It’s pretty cool.’

I hesitated, not wanting to answer her. Sara’s eyes tightened when I spent way too much time tying my shoes.

‘Emma Thomas, talk,’ she demanded impatiently.

‘It’s Evan’s,’ I muttered, slowly standing up.

‘I was wondering when we went to dinner last night,’ she said. ‘But why would Evan need a car in California?’

The fact that I was holding my breath said everything. ‘No way.’

‘What?’ Meg demanded, completely confused.

‘Yes!’ Serena practically leapt. ‘He’s staying!’

‘He’s what?’ Meg questioned, gawking at me.

‘Evan transferred to Stanford,’ Sara stated, still staring at me. I nodded tentatively, waiting for her to explode. ‘Of course he transferred to Stanford.’

‘Why did you say it like that?’ I questioned.

‘Because, it just makes sense,’ she said, nodding slowly. ‘The conversation my mother had with Vivian last summer, about whether she should’ve allowed him to go to Stanford when he wanted to. She also said that she wasn’t going to stand in his way this time, like he was going. But that was last year, so when he didn’t switch schools last fall, I didn’t think too much about it.’

‘So, he’s been planning to move here for a while now?’ Meg concluded.

‘It was his first choice,’ I explained.

‘So were you,’ Sara said, interrupting my breath. ‘Don’t look at me like that, Emma. I think he would’ve come out here sooner if his parents hadn’t basically locked him up.’

‘What are you talking about?’ I demanded.

‘They didn’t allow him access to his money,’ Sara explained. ‘He didn’t have a car on campus. They essentially put him under state arrest.’

‘They wouldn’t let him travel?’ I asked in shock, knowing how much that must have pissed him off. Evan travelled. That’s what he did, every opportunity he had. So to be confined to Connecticut must have felt like prison.

‘Not for a while, I guess. Not until last summer, from what my mother told me.’

Wow, I mouthed. I’d interfered with his life so much more than I’d intended.

‘Emma, you didn’t do that to him,’ she consoled. ‘That was his parents’ decision, okay? It’s not your fault, so stop thinking it is.’

I nodded, trying to release the winding guilt.

‘But he needs to be the one to tell you all of this –’ Sara sighed – ‘not me. He still should, even if you already know. If you decide you want to start over with him, he has to be honest too.’

My shoulders sank. ‘You’re right.’

She usually was.





33


The Pool Thing


THE STREET WAS ALREADY LINED WITH CARS when we reached Nate’s that afternoon. Our conversation about Evan had delayed our departure.

‘I love this already,’ Serena declared, shuffling through the crowd in the house to locate the source of the guitar riffs out back.

‘Hey, Emma!’ Ren yelled from the bar across the room.

‘Hey, Ren!’ I waved without stopping, trying to keep up with Serena.

We stepped onto the deck to discover girls in various state of dress surrounding the pool.

‘Wow, some of these girls have no shame,’ Meg surmised, scanning the oiled skin glistening in the sun.

‘I think they have confidence,’ Serena countered. ‘Why be ashamed?’

‘This coming from the girl with flawless alabaster skin,’ Meg teased.

‘Who isn’t afraid to walk through the house naked,’ I reminded Meg.