His Reverie (Reverie #1)(9)

But I can hope she’s doing it because of me.

“Thanks for your help, Rev,” Michael says as we’re walking out the back door. We left the hand trucks in the study since we’ll be coming back in a day or two to retrieve the boxes. I feel sort of lost without it, like I need something to hold onto, or I should be doing something with Reverie standing so close to me.

I feel edgy. My hands are tingling, like they want to reach out on their own and touch her.

“You’re welcome,” she says cheerily before her gaze settles on me and her expression goes somber. “Nice meeting you Nicholas.”

Michael frowns. He introduced me as Nick. “Likewise,” I tell her and her eyes narrow.

She didn’t like my one word response. But what am I supposed to do? Fall at her feet and tell her I think she’s hot? It would be the truth but I can’t react in front of Michael. No way.

A brand new BMW pulls into the driveway, its engine purring as it comes to a stop right in front of the open garage. The driver cuts the engine and a young guy gets out, his expression impatient. He looks about my age, tall with light brown hair but I don’t recognize him. He props one arm on top of the car, shoving his glasses up and off his eyes to the top of his head with the other. “Come on, Rev. You ready to go?”

“You’re early,” she says, her gaze skittering to mine quick before it darts away.

Who the hell is this guy? He’s wearing a white Polo shirt and khaki shorts, an expensive looking watch on his wrist, looking every inch the perfect preppy rich boy. I can’t f**king compete with that. “Well, it’s now or never, sweetheart. You coming or what?” he asks, sounding impatient.

She rolls her eyes and doesn’t bother to grab a purse, a cell phone, nothing. Just walks over to the car, throws open the passenger side door and slides inside, pulling the door shut behind her. Her arms are crossed in front of her chest and she keeps her head bent.

Like she doesn’t want to look at me.

Preppy boy shakes his head, offers Michael and me a quick salute and then jumps back in the car. He starts the engine and throws it into reverse, then drives away in a big ass hurry, kicking up dust from the gravel driveway.

“What a jackass,” Michael mutters.

“Who was that?”

“Evan.”

I don’t know who Evan is but Michael says it like I should. “Evan…”

“Hale. Rev’s big brother.” Michael turns to look at me. I hope the epic relief I feel isn’t written all over my face. “Why did she call you Nicholas anyway? That was weird.”

I shrug, immediately defensive. “I don’t know.”

But I do. I know why I call her Daydream too. I hate how indifferent I treated her but she can’t act so familiar with me in front of Michael. No way would I ever tell him I met her and flirted with her a few days ago. Alone.

No way.

5

Dear Diary,

(June 27th, 9:56 p.m.) I don’t understand boys. I was so excited to see Nicholas standing at the door with Michael today. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. He looked surprised to see me too but when I said hi to him, he barely reacted. He hardly talked the entire time he was in the house with me and he even pretended that he’d never seen me before.

I didn’t like that. But I guess it makes sense if he didn’t want Michael to know that we’d talked once already. I don’t think Michael would say anything or even care. He’s never paid attention to me and this is his third summer working at the house so why would he now?

Nicholas did call me Daydream and that was sweet. He said I looked good when I know I looked lame. I’d just gotten out of the shower and was waiting for Evan to show up. I didn’t even do my hair, just threw it in a ponytail because I was feeling rushed.

I hate that I can’t look pretty for him like other girls can. I want to wear makeup and stylish clothes like what I see in magazines. I talked to Mama about it last night. I told her I was almost seventeen so why couldn’t I at least wear mascara and lipstick or something but she said no. Blinked her thick with mascara eyelashes at me and told me I was to remain pure. I’m just a young girl. I don’t need any makeup or sexy clothes to make me look like something I’m not.

I didn’t protest. What could I say? I’ll be seventeen in three weeks and a senior in high school but that doesn’t matter to my parents. I’m still a child in their eyes. I still have an image to uphold as a Hale. At least he doesn’t parade Evan and me around on his television show anymore. The best thing that ever happened was when Evan put his foot down almost two years ago and said we weren’t Daddy’s pets to show off for his followers. I still remember how Mama cried. How Daddy and Evan fought.

But Evan won. And his win was a victory for me too. We were taken off the show. Daddy mentions us casually here and there, mostly to say he’s proud of us. That’s it though.

The second Evan didn’t have to deal with the show anymore he changed. I follow the rules but he doesn’t. He drives the fancy car that costs almost as much as a house. He wears a Rolex. Designer clothes. Daddy lets him do whatever he wants but he won’t let me.

It’s so unfair. Evan’s the boy that’s why he doesn’t get in trouble. I’m the girl. I have something to offer, Mama has told me more than once. I’m sweet and innocent and I need to remain that way.