Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(29)

tonight.”

“Oh, where does he work?” Neither answer me before my cell phone dings and I race to it, elated. It’s not from Evan though,

rather Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn: Thought you’d get a kick out of your crazy boy

The picture that follows gives me a kick square in the gut. Why would she send this to me? She’s got to be drunk, thinking this

would be funny. It’s anything but. The sting moves throughout my body, starting at my toes and working up, tears threatening to

spill. My sweet, classy Evan appears to be taking a shot from between the smashed boobs of a well-endowed blonde. Her barely there

tank top is pulled down to “hold” his drink and his face is all up in that. His hands are braced on both her hips, just below the

edges of a skirt riding ridiculously high as she lies back on a table.

How thoughtful of my friend Kaitlyn to capture this moment for me. Gritting my teeth, I try to remind myself that Evan can do

whatever he wants; we’d discussed this at length. I have no right to be upset or jealous. The “spread your wings and fly” plan

was mine. I just never thought he’d fly so far so fast. And I didn’t think I’d have to see it.

Shaking my head as though that’s going to erase the image, I snap loudly at everyone. “Let’s play some trivia!” Turns out Dane

is a really good guitarist and has a broad range of musical knowledge. I don’t stump him via iPod and he doesn’t trip me up via

his strings. Bennett and Tate are barely even playing, and are either shameless, or have forgotten Dane and I are in the room.

Despite the brick in my gut and the many times I find my mind wandering back to the picture, I’m actually having a pretty good

time. Dane is great company, keeping me laughing and guessing. His talent and obvious passion for music is infectious, and his

competitive streak, matched only by mine, is hilarious.

“Okay, Maestro, let’s see if there’s a song you can’t play,” I tease him.

He waits calmly, no remark.

Think, Laney, a song where you feel the guitar... “How about ‘The Cave’ by Mumford and Sons?”

I think I’ve got him, but he jumps right into it. He plays flawlessly, even singing along. It’s amazing, beautiful, and I can’t

deny how it captivates me. He winks when he’s done and holds my eyes, waiting for me to speak.

“That was amazing, Dane.” I clear my throat to continue in more than a raspy whisper. “You’re very good, and I, sir, am

impressed. Let me guess, you’re in a band?”

“Nope, no band.” “And no college?” “No college.”

“So what do you do?”

He laughs softly. “Nothing important.”

“Bullshit, Dane, you—” Tate starts but Dane cuts him off fiercely.

“I answered her, bro.”

I don’t pry further and the night, which really was fun, soon comes to a close.





Chapter Sixteen


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NIGHTMARE

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EVAN

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When the team sets out to initiate the freshmen, they’re not playing around. Last night was so insane I barely remember most of

it. Looking around slowly, I shield my eyes from the light creeping through the blinds. It takes a minute to realize I’d actually

made it to my own room somehow.

Groggily sitting up, despite the cracked-out drummer in my head, I try to remember how I got home. After about the fourth or fifth

tequila shot via the chest of a Bulldog Babe, everything gets a little fuzzy. I’ve never been a big drinker, but when the

upperclassmen on your college football team summon you to an initiation party, you go. I just hope I didn’t make too big of a fool

of myself.

I amble up to go use the bathroom and stop cold.

No, no, no.....please say I’m still drunk and this isn’t happening.

Kaitlyn Michaels, Laney’s best friend, is standing just across the room in panties and my t-shirt. I look down at myself quickly,

only underwear. Oh f*cking hell, this has to be a nightmare. Why is she here? What happened? This couldn’t be worse. Laney will

never buy the drunk excuse or forgive me. I’m pretty sure screwing friends wasn’t part of our deal.

I swallow down the bile, slowly looking up, gagging again when I meet Kaitlyn’s too-bright smile. She looks way too f*cking happy

and my gut coils. I might really throw up if this shit doesn’t start making sense real quick. Did I sleep with Kaitlyn? Surely

not, you couldn’t get me that drunk, right?

She must see the question in my face because she clears her throat, beckoning my eyes to meet hers once again. “Relax, Evan,

nothing happened. I’m an old friend; I just made sure you got home safe.”

Trying to wake up, I shake my head. “Then why are we in our underwear? And why are you still here?”

“I wasn’t gonna sleep in tight party clothes and you took your own stuff off. And thank you, but I didn’t think you’d want me