Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(46)

keep opening my mouth like a jealous, insecure idiot? One minute I’m screaming at him to walk away because he doesn’t even know

me, the next minute I’m asking him to explain himself.

I truly don’t like myself right now.

“I saw her outside the building and she walked up, shitfaced. Her friend lives in the building but didn’t answer her door. I’ve

never taken her to the studio, much like any other girl, and if you’re gonna keep saying it, you could at least enlighten me why

you think it.” He slides my sandwich over to me, staring at me like I have two heads. “No games, Laney, remember? Tell me what it

is you think you know.” His eyes and tone are glacial and I feel the chill.

“When Tate saw the picture you printed me, he smirked that you had taken me to the studio,” I say with venom. “I got the

impression it was a regular thing.” My head drops and I let my now-dry hair fall in front of my face. I want to hide from the

vulnerability that consumes me.

He dips his head to meet my eyes, pushing my hair behind my ear. “Look at me, lovely.” He tilts my quivering chin to him. “That

’s not what he meant, and I’m sorry you were made to feel bad. You’re the only girl I have ever taken to a personal photo shoot.

I know it’s important to girls to know this kind of thing, and yes, you’re the first and the only; it was special for you.” He

taps the end of my nose lightly with his index finger. “There, one problem solved. Now eat something.”

He takes a big bite of his own sandwich and turns to get us both a bottle of water out of the fridge. Sliding mine across to me, he

says, “I gotta tell ya though, Laney, for someone with a boyfriend, you sure like calling me out on my supposed female shit.”

OUCH. Memo to self, be ready to take it if you’re gonna dish it out with Dane.

He’s obviously assumed Evan is my boyfriend based on whatever it is he and Bennett have discussed behind my back, but I’ve had

enough humiliation tonight, so I’ll let him stew on that misconception a little longer.

“You’re absolutely right. It’s none of my business and I’m out of line. I just...I haven’t felt special since I got to

college, and you made me feel that way. It hurt to think it wasn’t, I’m sorry.” I was wrong before, this is what a fool feels

like.

“Doesn’t Evan do things to make you feel special?” His voice has softened.

“Oh, God yes, all the time. That’s probably why I miss it so bad.”

“And now he’s banging skanks? Big leap.” So he’d caught every word I’d ranted earlier and was going to call me out on them one

by one. Normally I’d kibosh this, but I’d put it all out there and I’ll be leaving soon anyway, never to see him again, so I

might as well get it off my chest.

“I don’t know what he’s doing. We haven’t talked in a while.” I get up to put my plate by the sink; I’ve had all I can

stomach. “I feel a lot better; can you take me back now?”

“Why don’t you stay here and relax? There’s plenty of room and I’ll get you back in the morning.” He waits for me to say

something, I guess, but I don’t. “You’re safe here, Disney.”

I’m back to Disney now, he must not be mad at me anymore.

“I don’t want to impose, really, I feel better. And I’m sorry, Dane, I really am pretty low maintenance most of the time,” I

sigh. “I just lost it.”

“I know, and you wouldn’t be imposing. It’s lonely in this huge house, Laney. Why do you think I’m at the dorms all the time?

Come on, I’ll give you a tour.” He comes over and takes my hand, pulling me to a new part of the mansion.

Right out of the kitchen is a large living room with a huge stone fireplace as the focal point. The furniture is beige leather, all

oversized, and the couch faces a wall completely taken up by the largest flat screen TV made, I’m sure of it.

“Well, remind me never to watch movies here.” I fake a scoff. “I mean, how would I see it on that teeny tiny thing?”

He gives me a smirk but doesn’t shoot back a retort.

The long hall holds several doors he doesn’t open and leads to an open foyer with marble flooring. There stands the largest

floating staircase I’ve ever seen, and to the left, a dining area hosting an enormous mahogany table with about twenty chairs. To

the right is a sunken den that houses a beautiful grand piano, which makes me wonder if Dane plays.

In the corner is a set of French doors that I’m sure lead to the backyard. While it’s all beautiful and immaculate, it feels

cold. Sterile. I didn’t see a single picture. There’re no worn out recliners where dads watch the game, no throws on the couch,

and no catch-all spot with papers and junk...it’s not a home; the word mausoleum comes to mind.

Dane leads us up the stairs and to the left to show me a full gym, like ‘please fill out this application for your membership’

full gym. There’s at least one of any piece of equipment you could name, most of which I can’t, and that’s saying something,