Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(57)

Well duh, Laney, how blind are you? Kaitlyn wants Evan. Holy shit, that’s it!

ALL. GOOD. STUFF. Really? FML.

There’s only one thing I can even fathom to do at this point. I call my Dad.

“Daddy,” I sob, breaking down the minute I hear his voice.

“Slugger? What’s wrong?” he asks, worry heavy in his voice. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“N-no, I’m not hurt.” I wipe my nose with my shirt sleeve, taking a deep breath.

“Laney Jo, you’re scaring me. What the hell’s the matter?” he barks.

He keeps asking me to stop, slow down, start over; I’m crying so hard he can’t understand a word I’m saying. I finally get it

out, the scholarship and Kaitlyn saga, and he’s just as shocked as I am. Maybe shocked isn’t the word for it, ‘killing mad and

close to an aneurysm’ is more accurate.

He says he’s going to make some calls and see what he can do, but I tell him not to do anything definite; making him swear he won

’t call her parents. We’re adults now and that’s how I want to deal with it. Not until he offers to try and fix it does it dawn

on me...maybe I don’t want to change it now. I like my coach here. I like the girls on my team alright. I like the friends I’ve

made here, I love Bennett, I like my classes, and I don’t want to see Kaitlyn every day and pretend we’re on the same “team.”

Even if he could fix it, which is doubtful, maybe I don’t want it fixed. So he’ll make some calls, but nothing for sure. Yeah,

that’ll work for now.

Then I tell him about Evan, in general, non-gory details. No sense in getting Evan killed to top off my problems. Dad loves Evan,

and of course he’d love nothing more than the two of us to be together, so neither do I even mention Dane’s name; just the

confusion of my feelings about being apart from Evan, the loneliness...poor Dad, he has absolutely no idea how to talk shop with me

and I didn’t give him a lot of practice. It still feels good to vent it, though, and he tries his best to keep up.

“Thanks, Daddy, I feel better, I guess. I love you.” “I love you, Slugger. You’re my little girl, always. If you need my help,

you have it; you know that, right?”

“I know,” I say, taking a calming breath. “I can handle it, Dad. I’m bound and determined to be an adult that makes you proud.

”

His forced chuckle is helpful. “You couldn’t make me anything but, honey. Don’t worry so much, ok? Just do what feels right,

Laney. That’s all you can do.”

“10-4, Daddy. I’ll be home soon, okay?”

“Sounds good, kiddo. I’m always happy to see you.” My dad rocks, there’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I adore that man and

no matter what else happens, ever, I got damn lucky there.

Next I call Evan, but it goes to voicemail. “Just want to make sure you made it back safe.” Pausing, I force down the frustration

in my voice. I’m so sick of getting his voicemail. “I guess we have a lot to talk about; call me when you can.” Hitting “end

call” carries a weight I can’t shrug off. I lay in my bed looking at the ceiling for long moments, fighting off the melancholy

trying to consume me.

I could call Kaitlyn and ask her why the f*ck she did this to me. I could call Zach to hang. I could call Bennett but I’m thinking

she must be at rehearsal. So I do exactly what I knew I was going to 10 minutes ago. I text Dane.

Laney: Hey, what r u up 2?

Dane: Nothing important. You?

Laney: Just woke up lol. Had quite a day yesterday, trying to recover.

Dane: Oh yeah, good or bad?

Laney: Bad. Very. But I don’t want 2 talk about that... Do you play the piano?

Dane: Um yes...random?

Laney: Random is good sometimes, right? Dane: It is. You okay?

Laney: Not really, at all. Wanna do random with me today?

Dane: I’ll be there soon.

I jump out of bed and run to the shower. I take extra care straightening my hair, applying light makeup and selecting my outfit. I

choose jeans and a black sleeveless top with black ankle boots that I dug out of Bennett’s closet. Basically, I dress unlike

myself for Random Day: Laney with a dash of Bennett. I can’t help that my heart flutters when I hear the knock on the door. When I

open it, all moisture leaves my mouth and heads elsewhere. Dane stands before me in dark washed jeans, a tight white t-shirt, black

boots and disheveled hair. He smells delicious, the light scent of cologne and freshness graces my senses from where he stands, and

that half-cocked smile he wears as he peruses me is almost more than I can take. Full frontal awareness hits me—I’ve gone from

never having a boyfriend to a full-on love triangle, head first.

“Well hello, Disney. You look like walking sin,” he says, sensuality dripping from every word. Make that a love hexapolyoctagon.

I’m screwed.

“Why thank you,” I say with my chin held high. “Trying something random. You ready?”

“I’m ready for anything. What do you have in mind?” he asks as I close and lock my door. I really hope Bennett remembered her