Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(75)

a must.

I refuse to leave in my pajamas and Zach doesn’t know how late he’ll be, so the group text declares our room the meeting spot.

Avery drew the “bring dinner” card tonight but I know Sawyer or Zach will see to it that the replacement cash finds its way to

her. Bennett and I have a bit to catch up on before anyone else shows up and I’m grateful; we’ve been spread too thin lately for

a good heart to heart.

She’s excited for her big production and its approaching opening night. They’re doing A Streetcar Named Desire and the truly

fabulous Bennett has been cast as Blanche Dubois. I now understand why there are pictures of Vivian Leigh pinned around the room

and bathroom. She’ll be great, I know it, Bennett is a flash of secure individuality in any room. It makes me very happy to hear

the elation in her voice and see the flush in her cheeks as she then sings Tate’s praises; he supports her, reads lines with her,

even read the play himself so he’d be able to discuss it intelligibly. That last part really does impress me; if it’s not your

thing, reading a play can be torture.

Speak of the hero...Tate and Sawyer walk in, sans knock, which no longer aggravates me, bearing beer and smiles.

“Ah, Gidget’s home!!” Sawyer lifts me and twirls me in a giant hug; with his big old self, you’re risking a rib fracture every

time.

Gidget—I have got to find time to watch that movie so I know what the hell he’s talking about. Bennett talked them all into

watching a classic one night without me, and Sawyer hee-hawed the whole movie about how much I remind him of “the sweet lil blonde

coming of age.”

“Hey, Sawyer, I missed you, too.” I giggle, giddy with the realization that I did miss him. “Hey, Tate, how are you?” I

volunteer a hug for him as well.

“I’m good, we all missed you.” I see right then what has Bennett so enamored. His kind eyes, his reflective smile...it reminds

me of his brother.

“Thanks, Tate, you too,” I simper as Kirby pops her head inside the door.

“Knock knock.” She peeks inside shyly. I usher her in, Avery right behind her. They’re both in red, which makes it even harder

to tell them apart. I try not to gape as Sawyer moves to them and literally welcomes them at the same time, touching them both in

some way. Man, I’m feeling unsure about my bet, I can’t tell with any certainty at this point which one he prefers. And when Zach

finally shows up and glides the threesome comfortably into a foursome, I’m even more puzzled.

I steal a glance at Bennett, who just shrugs at me and grins. Oh yeah, definitely gonna have to form an alliance with her for an

impromptu game of Truth or Dare or something—the truth shall set us free! The suspense is killing me! Those are lucky twins,

though; you can’t make a wrong choice between Sawyer Beckett and Zach Reece.

We all fall into an amicable rhythm, grabbing our pizza and drinks, vying for a seat in the cramped space. Avery graces Sawyer’s

lap, but he entwines his leg with Kirby’s, who’s sitting beside him...killing me!

Zach comes and sits by me, seemingly unfazed by the show, and tells me how he missed me. “How’d your talk go?” he whispers.

“Confusing and nothing got resolved, but at least I told him.” I shrug.

“What’d he say?”

“That he forgives me, he’d fix it, and not to worry. I honestly left more confused than when I got there. He didn’t ask me back

and he didn’t ask me to stay away from Dane. I have no idea.” I give him a questioning look. “You got any other ideas?”

He kisses the top of my head. “That’s all you can do, Laney. It’ll all pan out, you’ll see.” I so hope he’s right.

“Laney, where’s Dane?” Kirby asks.

Good question, I was wondering the same thing. “He should be here any minute,” Tate offers. “Maybe he thought we were in our

room. He’ll figure it out,” Sawyer answers with his mouth full of pizza.

“I’ll go look for him.” I stand to navigate my way through everyone’s legs.

I hear him before I see him, his voice lowered and heated. As I get to the end of the hall I start to feel sick, I can make out

enough to know who’s around the corner with him. When he jerks his head and meets my eyes, I don’t venture to guess what he sees

in them because even I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. Quickly assessing, I’ve interrupted a serious, concealed

conversation between him and Whitley. I flick my eyes to her and the snarky brow lift she gives me shoots fire all through me.

Taking in Dane’s expression, I can actually read his mind...“Oh f*ck” is exactly what he just thought.

I find my voice. “We thought maybe you went to the wrong room. I was just coming to look for you, sorry.” I’m not going to cry,

not even a hint of tears building. I’m not going to punch either one of them, my anger surprisingly restrained. I think of Evan’s

soft goodbye kiss, a direct violation of my breathy promise to Dane, and decide to simply turn and walk back to my room.

“You not find him?” Tate asks as I step inside.