Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1)(42)

6pm.





PERFECT.





It’s late that evening when Brooks drops me off at the front gates of the school. He offers to drive me to my dorm, but I assure him that his car would probably get eggs thrown at it, if he did. I promised him that my ride would be there soon to pick me up, and he agreed.

Brooks didn’t kiss me. And I’m not sure if I’m disappointed or not.

I like him.

A lot.

But I’m not sure I’m ready for my first kiss, yet. I want the moment to be perfect. And for some reason, the thought of kissing him in his car at the front gates of my school just doesn’t sound romantic.

I decide that I definitely am glad he didn’t kiss me.

Unless he changed his mind and doesn’t like me.

I hope that’s not it.

But, as I get into the back seat of Uncle Matty’s car, I get a text that alleviates any doubt.





BROOKS: I had fun, and I really, really like you.

BROOKS: Also, I want to kiss you. But not until the perfect time :) I don’t want to rush things with you. You deserve to be completely swept off your feet.





I smile, putting my phone on the bench seat beside me for a second before responding.

Brooks Remington is...

PERFECT.





7pm.


Does he know?





When I get back to my room, I am fully prepared to tell Teagan every single detail about my date with Brooks, but instead I find Emma crying on her bed.

But not even the Emma and Bryce drama can ruin my good mood.

Instead of listening to her cry, I sneak into the stairwell and call Charlie. I miss him like crazy and I need to tell somebody about my date.

“Hey, Phoenix,” Charlie answers.

“Hey. I miss you.”

“Miss you, too,” he says. “You should be glad you weren’t here last night. I didn’t think Holly and Frank would ever leave.”

“I’m surprised they did leave. They usually stay over all night when they come,” I say. “And shouldn’t you call them grandma and grandpa?”

I’m totally teasing.

They are his biological grandparents, but since they are ridiculously rude to me and my mom, he refuses to call them anything other than their first name. It drives them crazy, of course, and they blame me for his rebellious behavior. Still, I love that he protests the way they treat me. He’s the best brother ever.

“Hey, just because you’re gone doesn’t mean I’m not still sticking up for you,” he says. “You know I got your back.”

“Thanks,” I say. “By the way, I totally had my first date today.”

“Wow. I knew I should’ve insisted on going to school with you,” Charlie says. “I need to approve of this boy.”

“Uh, don’t worry. I had two secret service agents following us around all day. It sucked so bad,” I say.

“Ha, that’s great,” he says, chuckling.

“If I was there, I would punch you.”

“Sorry,” he says. “Which guy did you go with? The guy from East or West Raven?”

“West. I went out with Brooks,” I say.

“And was it as magnetic and magical as it was when you first met?” he asks.

“Actually, yes,” I answer.

“Did you get your first kiss?”

“Do other brothers ask their sister if they kissed their date?” I ask.

“Who cares what other siblings do?” he asks. “Now, tell me.”

I laugh. “Um, no. No kiss. And I was glad he didn’t. But I also freaked out, thinking maybe he didn’t like me. But then he texted me, like, two minutes after he dropped me off and told me that he really, really likes me and that he wants to kiss me at the perfect time. He said he doesn’t want to rush things with me and that I am worth the wait.”

“Wow,” Charlie says. “This guy sounds like a sap.”

“You’d think so, right? But apparently all the girls in my school have a huge crush on him,” I say. “He’s super-hot. But he doesn’t give girls the time of day usually.”

“Until you?”

“Until me,” I say. “I mean, we didn’t exactly talk about his past relationships or anything. It was only our first date.”

“What does the guy with the weird name think of that?” Charlie asks.

I know immediately he’s referring to Estaine.

“Estaine doesn’t know,” I answer. “I would tell him, but he and Brooks hate each other. I don’t know why, but I think it goes back to before freshman year. I mean, they have houses next door to each other in The Hamptons.”

“So, The Hamptons really is a thing,” he says.

“Yeah, I guess it is. Brooks and Estaine both invited me for Labor Day Weekend.”

“And what are you going to do?” Charlie asks.

“I don’t know. If Uncle Matty and Jake let me go, then I guess I’ll split my time between the two houses,” I answer. “Just because I’m dating Brooks doesn’t mean I can’t still be friends with Estaine.”