The Way to Game the Walk of Shame(19)

Of course it was reasonable request. For her. If I agreed to this, I’d be living in my own personal hell for the next few weeks. She was crazy if she expected me to live like a monk. I dropped the papers on the tabletop, not even bothering to catch them as they fluttered off the edge. “And what happens in the end? When people stop gossiping about us and our reputations are restored?”

“Then we’ll break up. Tell people that we decided we were too different and an amicable separation was the best result for everyone,” she recited as though this were a divorce-court show. She handed me her pen as though that should have been enough assurance.

Amicable breakup? That would be a first. I’d had tons of breakups in my life, and none of them were ever amicable. The most civil one was when I had a glass thrown at me in her parents’ hot tub. Although I really should have gotten dressed before I mentioned seeing other people. She almost cut things that would have really hurt.

I uncapped and recapped the pen to make her squirm. “Hmm.”

“Hmm?” Her eyebrows rose, making her face look elongated. “What does hmm mean?”

“It means I’ll have to think about it first.”

“You—” she spun around on her feet. Her jaw dropped so far, I could see the molars in the back of her mouth. “What is there to think about, and how long is that going to take?”

I struggled to keep the stupid grin off my face and stood up. She’d probably flip out if she saw how amused I was. But I couldn’t take her seriously. She had to be kidding, right? A contract? “I don’t know. I mean, you’re talking about taking me off the market for god knows how long?” I shook my head with an exaggerated frown and handed her the pen. “That’s a pretty big decision.”

“But—”

“But I’ll let you know when I do decide.” On an impulse, I leaned down and kissed her forehead. Right where the vein was pulsing like crazy. “Don’t worry, I don’t think it’ll take too long.”





6

-Evan-

I made her wait three days. Like Jesus did before coming back to life. Well, barely three days. She gave me the contract Tuesday morning and started tracking me down by Thursday afternoon. And by tracking me down, I mean stalking me like a bounty hunter.

On the third day, I was late—as usual—so I didn’t expect to see her until lunch. Five minutes after I parked the car and got to my locker, Taylor popped up like the Ghost of Christmas Past.

“Did you decide yet?”

My hand pulled off the lock but didn’t open the locker. I peered around the halls suspiciously before looking back at her. Dark bags were under her eyes, matching her dark eyes and scowl. “Do you have a surveillance camera on me or something? How did you know I was here?”

Her nails scraped against the strap of her bag, and she looked down at her feet. “I didn’t. I was on my way to the office and happened to see you.”

“Sure you did.” I grinned at her frown and opened my locker. A few folded papers fell out, all covered with neat, girly handwriting and exclamation points. “I see you had a pretty busy morning.”

Blinking rapidly, Taylor snatched the papers from my hand and shoved them deep in her bag. “Momentary lapse of judgment. You weren’t responding to my texts, so I figured I’d have to get your attention somehow.”

“Mission accomplished.” I watched her rock back and forth on her heels. How did anyone ever think she was an ice queen? The girl was like a whirlwind of emotions. On steroids. “Look, I know you’re anxious, but I’m pretty sure this could count as harassment. Do you need me to put a restraining order on you or something?”

I meant it as a joke, but her gaze fell down to her feet. She looked vulnerable as hell. “God, you’re right. What the heck is wrong with me? It’s so stupid. This whole thing is. Just—just forget it.”

My grin faded. I poked her shoulder. “Look, I didn’t—I mean, it is pretty stupid, but it’s, uh…” I didn’t know what I was trying to say. I just didn’t want her to burst out crying or something. I hated it when girls cried.

Eyes still downcast, she bit her lower lip like a little kid who was just told she’d never get dessert again. “Maybe I should just go.”

I grabbed her arm before she could walk away. “I didn’t mean—”

A group of girls passed us, and I automatically raised my other hand to wave. A couple of them gave me a half smile before turning to Taylor. Their smiles widened, but this time they were obviously fake.

“Do you think you’ll be able to make the Honor Society meeting this weekend, Taylor?” a petite Asian girl asked, blinking innocently. “I know how busy you are these days, and I’d be glad to monitor the meeting for you instead.”

Taylor swallowed and straightened her shoulders. Her chin rose so it seemed like she was looking down at the other girls, even though most of them were her height. “I’ll be there, but thanks for asking, Lin. Maybe if you paid more attention to your classes instead of my social life, then you could have been the president of the club instead of just a secretary.” Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Taylor turned away like she was dismissing them.

Lin gaped at her back for a few seconds before stomping away with her friends.