The Way to Game the Walk of Shame(28)

I gave him a wink. “See you later, sweetie.”





9

-Evan-

Within days, we fell into a comfortable routine. I’d pick Taylor up for school, we’d go to class, we’d eat lunch together, and then I’d take her back to my place.

It was not as exciting as it sounds.

Like today, I was sprawled out on the couch as I battled aliens on my Xbox. Taylor sat in the kitchen working on her homework. I invited her to join me, but she declined. Without looking up from her report, she just asked me to promise to save her when there’s an alien invasion or a zombie apocalypse. Whichever came first. The girl could be pretty funny when she wanted to be.

Going to my house after school was my idea, and it was a damn good one, too. Especially since my neighbor was none other than Alesha Brant, head of the school’s gossip column. I’m pretty sure that’s how our hookup came out so quickly.

Any doubting Thomases about our relationship shut up the next day. I just had to take Taylor home by six thirty each day before my mom and Brandon came home.

Taylor did have one stipulation, though. Even though she’d been in my room before—obviously, since she woke up in my bed—she refused to go up there now. So we compromised—and by compromised, I mean, I was suckered into giving in—and I brought my Xbox down to plug into the living-room TV while she studied and did her homework in the kitchen.

I was seconds from taking down the mother ship when a car door slammed outside. It sounded like it came straight from my driveway. This wasn’t good.

A feeling of dread swept over me. I put the game on pause and leaned forward on the arm of the couch to peer outside. No, not good at all. Through the large front windows swathed in cream lace curtains on either side of the front door, I could see two shadowy figures walking up the pathway, arms full of groceries. “Damn it!”

Taylor appeared at the door. “What’s wrong?”

“My stepdad and mom are home.”

Her eyes widened in her pale face. She stood frozen in the living-room doorway. “But—but you said they never come home before seven on a weekday!”

I turned off my game reluctantly. I had been so close to finishing the level, too. “Well, obviously today is an exception. And we’re about to be screwed.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that my mom is the biggest gossip at the PTA meetings, and if you don’t haul your ass and get over here to cuddle with me, then our cover is blown!”

At my words, Taylor skidded over to the couch so fast that I half expected smoke to come out of her feet. Jingle. Jingle. The keys were unlocking the door. Thud. My arm dropped down around her small shoulders and pulled her close to my chest. She barely had time to curl her legs beneath her butt and drop her head on my shoulder when the door opened.

Realizing too late that we couldn’t pretend to be watching TV since it was off, I turned my head and pressed my lips against hers. Her eyes widened, and she stared up at me, but she didn’t move away. Even though I knew Mom was right there, I couldn’t help noticing how soft Taylor’s lips were. My fingers dug into the couch cushion, and I fought the urge to deepen the kiss.

“Honey, we’re home. I’m going to start dinner soon, so I hope you remembered to put the chicken out to defrost—oh!”

I pulled away just as Mom stopped in her tracks. Brandon stumbled into her back and had to juggle the bags in his arms. “Oh, hi, Mom. Yeah, sorry, I forgot to put the chicken out.”

Her voice grew a bit high-pitched. “That’s okay, I can see that you were … that you’re busy.”

Brandon brushed past her and headed toward the kitchen without saying anything. Being a typical ass as usual. I thought he would have at least pretended to be civil with Taylor here. I guess that was just too much to ask of His Royal Highness.

I took Taylor’s hand and pulled her to her feet before pushing her toward my mom. Her cheeks were still flushed from either embarrassment at meeting my mom or at being caught kissing me in front of my mom. “Mom, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Taylor. Taylor, this is my mom.”

“Hi.”

At the sound of her name, my mom’s eyes widened with interest. “Taylor? You mean, Taylor Simmons? Aren’t you the valedictorian?”

“Well, that hasn’t been decided yet. The school year’s still not over.”

Mom snapped her fingers. “Right, you’re still fighting with Brian Long for that position. But I heard that you’re applying to Columbia. Have you gotten the acceptance letter yet?”

Taylor’s eyes narrowed, but the polite smile on her face never wavered. “I’m hoping for it any day now.”

“And how are your parents? Didn’t your father graduate from Columbia, too?”

“They’re fine. And he did.” Taylor threw a panicked glance over her shoulder at me, and I just shrugged. I did warn her.

I don’t know how or where Mom got all her information, but she always knew more about the kids at school than I did. Not so great, since that means she also knew way too much about my dating history. Although I was surprised that she was just finding out now that I was “dating” Taylor. I would have thought that she would have found out within an hour of that first day. She must be slacking.

“Simmons?” Suddenly Brandon appeared out of thin air like a freakin’ jack-in-the-box. He hovered beside Mom. His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Taylor. “You mean Cole Simmons from Winchester & Hewitt?”