The Way to Game the Walk of Shame(35)
I poked at my faded navy tights and watched my parents garden through the kitchen window. Mom played with the watering can and pretended to shower Dad. He shook himself like a dog, making her squeal with laughter. Oreo darted around and barked at their antics.
Despite being married for eight years, they were still lovey-dovey like a couple of teenagers. Although I was reaching the end of my teenage years, and I’d never acted like that.
My gaze turned to my reflection in the shiny window. I gathered my hair into a ponytail and turned my head from side to side. The simple hairstyle emphasized my face, and not in a good way. It made my face look longer and narrower. My lips seemed to swell in comparison. And my dark hair looked plain and lifeless as it hung straight down. Why couldn’t my hair be a little curly or wavy, so it could have a natural bounce in it like—
Darn it. I was doing it again. I’d been subconsciously comparing myself to Lauren since Evan told me about their relationship. And the sinking pit in my stomach appeared every time I imagined them together.
“I’m not jealous. And I don’t like Evan,” I chanted out loud like a pledge. “This is just a business arrangement. No feelings or emotions are allowed. At all. It’s in the contract.”
Out of sight, out of mind. Today was my day off from the eyes and ears of everyone at school, and I was going to take advantage of this.
I chewed on the top of my pen and was deep in determining at what speed a 6-gram ball would hit the ground at a free fall off a 7-meter-high building, when a car door closed. My mind didn’t absorb any information other than the fact that the noise was outside.
The next few minutes were quiet again, so I didn’t think about it anymore. Until I saw my mom frantically waving for me to come outside while some guy talked next to her.
My eyes widened until they felt like they were going to fall out of my head. What was he—why was he—I shot out of my seat and was outside within seconds. I’d know those shoulders and spiky blond hair anywhere. But what the hell was Evan doing in my backyard, and why was he talking to my parents?
“Taylor, your friend Evan came by to visit. Isn’t that sweet?” Mom exclaimed when I skidded to a stop in front of them.
“Yeah, sweet.” I hoped my face wasn’t as strained as it felt. My cheeks were stiff rubber bands that were still brand-new from the bag. I reached up to push my bangs out of my eyes, only to realize that the sleeves of my baggy gray sweatshirt flopped over my hands. I shoved both sleeves up my arms. “What are you doing here?”
His smile was wide and natural, as though there was nothing weird about him suddenly showing up at my house and chatting up my parents. Kimmy was plastered by his side, beaming up at him like he was her very own Prince Charming. I could practically see the bubble hearts shooting out of her eyes. “I was in the neighborhood and figured we could hang out. It’s such a nice day that I assumed you’d be outside. Sorry if I’m intruding.”
Mom linked arms with him. “No, that’s fine. Taylor never has people over because she’s always studying. To be honest, I didn’t even know she had other friends besides Carly and Brian, although he never comes over. Even if Taylor wanted him to.”
“MOM!”
Her blue eyes were wide and innocent when she looked over at me. “What, honey? It’s true. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Oh yeah? Then why did my cheeks feel like they were about to melt with humiliation? She was killing me, one embarrassing comment at a time.
Before I could answer, she turned back to Evan, flipping her hair over her shoulder like an infatuated teenager. Flick. Swish. Between her and Kimmy, it was like the start of the Evan McKinley Fan Club. “Why don’t you and Taylor go inside? I think there’s still some freshly squeezed lemonade in the fridge.”
“Actually, I drank it all,” I admitted before she shot me a disapproving look.
“Well, there’s still some cola at least—”
“That’s okay.” Evan flashed his shiny smile that I knew cost Brandon a steep seven grand. His stepfather got the last laugh. Evan had told me the extractions hurt like hell, and he’d had to endure three years of braces. You wouldn’t be able to tell if you looked at him now, though. At least I didn’t. I just thought that he was one of those annoying naturally beautiful people.
“Actually, I wouldn’t mind helping you weed.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and tilted his head to the side. “If that’s okay with you.”
Okay, I had to be dreaming. Not only was Evan McKinley at my house, but he wanted to do yard work. Offering to be free manual labor.
Dad pounced on him. “Well, I’m sure as hell not going to say no to that.” He wrapped an arm around Evan’s shoulders. “You could finish up this patch right here. Want me to show you how it’s done?”
“That’d be great.”
Mom moved closer to me while they talked. “So how well do you two know each other?”
I pretended not to understand what she was asking. “Not that well. We’ve gone to school together for a while now but never had any classes together.”
Just then Oreo trotted over to Evan and rolled over to lie against his side. Still listening to my dad, Evan squatted down and scratched Oreo’s belly. His tail excitedly thumped against the grass.
She crossed her arms and gave me a knowing look. “Really? Because Oreo seems to disagree.”