The Way to Game the Walk of Shame(47)

“Well, yeah, but maybe we’re also too perfect together,” I said echoing Evan’s words. “Like evil-scientist kind of perfection.”

Brian laughed. “I don’t really know about that. Can things ever be too perfect? Sometimes perfect just means … perfect. Because that’s how it’s supposed to be. Because that’s how you know it would last.”

Goose bumps ran up and down my arms as he spoke. I shook my head. “Why does it feel like you’re getting all philosophical on me?”

“It’s just something I’ve been wondering about for a while now.”

Before I could respond, he leaned even closer to me, until his face was inches from mine. My breath got caught in my throat, and all I could do was stare at him. With a small grin, he suddenly pressed on the belt buckle to release it and tugged the strap away from my body so it would spring back into place. He didn’t move away, though. He just continued gazing at me.

There are certain moments that you’ve dreamed of and planned for your entire life.

I wouldn’t be lying if I said I’d thought hundreds of times of the moment Brian and I would share our first kiss. When we were in college hanging out. Him doing his journalism while I studied for law school. Hours would pass, and we’d suddenly get quiet and look at each other and just know.

This moment was eerily close to all of them. And with Brian living in New York with me, it seemed like something that was destined to happen.

I don’t know whether he moved or I did, but next thing I knew, the inches between us shrank down until they were barely one. I was unable to look at him anymore without getting cross-eyed, and my eyelids fluttered closed, despite my uncomfortable, churning stomach.

Tap. Tap. Tap. We both jumped apart when someone rapped on the passenger window.

It was Evan.

My heart slammed in my chest as I leaped out of the car. I stumbled on the grass but managed to catch myself in time. Or rather Evan did. He immediately let go of my arms and shoved his hands in his pockets. His expression was blank as he gazed down at me. The churning in my stomach multiplied, and I had to look away.

“Uh, hi, Evan.” The greeting came out as a high-pitched squeak. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Hi.” Great, now I sounded like a forty-year-old trucker who smoked. Was my throat always this dry?

Brian also got out of the car and slowly came around until he stood on my other side.

Evan glanced over at Brian for a second, and his forehead scrunched up like he was deep in thought. I felt like I should say something, but I didn’t know what.

Suddenly, within a blink of an eye, his face softened and a bright smile crossed his face. Even though it was so wide, it didn’t reach his eyes. They were still dark and stormy. “Fancy meeting you guys here.”

Brian shrugged. “Not really, since this is Taylor’s house. Have you been waiting long?”

“A bit.”

If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought Evan was jealous, but there was no logical reason for him to be. That would be crazy. Brian and I hadn’t done anything. And it wasn’t like Evan and I were in a real relationship. He even joked about Brian and me getting together a bunch of times.

Then why did I feel so guilty?

After what seemed like hours—although it was barely a minute—Evan took another few steps toward me until I was within arms’ distance. He didn’t touch me, though. “It was nice of you to drive her home, Brian.”

Brian took a few steps closer to me, too. “Of course I would. Taylor knows that she can count on me for anything. I’m always here when she needs me.”

“Yeah, you are the good guy.” Evan’s tone was so mocking that he made the word good sound like an insult.

“Well, someone’s gotta be.”

Evan’s eyes narrowed, but his smile never wavered. It was kind of creepy and amazing at the same time. “It’s great that Taylor has such a good friend like you around.”

My head whipped back and forth as they talked. “It really is. Why don’t we—”

“Yeah, you know what they say. Friends last a lifetime.” Brian cut in like I hadn’t even said anything. “And I’m going to be around for a while.”

“I’ll bet.”

They were both staring each other down over my head. In fact, I don’t even think they realized I was still between them anymore. It was like some sort of power struggle that I didn’t understand. And one that I had absolutely no desire to be a part of.

Thank god we were interrupted by loud barking. Oreo was a blur of black and white that shot toward us before skidding to a stop a few feet away. His pink tongue hung out of the side of his mouth, and his tail wagged back and forth like a windshield wiper.

Having already met my dog a few times whenever I brought him to the park, Brian squatted down and stretched out his hand toward Oreo. “Come here, boy.”

At the same time, Evan smacked his hand against the side of his jeans. “Come over here.”

Oreo’s head whipped back and forth between the two guys before he let out a whimper and just flopped on the grass. He curled up into a little ball, and his head turned to the side. And he refused to look at any of us anymore.

I kind of wanted to do the same.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved confrontation as much as the next lawyer—or would-be lawyer—but only when I got to be on one of the arguing sides. I used to be the captain of the debate team before everyone quit and the club was cut. (Despite what the majority of the student body thought, it was not my fault. If anything, it was everyone else’s fault for not coming to the daily meetings like I asked.)