The Way to Game the Walk of Shame(50)

“No, I didn’t.” Man, Mom really knew how to kick me when I was already feeling like crap. She didn’t mean to, but all this just reminded me even more that even if I was starting to like Taylor—and I’m not saying that I was—I didn’t deserve her. She should be with someone like Brian, the Golden Boy. Not the town’s slacker.

I don’t know if the expression on my face changed or she suddenly realized what she’d said, but Mom leaned across the counter and patted my arm. “But other than that, he’s not very impressive. And none of that matters, right? Like I said, she chose you. You’re the one that she likes.”

“Yeah. Right.”

She was wrong. Taylor didn’t have a choice. Not then and not now. But maybe it was time that I gave her the chance to make things right again. To give her back her choice.





16

{Taylor}


Throughout the rest of the week, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with Evan. He skipped school more, and I could have sworn he was avoiding me. When we did see each other, he was still his laughing, joking self, but I just knew that something was wrong. And I was determined to help. Somehow.

But first I had to find him. And since Evan wasn’t in school again, I had to settle for the next best thing.

Aaron’s eyes widened when he saw me waiting by his locker, and his steps faltered. Despite being a huge football player, he always looked like a deer stuck in headlights when I talked to him. I was always nice to him, but I don’t think he forgot that one time I was pissed at Evan after our one-night stand. (There was no other way to refer to that night.) Not exactly my best moment.

“Hi, Aaron. How was class?”

He sneaked glances at me as he twirled the combination on his locker. “It was all right, I guess. What’s up?”

“I was just wondering … do you know where Evan is? He’s not picking up his phone.” I fiddled with the coin necklace that Evan had given me while I waited for his answer.

Aaron shook his head. “No. I thought if anyone knew where he was, it’d be you.”

“I don’t. Do you know if he has any plans later tonight, then?”

With a small frown, he leaned against the locker next to his and chewed on his thumbnail. “There’s a party at Wrightsville Beach tonight. I’m pretty sure Evan’s going to be there. In fact, now that I think about it, he’s probably there now. He cuts school sometimes to go there during the day. That’s his favorite place to surf.”

“It is?”

“Yeah.” He gave me a funny look, and I almost smacked my forehead for slipping. That was probably something that a good girlfriend should know. “Do you know where it is?”

“I think so. I passed it before when I went to Carolina Beach with Brian.” Another funny look. Darn it. A good girlfriend probably didn’t talk about their dates with other guys so casually. Even though it wasn’t really a date. “Carly was with us, too.”

Aaron shoved a couple of books into his locker and slammed it closed. He turned to face me again, tugging on his left earlobe with his hand. “I can drive you to the party if you want a ride,” he offered to the locker over my head.

I struggled not to laugh. Even though he still looked a little skittish, I wanted to give him a huge hug. He could barely talk to me for a few minutes, yet he was offering to drive me to a party. The ride would be too torturous for us both. “No, that’s all right. Thanks, though.”

“No problem.” He turned to leave, but tilted his head around to nod at me. “See you at the party.”

“Bye.” A smile crossed my face when he disappeared from sight. Aaron really was a sweetheart. He was too awesome not to have a girlfriend. I would hook him up with Carly, but I’m pretty sure she’d eat him alive.

Speaking of the man-eater. I dug my phone out of my pocket and speed-dialed Carly’s number. “Hey, Carly, do you mind if I borrow your car tonight?”

*

I realized too late that I could have just waited for him at his house. It wasn’t like he was never going to come home. And it was probably a bad idea to come to the beach party. Especially with all the laughing drunk people roaming around the large bonfire. I wished Carly were here with me, but she was being dragged to some career seminar with her mom.

Five minutes later, I was sure it was a bad idea. Stupid, stupid idea. I wove my way through the crowd, trying to avoid getting stepped on or having a drink tossed in my face, when someone pulled me back from behind.

“Taylor! You’re here!”

“Er, hi.” I saw a glimpse of Aaron’s face before he swept me into a tight bear hug, like we hadn’t seen each other for years instead of just a few hours. My feet dangled over the sand for a few moments as I struggled to breathe. I patted his shoulder to get his attention. “Where’s Evan?”

“Evan? He’s drinking somewhere over there.” His hand waved around the entire party.

Great. That was really helpful. “Somewhere over there” covered about a hundred or so teenagers drinking and shimmying down each other’s bodies to the music. Even though I was their age—younger, since I’d skipped a grade—I felt as out of place as a hippo at a Sunday tea party.

I tried to slip away, but Aaron was too fast and tugged me right back. He pulled me into a tight embrace as though we were dancing. My head was smooshed against his neck, and the alcoholic fumes hit me in the face when I tried to pull away. Urgh. He was stinking, fall-on-your-back, stick-your-head-in-the-toilet drunk. As further proof, his red-rimmed eyes squinted down at me. “Let’s go find him, Tay!”