The Way to Game the Walk of Shame(70)

“After graduation, I’m going to college.” Even though I’d just made this decision, it was still weird to say out loud. It made it more real.

“Yeah, right, and I’m going to Yale.” When I didn’t answer, her laughter faded until there was just silence. Raindrops were just starting to come down, splattering the windshield. “Wait, you’re serious? Where are you going?”

“Troy University.” I finally looked up at her stunned face.

“And that’s…”

“In Florida. Fort Walton, actually.”

“So you’re just going to move there after graduation. Just like that. Because of her?”

I let out a deep breath. “This isn’t for her. This is for me. My dad lives there. Well, Destin. And I’m going to live with him for a few years while I go to school.”

“Your dad?” She stared at me as though I had suddenly sprouted horns and was doing a hula dance in the front seat. “Isn’t he in jail or something? I don’t understand why you would want to live with him. You’ve got it good here.”

It’s so weird that we were friends, but I’d never bothered telling her about my dad. Or anything important. The only one I had ever opened up to was Taylor. That should have been my first clue about my feelings. “You’re right. Taylor is different, but she makes me different, too. She makes me want to have a future. Do something with my life. And I like the person she’s made me into.”

“Well, I don’t. It’s like I don’t know you anymore.” Lauren ran her fingers through her hair until it was a tangled mess around her shoulders. “You already planned out your future? Without me? Did you even consider me, think of me, at all?”

I didn’t. I had deliberated over every little detail of my decision, but Lauren never came up. At all. “We’ll still be friends.”

She scoffed. “Friends? Really? Is that what we are?” She closed her eyes and swallowed a few times before angling her body straight forward. Her arms crossed tightly against her chest. “You know what? I think you should take me home. Anything is better than sitting here and listening to you gush over Little Miss Sunshine.”

“Lauren…”

I reached out to touch her arm, but she jerked away like I had hit her. Her eyes flew open and were glued to the water in front of us. “Just take me home. Now.”

I let out a sigh and turned the engine on. First I had lost Taylor as a girlfriend, and now I’d lost Lauren as a friend. What started off as an awesome day was quickly turning into hell.





26

{Taylor}


Evan wasn’t home, and he wasn’t picking up any of my phone calls. But he couldn’t avoid me forever. I’d camp out on his lawn if I had to.

My eyes glanced over at the empty driveway, and I chewed on my lower lip. I almost regretted telling him about the kiss, but I had to tell him the truth. I had to explain that I was glad that Brian kissed me, because it made me face my heart and realize that I wanted to be with Evan.

The door flew open, and Mrs. Willard almost ran over me on her way out. Her purse knocked against the back of my head. “Sorry, Taylor, I didn’t see you. What are you doing here?”

Rubbing my throbbing head, I hopped to my feet. “I’m waiting for Evan.”

Her eyebrows furrowed together. “You’re not with him? I could have sworn he went over to your house to tell you the good news…”

“He did, but I—” My face flushed, and I didn’t know how to continue. “We didn’t really get a chance to talk.”

Pursing her lips together, she silently scrutinized me. “Do you want to come in and wait for him? He might be home soon.”

“No, I can just wait outside if you’re about to leave.”

“It can wait.” Mrs. Willard reached out and placed her hand around my arm. She tugged me toward the door. “Come in. Do you want something to eat?”

“Thanks, but I’m okay.” I followed her into the living room and sat on the couch facing the TV. I clasped my hands tightly on my lap. I glanced around the room and tried to take my mind off how I had messed up everything with Evan. “You said something earlier about Evan having good news?”

She laughed a little bit to herself and leaned her hip against the arm of the couch. “Well, it’s good and sad. At least for me. I don’t really want him to leave, but it’s his choice. I can’t protect him anymore.”

I got a little light-headed, and my vision blurred. I still didn’t understand what the heck she was talking about, but I didn’t like the direction this was going. “I don’t—wait, Evan’s leaving?”

Her grin slowly faded. “He didn’t tell you anything?” She grimaced and chewed on her thumbnail. “Oh boy. This feels kind of awkward now. Maybe you should wait for Evan.”

Like there was any way I could wait for this. I reached out and grabbed her arm. “No, tell me.” I tried to give her the best puppy eyes I could, channeling Oreo on steak night. “Please?”

It only took another minute or so, but she caved. “He called his dad.”

I blinked at her in surprise. “That’s awesome!” This was huge news! So he finally called him. No wonder Evan looked so excited earlier. Or at least he did before he found out about Brian and me. “Is he going to visit him?”