Page 16 of Sure, Pal

7

Sienna

Friday night, I sat on the floor in my bedroom, staring at my phone. Ava was out having a family dinner with her parents, and I was almost relieved.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the look on Evan’s face when he found me singing at the park. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he said, “after Ava.”

I needed to tell her, didn’t I? But was it really my place? And what if I’d misread the whole situation and he wasn’t thinking about breaking up with her after all? Then I’d be causing drama where there wasn’t any.

But the question that mattered was this: Was I a monster for hoping that Evan would break up with her? I rolled my eyes and rested my head on my knees. It didn’t matter if he broke up with her anyway. He would never be mine.

Suddenly, I heard a door slam downstairs, followed by the angry voices of my parents. I could hear little pieces of their argument floating up the stairs. “Ungrateful… head in the fucking clouds!” “It’s suffocating to…” “I can’t even STAND you!”

The fighting was non-stop. It made my head pound, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I was about to let the tears fall when I got a text. Pal, come outside. I need to show you something!!! Another text followed. Oh, and bring your guitar!

I didn’t even think. I grabbed my guitar and rushed out my front door, right past my parents and their anger. It wasn’t hard to escape their notice. I’d been doing it for years.

When I saw Evan’s Camaro in the driveway, I couldn’t keep the smile from my lips. He’d painted it black, just like I’d suggested. It looked sleek and sexy.

I jogged over to him and pulled the passenger door open. “Damn! It looks incredible!”

Evan sat with his hands on the wheel, grinning at me. “Get in! Let’s go for a ride!”

I set my guitar in the back and slid into the passenger seat, smiling. “Did you give it a name?” I asked.

Evan laughed. “Not yet.” He seemed nervous as he looked over at me.

“Is Ava already done with her family dinner? Are we going to pick her up next?” I asked.

Evan shook his head and pulled out of my driveway. No Ava? Why? Did they break up? No, she would have called me crying. My heart pounded in my chest.

Evan glanced over at me as he drove. “What do you think of the new seat upholstery? I did it myself.”

I smiled at him and ran my hand over the clean, black leather. “It looks fantastic. I love the red stitching.”

“It’s badass, right?” Evan grinned.

God, I loved his smile. “So badass!” I agreed.

“You wanna drive it?” He asked.

My mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? You’d honestly let me drive it? This car is like your baby, Evan! What if I crash it?”

Evan grinned at me and pulled over. “I trust you, pal.” He climbed out of the car to switch places with me.

I climbed out too, and when we passed each other at the front of the car, my arm brushed against his chest, and my heart raced. I slid into the driver’s seat and rested my hands on the wheel. I gave Evan a sideways glance. “Are you sure?”

Evan smiled and nodded.

“Where to?” I asked.

“You pick.”

I ran my hands along the steering wheel, and a strange, almost shy feeling spread through me. This car meant so much to Evan. It was like a part of him, and here I was, running my hands all over it, feeling the power of the engine, and admiring its beauty, while he watched me with a smile.

I shifted the car into drive and headed to the big park across the street from our high school.

Evan laughed when I pulled into the parking lot. “Interesting choice, Sienna. Why’d you pick this park?” I accidentally gazed into his eyes, and the deep blue pulled me under like the tide.

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