Page 55 of Hide and Keep

“Nobody calls anyone anymore.”

“My mom calls me all the time,” I admit, then regret it.

“She does?” Ever stops to face me. “Why? Don’t you live with her?”

“Yeah…but that doesn’t stop her from caring about me whenever I’m not at home.”

“What is that like?”

Students try to get by us since we’re posted directly in the middle of the aisle, so I grab Ever’s elbow and guide her over to the side.

“What is what like?”

“Having someone care about you.”

My lips spread into a smile until I realize Ever’s don’t. She’s serious.

“Uh. A little overwhelming at times. Mostly nice, but…” I smooth out my left eyebrow with my middle finger. Twice.

Ever pulls my arm down and meets my eyes. “But what?”

I glance around just to break the tension. She’s so intently focused on me, it’s like there’s no one else on earth except me.

“You know, it’s like with all nice things, you kinda forget to appreciate it.”

Those azure eyes drop to my chest, then the floor, her eyebrows scrunched over them.

“I don’t.”

“You don’t…what?”

“Know. You said, ‘you know,’ but I don’t. That’s not something I’d ever forget to appreciate.”

“Seems like you already did with your dad—”

“My father only cares about Munreaux Motorcycles,” she says with a noticeable bite. Glancing at me again, she plasters a smile on her face to ask, “Are you hungry?”

Before I can even answer, she immediately follows up with, “Did you try out the café?”

I shake my head, making her eyes widen.

“You have to. My treat.”

She latches on to my arm, the act taking me by complete surprise, then almost runs into one of her look-alikes. Her hand falls from my forearm instantly and her spine elongates.

“Okay, spill. Where were—”

“Where wereyou?” Ever counters, getting in Paris’s face. “You just took off without me last night.”

Paris blanches. “You were taking forever and I wanted—”

“You didn’t even text to see if I was okay. I could’ve been hurt.”

“Well, you have him to protect you, right?” Ever’s friend gestures at me.

“Yes,” I say at the same time Ever says, “No. I have him to make sure I’m not kidnapped and held for ransom. I can still go to a party if I want to.”

Um, no, she can’t.

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