Page 15 of A Match Made In Evan
Thump-thump-thump-thump.
“Know what?”
“That you love him.”
Thump-thump-thump-thump.
“I’ve always loved him.” It’s a confession which resonates deep inside me, making my stomach twist again, because it’s not a lie, but it’s also not what he’s asking.
“I mean, how did you go from best friends to beinginlove?”
Thump-thump-thump-thump.
“I—”
“All right, curfew time!” the lead teacher on the trip, Mr. Martins, blares through his trusty loudspeaker, saving me from either lying to Joey or confessing to our ruse. There are four little bonfires set up around the clearing, and teenage groans ring out around us. “You have fifteen minutes to use the facilities and get your butts in your designated cabins. Parents and teachers will be conducting their checks and there will be consequences for anyone breaking the rules.”
“I guess we should get everyone down and in bed,” I push to my feet and head towards the rest of our group with Joey hot on my heels.
“But you didn’t answer,” he protests.
“Answer what?” Ev asks, taking up a spot at my side.
“I asked how you went from being best friends to being in love,” Joey tells him as I’m ushering our group to walk down the path in front of us, feeling more like a sheepdog than a chaperone. I’ve done the headcount twice, and I call out a reminder for them to follow the lights on the path and walk carefully, studiously ignoring Evan’s eyes on me.
“Well,” Ev replies easily, slinging his arm around my shoulders and squeezing, “I’ve always loved him.”
“That’s what he said,” Joey sighs, “but I meant…how’d you go from best mates to—”
“Mating?” Evan suggests, and I jab my elbow into his ribs. “Ow!”
“He’ssixteen, Ev.”
“We were both thinking and sayingwayworse stuff at that age. Hell, we weredoing—”
“Eww,” Mia chimes in from just ahead of us, thankfully cutting Ev off. “I don’t need to hear that.”
“Then don’t eavesdrop,” Evan sasses back.
“And watch where you’re walking,” I remind her.
In the moonlight, I watch her roll her eyes before she turns back to concentrating on making it back down the hill in one piece.
“So…?” Joey prompts.
“He’s like a dog with a bone,” I mutter, then hold up my index finger, “No bone, boner, or boning jokes.”
“Damn it,” Ev huffs. “You’re no fun.”
“No, I don’t want to get in trouble for being inappropriate with the children.” I scrunch up my nose. “Wait. That sounded wrong.”
Joey’s laughter is loud and infectious, if Evan’s response is anything to go by. “Sowrong, Mister D,” he agrees through wheezing laughter. “Mia, why didn’t you tell us how funny your dads are?”
“Because they’re embarrassing, not funny,” she calls over her shoulder.
“Take that back!” Evan demands. “Iam hilarious.”
“Dear God, you’re just as bad as the kids,” I tell him.
