Page 29 of In the Danger Zone
Evan’s smile quickly faded. “Do you remember what I said to you the other night? About how you shouldn’t let people disrespect you? I meant that. I don’t want you to let people walk over you. I don’t ever wanna see that happen.” There was a sternness in Evan’s voice, his words oh so clear. “And I wasn’t going to let him do that to you. If I had seen him that night after that stupid game of truth or dare, I would have let him know how pissed I was. By the time I got back inside he was gone. It probably would have been a lot worse if I had actually seen him that night…”
I bit down on the straw of my drink. The little fluttering in my chest felt so foreign to me. Having someone like Evan stick up for me was an entirely new concept. “Well, either way, you did something I’ve always wanted to do,” I said softly. “I guess I’m still happy someone else did it.”
“He’s not gonna mess with you anymore.” Evan’s eyes darkened. “So, if you’re worried he’s gonna retaliate or try and get back at you, don’t.”
“Are you gonna put him on a leash or something?”
Evan pointed at me. “That’s a good idea. See, you’re smart. But I don’t think I need to go that far.”
I felt my cheeks go red. My eyes lowered to the table. “Worst pet ever.”
“Don’t worry about him. I’ve got you. I promise.”
If Evan was a liar, then he was a good at it, because I was pretty sure I had never heard someone sound so sincere. There was another awkward pause for a little while, and I found myself still looking down at the table, trying my best to avoid Evan’s blue eyes.
“I don’t like it when you do that,” Evan said softly.
“Do what?”
“Avoid my eyes like that. You don’t like looking at me or something? I gotta hit the gym more?”
I giggled, shaking my head. My eyes lifted up slowly. Looking people right in the eye usually made me nervous, but I tried to stay calm as I looked into Evan’s. “It’s n-not that. I’m just… I’m n-not used to talking to n-new people. I didn’t have a lot of friends b-back at home. I had n-none, actually.” Ugh. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. That made me sound like the biggest loser on the planet. But the words rolled right off my tongue before I could control them.
Evan sighed deeply. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Someone like you wouldn’t really get what that’s like…”
“I guess not,” he mumbled. “I know you probably think I’m some, like, jock douche bag. But I’m not that. I’ve never been… I’m not a bad person, Daisy. I swear I’m not.”
“It’s just… hard for m-me to trust people. Especially n-new people.”
Evan suddenly perked up in his seat, his eyes lighting up. “Do you know how to ice skate?”
I blinked at him. “I’ve n-never tried it.”
“You know the best way to learn how to trust someone?”
“Please don’t say go ice skating with them.”
“I won’t let you fall. Promise. You won’t get anywhere near the ice.”
I shook my head at him. “N-No. I can’t. I told you. I’ve n-never b-been ice skating.”
“Cool. Let me teach you then.”
“Have you taught people how to ice skate b-before?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
Evan went silent for a moment. “No. But… That’s not the point.”
“I can’t. I don’t even have ice skates!”
“The rink has some you can borrow. Come on. It’ll be fun. It feels like you’re flying.” Evan grinned at me. “And I’m not gonna let you fall. Not even for a second.”
The idea sounded enticing. I wasn’t going to lie. Part of me wanted to spend more time with Evan. So far he had proven to me that he was more than just – as he put it himself earlier – some jock douche bag. Maybe there was more to him that I had to learn about, and that would come with time. But still.Ice skating.
“Okay, b-but what if I do fall?” I found myself saying.
Evan shrugged lazily. “Then you can cross check me.”
