Page 75 of In the Danger Zone
“I gotta go,” I let out as Evan stood before me. “I’ll call you tonight, okay? Love you b-both. B-Bye!”
I quickly hung up before Evan could say anything. If they heard a guy’s voice, they’d wonder who he was. And then I’d have to explain a lot of things that I had been keeping to myself. My parents werenotgoing to let me date a guy who used to be friends with Asher.
“Hey sweetheart.” Evan leaned down, giving me a kiss to the cheek before he sat down next to me. “Who was that?”
“M-My parents.” I brushed the hair out of my face.
“You didn’t have to hang up ‘cause of me. You coulda kept talking to them. You should have let me talk to them, actually. Parents love me. Especially moms.” Evan raised his eyebrows up at me, a grin on his face.
I slapped his arm playfully. “Stop.”
“Hey, new laptop.” Evan gently poked my week-old MacBook. “What happened to your old one?”
“I’ve still got it. I really n-needed an upgrade.” And that was when I realized just how damn bad it all looked. The check… “I didn’t use that check you gave m-me for m-my laptop.” The words came out all rushed, like Evan had accused me of something even though he hadn’t said a thing.
Evan blinked at me. “I didn’t say you did. And I wasn’t even thinking that…”
I wanted to slap myself. There was suddenly an awkward tension in the air.
“Your parents got it for you, right?” asked Evan. “Is that why they were calling? To make sure you got it?”
“I d-didn’t send them the check,” was all I could say. “It’s still in m-my dorm. I told you I wasn’t going to use it and I didn’t.”
Eyebrows furrowed, Evan shook his head. “You’re acting like I caught your hand in the cookie jar or something.”
“I just… I don’t want you to think I used your m-money to buy m-me some fancy computer. I didn’t. I…” I felt the lie leaving my lips before I could stop it from happening. “M-My parents sent m-me the m-money for it.”
“Nice present.” Evan smiled, pecking me on the lips.
There was something wrong with my brain. It was like I couldn’t stop lying. One lie just led to another one. It was ridiculous. It was stupid. I knew I had to tell Evan everything, but how would he look at me if I told him the only reason I could afford a new computer was because I was so poor and desperate that I had to use the rest of my scholarship money? Would he still want me if he knew how little me and my family had in the bank? Would he hate me for lying?
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
“When’s your next class?” asked Evan. “Want me to walk you? You know I love doing that.”
I didn’t deserve to have Evan walk me anywhere, but I gave him a little nod instead. Maybe I’d tell him everything after his game tonight. Every last thing. How little money me and my family had and how I was on a scholarship. How the bakery had closed down after my dad had done nothing but try and defend me. How I was a dirty, little liar who wasn’t worthy of a guy who was so sweet.
“Yes please,” I said quietly.
I’d tell Evan. The lies were piling up and they were bound to blow up in my face if I dragged them on. He had to know everything. And if he ended up hating me in the long run, I would only have myself to blame.
Chapter 34
DAISY
“Don’t gooooo,” Evan mumbled.
“Evan, I have to get to class.” My cheeks were red as Evan held me close, right there in the middle of the hallway, my classroom just a few meters away.
I was very much used to having people stare at me. But that was usually forbadreasons. It was hard to miss all the eyes on us as Evan hugged me close and peppered my face with kisses. Despite all the looks, I always found comfort in his arms.
“Who’s your professor for this class?” he asked.
“Professor Fletcher.”
“I hate that guy.”
“You’ve had him b-before?”
