Page 29 of Ever's Last
We order drinks and watch Tanya and Memphis dance. I forgot he knew how to dance. There were several times in the kitchen that he would turn on some music and spin me around. I miss those days.
But what no one told Tanya was that you never break in new boots on a dancing date. After a few songs, she’s whining about her feet and heads to a table in the corner to pout because they hurt. Since this is a date, Memphis follows her. I don’t know what their conversation was, but twenty minutes later, we watch as she storms out of the bar, boots in hand.
“Wonder what happened,” Ivy states what we’re all thinking.
“Let’s dance.” Linc pulls Ivy onto the floor and he spins her around until my dad just pops up out of nowhere, taking over for Linc.
“Your dad and Ivy,” he states when he sits back down.
“Not sure yet what’s going on there.” Not my story to tell. I think they’re adorable and even though I teased her earlier, I bet there will be a wedding in the future.
“Care to dance?” I hear his voice and it makes me shiver. He has that effect on me.
Memphis holds out his hand and I take it, smiling like a kid in a candy store at Linc. Memphis sways back and forth with me, holding me close. I inhale his scent, wanting to commit it to memory.
“What happened with your date?” Not sure if I ruined what we just had going on.
“Well, she didn’t have anything nice to say about my friends.”
“She said mean things about Brick?”
He chuckles. “No, she had nothing nice to say about you.”
“We’re not friends.” He needs to know that. While I have always dreamed of something like this, him holding me, loving me, I need to be realistic.
“You’re not ready to hear everything, Ever, but I promise I have a reason for why I was a huge douche. I’ve never stopped thinking about you.”
“Could have fooled me.” I shouldn’t have snapped like that.
“I wasn’t lying when I said I missed you,” he offers.
“Prove it.” I guess I should have seen it coming when he leans in and kisses me. It’s more urgent than at the meadow and I want to relish in it. I want it to be real.
Chapter Twenty
Memphis
She tastes like heaven. I don’t know how else to prove myself to her. Her dad is right, and I can’t keep saying sorry. I guess I do this the old-fashioned way and woo her. Yeah, I said that right, woo.
“Ever, I can’t keep saying I’m sorry. I will have to one more time when we finally get to talk about what happened that night, but I want you to know how horrible I feel. But I need my best friend back. I need you. It should have been you.”
I can see tears in her eyes and she just nods.
“What about the show?”
I guide her back to the table where Brick and Ariel are sitting, gesturing to Shane and Ivy to join us alone with Linc.
“I think it’s time I take over the show. It’s me finding love.”
“But Ever isn’t doing the show,” Linc points out.
“Before we get down to details, I want you all to know that I plan on showing Ever that I mean it when I say it should have been her. Shane, as her dad, I hope that I have your blessing.” Because that’s how we Southern folks do it.
“You break her heart again, I will break your face.”
“You can try, but I get it,” I snort.
We make a plan that even if Sal tells me who to eliminate, I’m doing the opposite. Ariel will keep me up to date on who is talking. And I make a promise to Ever that Skye goes next.
