Page 56 of Wild About You
“It’s fine. I have plenty of things I can work on while I wait for you.” I reach out and squeeze her arm. “You’re going to be great.”
* * *
I have an extra bounce in my step all day. I’m excited that Everly is looking toward her future, and I can’t wait to tell Tyler. I almost texted him during my lunch break but decided to wait until tonight.
I get to the gym a few minutes before rehearsal is done. I stand next to the side door that leads out to the parking lot to wait for her. The stage sits at one end of the basketball court and the boys’ team is warming up on the other end.
They’re doingThe Wizard of Ozand the lead actress has a voice that gives me goosebumps even with all the extra noise and commotion going on.
Everly has her back to me, off on one corner by herself, but I don’t think much of it until Mr. Hall dismisses them. She bolts so fast.
Her eyes are red and watery.
“Oh my gosh. Are you crying?” I ask.
She cuts a glare in my direction and pushes past me out the door. I hear someone snicker, and look up to see a group of kids watching her leave. Rage fills my entire being, but I know making a scene will just make things worse for her.
I hurry to catch up with her and don’t say a word until we’re a block away from the school.
“Those kids are jerks.”
“Most are,” she says, sounding tired and numb.
“I’m sure it’s just because you’re new. In a day or two, they’ll move on.”
“I’m not giving it a day or two. Thank you for your help and everything, but who was I kidding? I’m not a theater geek, and I’m not going to college. That’s not who I am.”
“You can be whoever you want.”
She raises her chin defiantly. “I’m already good with who I am.”
17
I’D SUCK ON EACH ONE
TYLER
“River is coming over,”Everly says as I’m heating up dinner.
I scowl.
“Piper said it was fine.” She sticks out her tongue at me.
“He’s not allowed upstairs.”
“I know, I know. We’re going to watch a movie.”
“What movie?”
“The new Ryan Reynolds, but you’re not invited.”
“We should watch it in the theater room.” Ash has a kick-ass media room with a projector and theater seats that rarely gets used in favor of his living room.
To be fair, the TV in there is almost as big.
“No. Creepy. You can’t third wheel it with us.”
Piper walks in, her hair wet and soaking the white fabric of her T-shirt. She goes to the fridge and grabs a Diet Dr. Pepper. “Third wheel what?”
