my hand
and pulls me to the living room like a kid at Christmas. “Come on.”
We get settled in on the couch, The Avengers about to start when she says softly, never breaking her fixed gaze at the TV,
“Evan?”
“Yeah?”
“It was really nice meeting you.”
“You too, Whitley. ”
Chapter 4
Wingman
~Laney~
W hen I walk into my Algebra class on
Thursday morning, he’s the first person I see. It’s the first time I’ve seen
him since that night leaving The K. I’d given up texting and calling; he wasn’t
going to answer. I heard from Sawyer that he’s living in Morgan Hall, one
building down and across the street from me, but that’s all the information I
have. Honestly, I don’t know why I let it bother me. This distance between Evan
and me started the minute we both left for college, but knowing that even
though he’s here now, close enough I could reach out and hug him, and we’re
still apart has an extra bite. I know he doesn’t want a hug from me right now,
but someday we’ll be on speaking terms… Someday we’ll hug again, right?
How I wish I hadn’t hurt him. It’d be so nice to
talk with him, to tell him about my mom, my life… I miss my friend. Evan will
always be the best part of my past and the minute he’s ready, if he’s
ever ready, I will welcome him back into my life with open arms. But I love
Dane. I’ve spent a lot of time lately thinking how I would feel if the roles
with reversed. What would I have done if Evan found someone new at UGA? I’d
like to think I’d understand and still be his friend, but maybe I’m wrong. And
if I’d have given up my team and went there for him… Well, when I throw that
in, I’m right back to knowing his reaction is valid.
I heave a sigh. I’m beginning to think there’s no
win to this situation. Even now, staring across the room at Evan’s downcast
eyes and stiff posture, the image of Dane’s heated gaze and sexy smirk fight
for headspace. I’m way too far gone to backtrack with guilt now, so I plaster
on a confident smile and head over to say hello.
“Hi, Evan.” I fold into the chair next to him and
get my stuff for class out of my bag.
He doesn’t look up but mumbles, “Laney. How are
you?”
“Good. You?”
“Oh, just dandy,” he snorts sarcastically.
I sigh, not knowing what to say. Maybe the more I
try the worse I make things? All I want to do is hug this wonderful guy and
make it better, but I know it wouldn’t. A hug is much less than he wants, what
he thinks he needs, and I can’t give him anything more. My heart’s no longer
mine to give anyway; Dane took it, he owns it. I wish Evan and I had just
stayed friends now. The few months we spent as a couple flew by, hardly a blip
on the radar, but ended with major, maybe irreparable, collateral damage.
Luckily, the professor walks in and begins as we sit
there, worlds apart, the silence screaming. Class seems to take forever, and
when it’s over, Evan’s out of his seat and through the door before I even have
my bag over my shoulder. No “goodbye,” no “catch ya later.” I try, God, do I
try, to hold them in, but I think it actually makes it worse… The silent
teardrops start to fall. Evan’s back turned on me just isn’t a view I’m used to
and I’m glad I’m not practiced at it; once is more than shattering enough.
When I need to talk something through, I talk to
Dane. When I need to cry, he holds me and tells me he’ll make everything
better. When I laugh, it’s usually because of something he said. But now, can I
really call him to boohoo that the hurt I caused is coming around to bite me in
the ass? Nah—I better not. A small snicker actually leaves me as I hear my dad
in my head. “You found your way in this mess; find your way out. It’s called ‘taking
your licks,’ Slugger.”
With Dad’s words in mind, I suck it up, wiping my
face with the sleeve of my shirt and snorting my runny nose in the most
ladylike way I can