Evan's Addiction (12 page)

     I almost asked how his stepdad was an ass but was able to hold my
tongue this time. Unfortunately, my mouth was on a roll of its own. “Did you
get along with your stepbrothers?”

     He snorted softly. “The youngest was almost twice my age so we
didn’t hang out. Mostly they ignored me and I was fine with that.”

     There were a multitude of other questions I wanted to ask…like
what made his stepdad such an ass, who was his mother, and was she nice, why
wasn’t he working at one of his stepfather’s businesses, and could I see a
picture of him when he was young and slightly porky…but all those questions
would get him under my skin even more than he was.

     The waitress walked up with our food making it easier to pass on
the questions crowding my head, but to make it safe I cut up a piece of my
chicken and stuffed it in my mouth hastily.

     “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it? You can have a serious
conversation without keeling over dead.” Evan smirked.

     “Unless it’s one of those conversations that sneaks up on you and
kills you slowly. I could die in my sleep tonight and then you’ll be sorry. In
fact, I feel a case of hives coming on that could lead to something worse.” I
made a show of scratching at my arm.

     Evan’s amber gaze gleamed. Picking up his burger he asked me, “So,
are you from Charlottesville?” He took a bite watching me attentively.

     I cut another portion of chicken. “Yep.”

     He watched me with hooded eyes and a smirk. “Do you have any
siblings, half-siblings, and/or step-siblings?”

     My eyes slit in displeasure, and I really thought about telling
him to shut up. But what the hell; I could tell him a little about my shit
life. It would make him uncomfortable and doubtless cause him to shut up on his
own.

     “Not that I know of.”

     He frowned. “How would you not know?”

     “I never knew my parents. I was left in a McDonald’s bathroom when
I was a few days old.”

     Evan’s brows shot up in shock. “Shit Shaw.” Then sympathy replaced
the surprise. It had been so long since I’d told anyone that little nugget of
information I’d forgotten about the pity. “Did you get adopted?” he asked. 

     I shrugged with forced indifference. “No. I guess I was colicky
and cried a lot.” One couple had made an effort I’d been told but they’d
brought me back because of my crying. My heart only pinched faintly now in past
pain. I’d always wondered if that was why my parent’s had dumped me, because
they got sick of my crying too. Whatever it was they didn’t love me enough to
want to keep me.

     “So what…you were fostered out?”

     I nibbled at my coleslaw while gazing at the skaters. “Yep.” I went
back to the one word responses.

     “A lot, or did you end up somewhere permanently?” His gaze
remained intent on me as he ate a fry almost unconsciously.

     The intensity of it was nerve-racking. “I ended up in a permanent
residence when I was twelve.” Yay me! I threw a brief hooded glance his way.
“Unlike you I didn’t get my rags to riches story.” Evan’s lips tightened
faintly at the ‘
rags to riches’
part. It was only an observation, not
necessarily envy…okay, maybe a little bit of envy. “The Tagert’s were barely a
step above poverty level. They only kept me because of the money they received
for housing me.” I hadn’t meant to reveal that last part. I had only meant to
tell him the pertinent facts, but it just slipped out.

     He sat up straighter with a frown. “Did they treat you badly?”

     I snorted. “They’d have to notice me to treat me badly. I was more
an invisible tenant.” Except for when I needed to be seen when the social
worker came around…and why had I just revealed another personal tidbit. I
pulled up a smile. “But hey, I got to do whatever I wanted and not catch any
flack for it.”

     His brow lifted, but his eyes stayed narrowed and intent. “And
what kind of trouble did you get into?”

     Wouldn’t he like to know. I leaned forward still smiling and his
expression actually turned curiously eager. “The ‘none of your business’ kind
of trouble.”

     He smirked. “I can imagine though; sneaking out, parties,
drinking, sex; the standard teenage shit.”

     Yeah, I did do some of that shit for a little while. “I didn’t
have to sneak out.” I sneered.

     He went back to narrowed eyed thoughtfulness. “Lucky you.”

     My gut clenched. Yep, lucky me. I turned my attention back to the
skaters as I finished off my chicken. One of the kids was practicing a kickflip
with his board and not doing so well. I shook my head and mumbled, “Flick
faster.”

     “Flick what faster?” Evan asked.

     Shit, said that too loud. I sighed, “I was just watching that kid
and he’s not getting his kickflip.”

     His eyes went from me to the park. “Which one, and how do you know
what he’s doing or what’s it called?” 

     “I have a little board work under my belt.” I admitted.

     A real smile spread over his mouth. “Reeeally.” He drawled.

     Suddenly he was up and tossing our garbage. Grabbing my hand he
hauled me up and started dragging me over to the park before I could stop him.

     I tried though.  

     Tugging on his hold I exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

     “I want to see what you can do.”

     I gaped at his back. “Evan, it’s been three years…and No!” I
yelled.

     “I’m sure it’s like riding a bike…and Yes.” He rejoined.

     “You can’t make me.” I protested like a four year old while still
tugging.

     His head swiveled so he could grin wickedly at me, causing my
personal parts to buzz. “Come on, just one trick…and I won’t have to tell
everyone here that even though you’re my sister we have to marry because you’re
carrying my love child.”

     I stopped tugging. “You wouldn’t.”

     “Try me.” The asshole just smirked.

     His shit-eating-grin said he would. Ha, he thought he could scare
me; nastier men had tried. I raised my middle finger at him. “First off, I
wouldn’t care if you did because I don’t know any of these people, and even if
I did it still wouldn’t matter. Secondly, I would probably get a kick out of it
and just come back with ‘
it’s not yours it’s our other brothers
’.” His
smile was all teeth at that. “But I’m feeling suddenly munificent…” Yeah, I was
throwing out big words. “And wouldn’t mind finding out if I still have some
skills left.”

     “Great.” The turdhole said continuing to drag me behind him.

     Walking up to one of the teens Evan asked if he could borrow his
board so he could find out if his girlfriend still had come skills from high
school. Hearing him call me his girlfriend, even if it was fake, had my hands
getting clammy. The kid looked me up and down and grinned at my chest. It had
better be because of what it said…
I’m sorry I don’t know any words small enough
for you to understand
…and not because he was ogling my breasts. It was most
likely a lot of both.

     “Sure, anything for a hot mama.” The skinny teenager replied
handing me his board.

     The kid was lucky he was a minor.

     I’d worn my slip on Keds today instead of my flip-flops otherwise
I wouldn’t have been able to do this. Setting the board down I stepped up on it
testing to see if I did still have my balance, and found that this board was
way better than mine had been. This kid had spent some serious paper in his
board. Pushing off I coasted around doing several sharp turns.

     “Not bad.” The kid remarked.

     “That’s more than ‘not bad’.” Evan said, and the admiration in his
tone had stupid butterflies flurrying in my stomach.

    Of course I had to up my game because of it and rolled out a front
flip.
Woo-hoo!
I still had it.

    “Sick trick, mama.” The kid hollered.

     I heard Evan mumble ‘
holy shit’
under his breath before
calling out. “Shaw, just don’t break anything.”

     “Is that actual concern I hear in your voice?”
Was
that actual
concern I was hearing? Color me surprised.

     Being on a skateboard after so long reminded me how much I used to
love it. As soon as I was old enough to work I’d focused on getting in as many hours
as I could so I could start up a savings account. Fun had fallen by the wayside
in place of work. Then I’d gotten into computers and that had filled most of my
down time. 

     I executed an air hop.

     “I’m serious, Shaw. Don’t hurt yourself.” He urged, both appreciation
and anxiety in his voice.

     He was concerned. Glancing up momentarily I saw that he was
wearing a worried frown. “This from someone who was driving two hundred miles
an hour last weekend?” I did a flipkick. “The most I might do is sprain
something.” I did a fakie. “You could have ended up as a smear across the black
top.” I was in the middle of performing another flipkick when I abruptly
remembered how his dad died causing me to lose focus and stumble. I landed on
my ass with a grunt.

     “Shit Shaw, are you alright?” Evan ran toward me and knelt down
looking fearful.

     “Nice fall, hot mama.” The kid laughed as he kicked up his
skateboard to grab hold of it. He’d most likely fallen on his ass so many times
he knew I was basically alright.

     “At least I didn’t get credit-carded.” I grunted. The kid barked
out a long laugh.

     Evan grimaced telling me he knew what that was. Anyone who watched
Youtube
or
Ridiculousness
did nowadays.

     “Seriously, are you okay?” Evan repeated.

     “I’m fine.” Except for my ass, but I had enough cushion there to
where it would only bruise. I looked up at him feeling like shit. “I’m sorry
for what I said…about the smeared asphalt.”

     “What are you talking about?” Frowning, he wrapped his arm around
my waist lifting me up off the ground like I weighed ten pounds. It was
actually a nice feeling.

     He guided me over to the picnic table and I let him…I don’t know
why. My butt was twinging with every step, but I was fine.

     We sat down and without thinking I set my hand on his forearm
feeling like the true bitch I always acted like. “I’m sorry I made fun about
you crashing and dying after you just told me about your father. I forgot.”

     He was still frowning but with less confusion and worry. “Hey,
it’s fine. I knew you were only joking, and if his death was still hanging over
me than I wouldn’t be out there racing.”

     I sighed and slumped with relief. “Oh good. I know I’ve been a
bitch to you, but I would never say something cruel like that.”

     He grinned. “You’ve been a bitch? When?”

     Raising one brow I just stared at him.

     “What…I’m serious. You’ve been a smartass, and sometimes grouchy,
but not bitchy. If you’ve been going for bitchy then you need to try a little
harder.” He didn’t even bother to hide the amusement dancing in his piercing
amber eyes.

     The grin I was fighting to suppress pushed its way out. “You must
have a high bitch tolerance, because I’ve been trying.”

     “I’m not one to tell someone to give up at something, but maybe
you should think about quitting because you really suck at being a bitch.” His
sinfully handsome smile widened wickedly.

     Getting caught up in our repartee I gripped his arm in mock
desperation. “Don’t give up on me, I can try harder.” I implored.

     Evan’s expression turned suddenly ravenous, and I abruptly took
note that our faces were only inches apart…and his arm was still around my
waist…and I was clutching at his other arm like I never wanted to let him go.

     Oh god! I didn’t want to let him go. I should, I really, really
should, but I really, really didn’t want to. What he made me feel…

     Evan’s face came closer. “Shaw…”

     “Hey, chica, you okay?”

     I sprang back in alarm as the reality of the situation smacked me
upside the head. Shit, Evan and I had nearly kissed and that would be a huge
mistake. My body was one big, throbbing, aching, wanting hormone, but thank god
for rude-ass teenagers. 

     Scooting further away from Evan I glanced up at the skinny
teenager. “Nothing but a bruise.” I croaked at the same time Evan dropped his
arm and exhaled a heavy sigh next to me.

      The teen made a few sardonic, but friendly, remarks on my skills
before ambling away, and then I told Evan I needed to get back home to study. I
was done with my exams but Evan didn’t know that. The second half of the drive
was slightly tenser than the first, and when Evan pulled up outside my
apartment building I jumped out with a quick ‘
see you later’
.          

     I dashed up the stairs and into my apartment like Jack the Ripper
was on my ass. Thankfully Carrie wasn’t home so I didn’t have to explain why I
was freaking the fuck out. My heart was racing a mile a minute but only half of
it was because of my run. Evan was totally getting to me and it was messing
with my head. I needed to get this job wrapped up so I could get my body and
mind back to normal functioning mode…and my heart firmly back in the cold hard ground.

     Because it was trying to dig its way out of the crypt I’d encased
it in.

     I could not let those amber, heart-wrenching, soul-stealing eyes,
and his bewitching charm hook me like some ravenous trout. He could be the
ultimate end of me.

     Pulling out my phone I called up David. I needed to numb my mind
and expel some frustration.

CHAPTER
SIX

EVAN

     I drove off after watching Shaw jump from my barely stopped car
and run like the Hounds of Hell were after her in contemplative quiet. I would
like to believe that the girl had a problem with goodbye’s, but I was pretty
sure it was all me.