5. Everett

Everett  (I Like Me Better by LAUV)

As soon as practice ends, I climb into my truck and call Hart.

She picks on the second ring.

“Where you at?”

“Tiffany’s Kitchen.”

My brows furrow. Her voice sounds… off. And somewhere underneath it, someone's laughing. Male. Faint, I hear clearly.

"On my way." I hang up before she can ask questions.

Thankfully, the guys all have plans.

Cole's off singing karaoke with his girlfriend. Which sane man volunteers for that?

Harper's probably buried somewhere in the music building.

Spencer? I don’t know.

I don't ask.

I value my peace of mind very much.

I can guess though. The man’s probably off doing something illegal. Or immoral.

Probably both.

In less than eight minutes, I arrive at Tiffany’s and step down from the vehicle.

The moment I enter, I hear a couple of gasps and whispers. Used to ‘em.

My eyes dart around until they land on... her. 

I ignore my surroundings as usual and let my feet lead me to the person I’m here for. She’s seated with her back to the entrance. But her friends—I think—widen their eyes as I approach.

I stop behind her chair.

She's laughing. And it’s not the polite smile she wears around most people. It’s real laugh. Loud enough that the entire table joins in.

“…”

 “…Uh-oh.” My eyes land on the guy sitting across from Hart. Around my age. Lean build, dark hair, clean-cut, dressed like he actually cared what he wore. The kind of guy girls probably notice. And judging by the way he and Hart were laughing, they know each other well.

My jaw thickens.

“Your owner is here.” The brunette beside him wiggles her brows. She's petite, bright-eyed, and has the kind of warm smile that makes it obvious she's the bubbly one of the group.

Hart’s back stiffens and she slowly turns and angles her face up at me.

“Hi, Hart. Time to cook.”

"Right, right.” She groans, narrowing her eyes at me as if sending death glares.

“Hi.” I nod at her friends.

“Hi! I’m Janet, and this is Garrett.” The brunette beams.

I shake her outstretched hand and nod at Garrett.

“I’m—”

“Everett. We know.” Janet grin widens.

I smile.

“Urgh. You’re going to make his head swell and burst.” Hart mutters as she staggers to her feet.

Garrett grimaces. “She’s a lil tipsy.”

Is she now? Way to go, Hart.

I steady her with one hand and collect her bag and phone off the table with the other.

Garrett mutters, "text me when you're home safe, Hart." A beat. "It was good seeing you."

"She'll text you," I say. "From home. Where I live."

Janet’s eyes widen and the corner of her mouth tugs upward.

"Goodnight.” We say our goodbyes. Hart slurs hers twice.

As we reach outside, she as little as pushes me away, insisting she can walk in a straight line which is actually a lie ‘cause by the third step she's drifting toward a flower pot.

I grab the back of her sweater. "Truck's over there."

"I knew that." She whines.

"Sure." I snicker.

After scuffles here and there, we finally get in the truck.

Hart buckles her seatbelt on the third try, then spends an entire minute trying to figure out why the dashboard clock says 6:48 instead of 18:48.

Sighing, I ignite the engine and begin to drive.

“You drank?”

“Half a cocktail. Yep.”

Incredible.

“Lightweight.”

She scowls at me. "You embarrassed me today."

I already know what she’s talking about. “The girlfriend thing?”

"YES, THE GIRLFRIEND THING."

I smirk. “Is that’s why you drank? Or is it ‘cos of the whole cooking dinner thing?”

She shrugs.

Soon, we’re at a traffic light.

"Do fish get thirsty?" Hart suddenly asks out of nowhere.

I turn, "...what?"

"I've been thinking about it."

"..."

"..."

"...Hart." I pinch the space between my brows.

"What?"

"Don't. Just, don’t. Please."

Half a cocktail and you’re like this? I swallow a laugh.

A while later, we arrive at Oakswood.

"This is a big house. You’re indeed rich.” She makes an obvious comment as we make our way inside.

Oakswood sits on the quieter edge of Westside, tucked behind rows of maple trees and overlooking the lake. It isn't flashy from the outside despite its size. Just stone walls, warm lights, and wide glass windows.

Somehow, the guys have beat us home.

Then again... I might've driven a little slower than usual.

“Hey, maid!” Spencer breaks contact from the kiss he’s having on our couch, making out with a... a purple-haired girl who has one of her breasts out.

Hart blinks blankly, responding slowly, “Gardener...”

"JESUS CHRIST." She spins and covers her own eyes. I think all of her sense return to her at once.

Spencer laughs and returns to his make-out session. Gross.

“Get used to it.” I mutter mockingly in Hart’s ear.

“No. After Saturday, I’ll return to my life... I’ll not have anything to do with you and your friends anymore.”

“...” I don’t respond.

"Come on." I head upstairs and she follows, still taking everything in.

I stop outside my room and turn to the one opposite.

“Here’s your—the guest room.”

Fuck, Everett. Yes, the room has always been hers right from day one. The only reason it’s been empty since freshman year is because you’ve been keeping it for her.

But I’ve come too far to mess this up by slipping up. And now that I know she doesn’t stay on campus...

I hand her bag over.

“This is my room.” I point at my door.

"Take a shower first and head down to prepare dinner afterwards."

Immediately, I enter my room and shut the door.

I take deep breaths and proceed to strip before heading to the bathroom. However, a knock makes me stop in my tracks.

I can guess who it is.

I walk straight to the door and turn the doorknob.

“Can I get something to change into—”

I sort of hear a short gasp escape Hart’s mouth, and now, she’s ogling at my chest.

My mouth tilts in a smirk.

“Come in.” I open the door wider.

Hart's eyes drift lower. And they linger, her cheeks flushing.

Interesting.

So the little menace was capable of blushing.

Her throat bobs and I bite back a grin.

"Careful."

“Huh?”

“You’re staring.”

She blinks.

“Ye—huh?” Her eyes shoot up to mine, widening. “What? Ew! Why are you naked, Everett? Normal people wear towels!” She fires.

I chuckle silently and head to my wardrobe. I pull out a black T-shirt and toss it at her.

She opens her mouth then closes it. Opens it again... Then huffs, spins around and...

"Everett?" She turns back.

"Yeah?"

There's a long pause. Long enough that I start thinking she's fallen asleep standing up.

"The girlfriend thing." A breath. "You didn't have to say it in front of everyone."

I stare at the door. "I know."

Silence.

Then her voice comes again, quieter, almost swallowed by the wall between us.

"Then why did you?"

My throat tightens. "Hart?"

"Never mind." The door slams shut.

Heaving a sigh, I swallow the words on the tip my tongue.