I pull down a side street by her house, park, and walk as nonchalantly as I can so I don't arouse any suspicion. Not that I have to worry, since my talent for blending is so good, it’s almost like I have the ability to become invisible. I keep my eyes on my phone and don’t get a second glance from the couple walking their dog and the old lady watering her plants.
Which is good, because I'm about to jump the wall that rings the garden outside Evan's grandparents' house like a shady burglar.
I randomly know from talking to her last night that her room has a balcony and overlooks the garden.
It's a match for the lit window.
I hop the fence and walk quietly through the flowers and shrubs, scale up the wall and stand on the first low roof right under her balcony. The French doors are open, and the curtains flutter in and out in the light breeze.
I check my phone again, but there's nothing from her. Just when I'm sure I made a mistake and she isn't home after all, I see her silhouette in the room.
"Evan!" I call, keeping my voice low. "Evan! Are you there?"
The curtain whips to the side, and Evan is there, so beautiful, it kicks the breath up out of my lungs.
Her long, dark hair is damp and kind of curls at the bottom. She's wearing a tiny tank top and even tinier shorts, so she's all never-ending tan legs and smooth arms. And her face is scrubbed clean, no makeup.
She doesn't need any. The way her eyes are so blue, with those soft black lashes, her lips and cheeks stained pink, she's too damn beautiful to cover it with anything at all. She leans down and all her hair tumbles over her shoulders.
"Winch!"
The way she says my name, like she's excited to see me, like I'm the one person she's been waiting for, burns away every stray shred of irritation I had stored up from this long day with my family.
"Hey beautiful. You have a minute for me?"
"Why didn't you call? I would have gotten dressed if you wanted to go out somewhere."
She tucks her hair back behind her ears and it makes them stick out just a little bit.
"I texted. You must have been in the shower. But it's cool. I like having you here, all to myself."
Being out in the night, looking up at her, all clean and sexy and mine turns me a little romantic.
"Are you sure it's not just because you're being super cheap?" she teases.
I take a few steps back, give myself a decent head-start and jump at her balcony.
Evan lets out this little yelp, but doesn't miss a beat. She grabs me by the wrists while I swing my feet up and get enough traction to scale the side. I fall over the edge and into her arms, and she's laughing so hard, she can barely breathe.
"Are you insane?" she gasps, wiping hysterical tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.
I pull her face close and kiss her, soft at first, then hungrier.
"Nah," I say when I pull back, liking the way her eyes stare at me all big and bright. "Not cheap either. But I am damn excited to be spending time with you. Put some clothes on, and I'll take you somewhere swank to eat. Wherever you want."
She traces her fingers down my cheek.
"I'm not hungry. For food."
"Where are your grandparents?"
I look through the curtains billowing in and out, to her open bedroom door and the hallway past it.
"They are at a golf tournament and dinner in South Carolina. They'll probably get a room for the night." She bites the edge of her bottom lip between her teeth, and my body goes rigid. "We could hang out."
"I'd love to." I thread my fingers through hers and try to steady myself. I've got time, no need to rush things. "You have a pretty sweet view from up here. It looks like a jungle down there."
She peeks down, and I let go of her hand and watch while she paces along the edge of the balcony.
"It does, right? I love it. This was always my room in the summer, when I stayed with my grandparents while my parents went out and philandered all over the world."
She leans her elbows on the ledge and arches her back, giving me heart palpitations. I sit in one of the little wrought iron chairs set up on the balcony and enjoy the view.
"Every summer?"
Who would leave this girl anywhere for any amount of time? I'm already a little pissed that my chances of being able to stay all night with her tonight are slim to none with Remy currently riding the fucking crazy train.
"Every summer," she echoes, her words dry.
I hold my hand out to her, and when she takes it, I thread her delicate fingers with mine and pull her, all coltish legs and wild hair and fresh-smelling skin, down onto my lap.
"Did you like staying here?" I can smell the shampoo on her damp hair, sweet and flowery.
"Yes." She snuggles against my chest, and I wrap my arms around her, memorizing all the lines and curves of her body. "My parents are high maintenance. High drama. It was so nice to be here and just not have to deal with all their shit for a while."
I kiss right along her hairline, loving having her in my arms and listening to the smoky-honeyed sound of her voice in the hot night. "When did you last see your parents?"
Her sigh loosens all the tightness out of her muscles, and she sags against me at the final exhale.
"Mom went to Cabo in May, so the end of my junior year. Daddy hung around
