Chapter 23

In Evan’s car, Gloria asked, “Did you get my present yet?”

One glance at the girl in the passenger seat made Evan’s insides do a little tumble. “I like that look, ponytail sticking out of your cap.”

“Because Mom used to wear hers this way?”

Yeah, Evan thought, and I miss her. It had only been thirty-six hours, but it felt like days since they were together. “No, because it’s cute in a sexy way.”

“Thank you.” Gloria’s dimples showed. “My present?”

“How come you can’t walk or ride a bike to practice? I had to.”

“So, you didn’t get me anything. Does that mean we’re not going to do it?”

“Jeez, it’s not like that.”

“Like what?” Gloria asked.

“Like something that you plan out. It’s way more complicated than that.”

“Like what happened with Alex yesterday? You wanted to do it with her, right?”

Evan huffed. “That doesn’t matter.”

“So you did. You can. I know she’d let you. Jayda, too.”

“Stop, that’s not what I meant. I don’t want to do anything with your friends.”

“You really kissed her.”

“How do you know? Did she say that?”

“Didn’t have to,” Gloria said. “She thought you kissed me and didn’t believe Jayda when she said it was a trick.”

“I did kiss you.”

“Why didn’t you kiss Jayda?”

Because she would think I wanted to fuck her again, he thought, and she’d be right. “She would get the wrong idea. And I wanted to fuck with the tomboy.”

“Alex isn’t a tomboy.”

“She has a boy’s name.”

“Evan,” Gloria backhanded him, “stop it. You keep changing the subject. Just answer my question.”

“Okay, yes, I did want to, and that’s my point. There is a big difference between wanting to fuck someone, that just happens, sometimes just because, but it’s not like planned out, scheduled, arranged, or anything. What you want me to do is completely different.”

Evan saw his sister’s eyes welling up, so he pulled over. “Gloria, listen, I want to, wanna be with you, but it will change everything.”

“So?”

“So you can’t kiss me in front of Jayda’s house, hold my hand, or tell anybody about it, and we will never be able to return to how it was before.”

“I know, but it’s too late for that anyway. We already did those other things.” She shrugged. “So?”

“Trust me, it’ll be a thousand times worse after.” Dammit, that sure was the truth.

“Like the way it is with Mom now?”

Thinking, what the fuck, Evan asked, “What are you talkin’ about?”

“About when you’re in love with someone, it’s hard to hide it, hard not to touch them.”

“Well, yeah, but not with Mom. That’s how it would be with us and when Dad gets back.” He turned his palms up.

“It’s already that way,” Gloria said. “Come on, let’s go, I’m gonna be late.”

Since when does she care about being late? “I know it is ... really it is.” He squeezed Gloria’s arm and continued down the road leading into the ballpark.

Instead of dropping Gloria off in the parking lot, he drove across the grass and stopped behind the backstop. The few girls that were already there were all staring. “I did get your present,” he said.

Gloria got out and dragged her ball bag from behind the seat. “If you are, it’s okay as long as I get a baby sister.”

Evan opened his mouth, but Gloria slammed the door before he could speak. He had a lot to think about on his way to the race shop.

Evan used the cover of whatever music Cindy was streaming to a Bluetooth speaker on the workbench to sneak across the shop, but, just like Deana, Cindy’s cat-like senses perceived his approach. She turned, eyes wide, and quickly hit pause on her phone. “Evan.”

“Yup, it’s me.” He hugged his cousin. “What were you listening to?”

“Nothing, nobody you know.”

“Hey, let’s see, turn it on.”

“It was Iggy Pop.”

“Mm, okay, I have no idea,” Evan said. “So, what’s going on?”

“I’m checking the specs on Mike’s head work against the rules to see if it’s legal.”

Evan tipped his head. “And?”

“It’s not illegal yet, but if it actually makes the power Mike says, below three grand, it won’t be long before they’re investigating.”

“What happens then?”

“I guess it’ll either be illegal next year or Mike will be really busy. So far, only one other person at the track has it.”

“Sweet.” Evan grinned. “Oh, before I forget, Mom told me to say hi. You should give her a call.”

“Mm, okay, say hi for me.” Cindy stuffed her hand in her pocket. “I got something for ya.”

“Ooh, what?”

“Two Ben Franklin’s and a Grant, and a surprise.”

“Wow.” He fanned his face with the three bills and said, “This is perfect timing, too. I can get Deana’s present, and I’ll still have cash money.”

“A ring, I hope?”

He nodded suspiciously. “Yeah.”