Evelyn smiled. “What do you plan on doing, brother?”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXVzEE1iZo
I glared to her. “Not what you think,” I said. “I just need to talk to him about something.”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5pjPltCSg
Evelyn looked me up and down while Eric toyed with the keys in his hands. “You’ve got a phone for a reason, dude.”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSeWsnqobn
“I’m grounded,” I reminded them.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7lPG0tIjt
“How?” they both asked me at the same time. I shrugged, not wanting to get into anything. My mind was still spinning from breaking up with Haven, and I was unsure if there was really any chance for me at school tomorrow. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aywtoRX1K
⟴. I have homework.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnDrj5PKu0
“Can you drive me or not?” I asked Eric. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n7tcOtGxM
My older brother shrugged before he put his keys back down on his bed. I didn’t really care what deal he wanted to make, as long as he’d let me take the keys at night. “Imma make a deal with you,” he said.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EWIbq63n8
“Go,” I challenged.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAvr2PxSA1
Eric smirked. “You let us come with you, and I won’t tell Mom and Dad about you sneaking around all the time.”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIp0bCOFim
I looked at him like he was crazy. “What? Wh-why would you even-no.”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs0obcPifd
“He’s just worried about his emotions,” Evelyn said, rolling her eyes. “It isn’t the worst thing in the world, Ez. Plus, I wanna talk to Callie.”241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXVUgGWM9H
copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3OVvQK2Il
It’s like I can never have a private conversation with somebody. “Then call her on the phone,” I said. If Evelyn wanted to be friends with Calliannah, that was her business, not mine. I could care less about whatever happens in their friendship, as long as she doesn’t ruin my time with Delcan. Sure, he doesn’t listen, and he can annoy me for hours at a time, but it’s better being around him than with Haven. Or Evvie, for that matter. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B3tBf5qUo
Eric shrugged. “Alright,” he said. “Then I guess you’re gonna have a fun talk with Dad.”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlRNK2Zzkf
Gym.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKjAGOrrQa
“Fine,” I said. “But I swear to God, Eric if you ask a single-"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MjJUu0awr
copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVLPon5uNZ
“Oh, chill.” Eric rolled his eyes. “I don’t want any of those details, in the first place.”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAlJn5MnF6
Evelyn shook her head with her eyes closed before she opened them again and looked at me. “You should probably text him.”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsRV3xKuYA
“What does grounded mean to you?”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLwrBUOGoC
Evelyn looked like she was about to flip me off, but I was surprised that she didn’t. “Do you know his number?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v51K0it2Q
copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhc11A6NXM
The only people’s numbers I know are my parents, and that’s because of when I was younger. I can’t even remember the first few digits of it, let alone the entire number. I didn’t even know the actual address of his house. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAeLwijgMi
I want my phone back. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs3nTEiHlH
“No,” I said. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0Yx1078O5
Eric pulled out his phone within a second. “I’ll text him,” he said. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIG9ucrNse
I looked at him, raising my eyebrows. “When did you get his number?”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kG8HAN0i8
“You’re dating a guy who literally slept with people for money,” Eric said. I looked down at the ground. “And you’re asking me how I got his number?”241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfOu95b5Rl
copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC9G9bGhkv
“Was it from Ethan?” I asked.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfd3pIfRvI
Eric nodded with a straight face.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5B3MKKnxKF
I got past whatever information Ethan could possibly share about Delcan (that would actually be lies) and tried to think of a way out of this. “Why do you even want to be around Delcan? He doesn’t like many people.”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsiP8s1OJl
“I’m shocked,” Evelyn said sarcastically. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6Ax90gpRL
“He responded,” Eric said, looking up from his phone. Since they were already butting into my business, I might as well listen. I sat down next to Eric as he gave his phone to me.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XmaK6V7EG
Delcan Heslop:copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk84agwb5g
Okay, stop. How the ⟴ did you get my number?copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpm8Xw8dVZ
“Told you,” I said. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3WleGs9O7
Eric shrugged and took his phone out of my hands before he began responding to him. Delcan had told me once on one of our dates that he didn’t care much about my siblings or friends, and he wouldn’t let anything come between our relationship - if we were to have one. “He’s texting back,” Eric said.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAsZFCgcOl
Evelyn finally got off the rolling chair from Eric’s desk and sat down next to me. “Ez, can you ask Delcan if he hates me?”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlKPtImBVh
I smiled. “He doesn’t hate you, Evelyn,” I said. “He just has unique ways of showing his emotions.”241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW87F3CGe8
“Like flipping me off,” she said. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUlxgzeJJ2
Oh. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡQADizjVPvJ
“Yeah,” I said, shrugging. It was really the most I could say because it was hard to explain how Delcan’s brain worked.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY5WOyEbaz
I don’t even think he knows how his brain works. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMuOkKoyt7
Delcan Heslop:copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkHeDhxy73
Whatever. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡii2neRWS27
This better be something interesting, though. copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡswTWkdGJLa
It was odd how quickly he’d agreed to it. He never really does that. Evelyn stood up and pulled her hair into a high ponytail. “I guess I should get ready,” she said.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnuyB7Q9GX
Both Eric and I looked over to her. “Why?” I asked her. “You look decent enough.”241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lEcnpcFSf
copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYfglu7ima
“I haven’t even washed my hair, Ezra,” Evelyn said, looking at me as if I’d just said the worst thing to ever say. “And my outfit needs to be changed.”copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPHiL2vsLh
Eric shut his phone off, and set it down. He shrugged. “I will never understand women,” he muttered under his breath. Evelyn glared at him before she huffed and left the room, leaving Eric and I to ourselves.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCF8bhf1qW
“Eleven thirty,” I told him. He nodded without question, and I left his room. So we’re doing this. Once Mom and Dad are both asleep, we’ll be making our first move.copyright protection237ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEUeUgJ2y5
ns3.236.164.119da2
