Page 16 of The Right Kind of Wrong

CHAPTER 6

Evelyn

I look around at the people conversing, taking a sip of the drink I wasn’t supposed to be having. There weren’t many of us there, but the place felt full of happiness and warmth.

And it was all thanks to the man looking back at me from across the room. I lifted my cup, toasting with him from a distance and he did the same, holding up his before drinking and going back to the conversation with Nana and Carter.

This is so fucked up.

“He seems cool,” Karla said, nudging me with an elbow.

“Who?” I pretended not to know who she was talking about, earning an intense eye roll from her. I shrugged, downing the drink in one gulp. “Yeah, he's nice.”

“And hot,” Jenna said, chiming in.

Karla agreed, a dreamy sigh leaving her lips.

“He's also married,” I added, glancing between the girls. “To my sister.”

“Minor detail,” Karla shrugged. I glared, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling settling in the pit of my stomach. She shouldn't have been talking about Nathan like that, but more than anything, I shouldn't have been thinking about him that way, either.

“You know, people talk,” Jenna said quietly.

Both Karla and I gave her our attention, a proud smirk on her face. Jenna wasn't much of a gossiper, but she was quiet, and I had heard that the quiet ones were the ones to fear. They didn’t talk, yet they sure as hell listened.

“They've been going to therapy for a month or so,” Jenna said, the news taking me by surprise. “Mom says they've actually been separated for a bit over a year.”

That explained a lot.

“I had no clue,” I said surprised.

“Well, you know your sister. She has a ‘reputation’ to live up to. Keep up with appearances and whatnot.”

That did sound a lot like my sister, all reasons for her to stay in a loveless marriage. Maybe if she was with someone who loved her, she'd be less bitchy, more compassionate. Caring.

The girls gossiped a bit more, but I was lost in my thoughts.

Thoughts that shouldn't be there.

I hated myself in that moment, thinking about my brother-in-law and how much I just wanted to spend the night talking to him seemed surreal to me. We had always been close friends, but in that moment, I knew it was borderline inappropriate.

Going to school would help. I'd be out of the house, would get to know more people, meet more guys. That would kick Nathan out of my mind.

“You know, when we heard you came back, we expected the same outspoken girl that left.”

I smiled, turning back to see Evan who was also drinking. He'd always been the one who knew where the parties were, and the one everyone wanted there. When I saw the glimmer in his eyes, I knew he was about to ask me to dance. I shook my head before he even spoke the words, making him chuckle.

“Come on, Evelyn. It's your birthday. Do me the honor of sharing a dance with you. You were always my best dance partner.”

“I don't know how to dance,” I said, laughing as he dragged me out to the spacious living room.

“But you have fun with it,” he said, taking my hands in his as he forced me to sway to the music.

Soon Karla, Jenna, and Helen joined us. The rhythm of the music blasting throughout the house finally overtook my nerves, the beat pulsating through my veins. My friends were with me, dancing and having fun. I smiled, feeling truly joyful for the first time since I had come back.

Life here wouldn't be so lonely, as long as I had them around.

Even Nana and Carter were moving slowly to One Republic's music, surprising me. Nate walked towards us, his stroll slow and confident. A playful smile was on his face until he reached me, his hands going to mine as soon as he was close enough.

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