Page 28 of My (Not So) Perfect Plan

I roll him out to his truck. It’s gotten awkward and silent. He’s not joking around with me like he should be considering what we just walked away from and that has me feeling self-conscious. I know I wasn’t the only one affected by that kiss, but what if he’s just using me for a good time?

Once we are settled in his truck and I pull out of the parking lot I realize how late it is. Mom will be expecting me home within the hour.

“Can we drive out to the Point and talk?” Evan asks. I frown. The Point is the place where all the teenagers go to park and make out. Don’t get me wrong, I am dying to experience another one of his kisses, but I don’t want him to get the wrong idea about the kind of girl I am. I’m offended that apparently, he already does have the wrong idea, although, I only have myself to blame now.

“You know I’m not some skank who’s just going to give it up because I’m supposedly dating the QB, right?”

Evan rolls his eyes at me. “Former QB. And yes, I know that. That’s probably part of the reason why I… Nevermind. Just… can we talk?”

I shake my head. “Not today. I really can’t. I know we need to talk, so don’t think I’m blowing you off. I promised my parents I would be home by midnight. And I’m babysitting pretty much all day tomorrow while my mom runs errands and goes shopping.”

“What about me?” Evan asks, pouting a little bit for show.

“What about you?” I ask innocently.

“Oh, whatever, Claire. You know you want your boyfriend to hold you in his arms and whisper sweet nothings in your ear at some point this weekend.” He’s joking, but there’s an undercurrent of disappointment in his voice.

“Okay, let’s clear that up now,” I say. “What the heck was that? Why’d you say you were my boyfriend?”

Evan throws up his hands in defense. “I don’t know! I was mad because of all that crap Tina was saying. I really wanted to shove her nose in it. It just came out and then I couldn’t take it back.”

“And now everyone thinks we’re doing the nasty.” I scowl at the road.

“That was all you, babe.”

“I’m not your babe,Carmichael.”

“It’s so sexy when you say my name.”

He sighs and leans his head back against the seat. I almost think he’s tired and done with this conversation when he reaches out an arm and begins stroking my arm with his fingers. I swallow.

“Claire. Don’t resist it,” he says in this knowing voice.

“Stop it,” I hiss. “You’re like the devil, trying to tempt me away from the straight and narrow. Not today, Satan!”

Evan bursts out laughing, but thankfully removes his hand, holding his abs while he laughs instead.

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s a bad idea to distract someone who is driving your truck?” I add.

“Whatever, I can’t believe you just compared me to Satan! It’s not like I’m some libertine, virtue stealer here.”

“Doesn’t matter. My chastity belt is staying on and locked regardless,” I say surprising myself. It seems Evan brings out my lighter, wittier side. Weird.

“Oh, man,” he laughs, “I love you, woman!”

I look over and give him the crazy eye because we both know he doesn’t mean it likelovelove. He grins at me.

“Thanks for getting me to the game,” he says. “And the diner. And there’s that party tomorrow night.”

“Did I tell you I don’t do parties? Pretty sure I did,” I say as I pull into his driveway. I know what those high school parties are like – a lot of teen drinking, making out, and possibly pot smoking. I was okay with being a prude because I had a career plan. There was no way I could let anything hijack my future success.

As if to remind me of the stark difference between his situation and mine I pull into the paved area in front of the four car garage. My mouth gapes again at the sheer immensity of the place.

“Oh, you are coming with me to a party at some point,” Evan says. “Either you show and act like my girlfriend, or people are going to start wondering if I’ve lost my mind because I keep talking about my girlfriend who’s never around.”

I want to go, if for no other reason than to spend time with him, but no, I tell myself, that’s not going to happen. It’s like a gateway drug. Go once and then before you know it, you’re pregnant at eighteen, without the support of a spouse. Instead, I laugh as I open the door on my side. “Then you’re just going to look crazy!”

“But Claaaairree!” he whines. We’re both laughing as I help him out of the truck. I run up to the front porch where weleft his crutches next to the door and bring them down for him. He steadies himself and then gets serious.

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