My head snaps up to the driver’s side window and I meet Evan’s eyes. They look so different shadowed in darkness: there’s something both terrifying but enthralling about those eyes.
“Evan?”
He unclips his belt and pushes his door open, leaving the engine running as he slides out of the car.
&n
bsp; “Where are you heading?” he asks.
“Erm… home?”
He chuckles. “Is that a question, or a statement?”
I frown and shuffle my feet. “A statement.”
I look down at the ground, focusing all of my attention on the front of my Chucks; they’re so fascinating right now.
“Lexi?” His voice is a mere whisper, floating on the wind as the front of his shoes come into my line of sight. “Why are you hiding?” I gasp as his hand cups my chin and lifts it gently, bringing my gaze back up to his. “You never have to hide from me.”
“I—” I swallow at the intensity in his eyes. Why is he looking at me like that?
The only sound that can be heard is his engine and our breaths as our chests move in sync. Each time I inhale I nearly touch his chest, and just the thought of contact with him has me breaking out in goose bumps.
“You cold?” he asks, not waiting for my answer as he lets go of my chin. I feel the loss like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I can’t explain the feeling, but all I know is that I wish I would have been able to open my mouth and tell him that I’m not cold, it’s him: he’s the reason why my skin feels like it’s both hot and cold at the same time.
I shouldn’t be feeling like this. I don’t have the time nor the headspace for him to take up. I’m trying to get my life back on track, I can’t afford any distractions.
I watch with eager eyes as he leans into his car, his hand gripping the top of the door as he does. I can’t stop looking at his arm, the way the muscle flexes with his movements. He pulls something out and leans back out of the car, spinning around and holding it up in the air with a grin on his face.
“What’s—” I’m cut off when he steps behind me, wrapping it around my shoulders.
“It’s my leather jacket.” He stands back in front of me. “It’ll keep you warm.”
“Oh… I… thanks?”
He shrugs and shuffles awkwardly, wincing as he looks down the road back toward the community center.
“Do you need a ride home?”
“No!” I shake my head, berating myself for shouting. “I’m okay… I like the walk and it’s not far.”
He hesitates. “Are you sure?” he asks, biting his lip.
I shouldn’t be focusing all of my attention on his lip biting, or his muscles, or his eyes. I need to get away from him: far, far away.
“Yeah… I…” I take a step away from him and hook my thumb over my shoulder. “I better be going.”
He watches me, a small smile kicking up the corners of his lips as I back away several more steps. “Right. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” I frown before my brain catches up with me. Work, Lexi. He means he’ll see you at work. “Yeah, tomorrow.”
I stick my hand up in an awkward wave and spin around, putting too much force into it and nearly taking myself out. I right myself and laugh awkwardly, still feeling his eyes on me as I practically run down the road and turn the corner that leads to Livvy’s house.
By the time I make it to the path, I’m out of breath. Why did I just practically run away from him? He was only offering me a ride home, but the thought of being in that small, metal box he calls a car has my pulse racing.
Not only that, but I don’t want him to know where I live; it may seem silly, but I want to keep the anonymity. At least that way I know I can try and control all my crazy thoughts and not have them consumed with him all the time.
I just can’t work out whether I’m scared of him, or the way he makes me feel.