Read Online Everlasting by Elizabeth Chandler - Free Book Online

putdown of Max.
    “Sounds good to me!” Kelsey said enthusiastically.
    “Chase’s party or Gatsby’s?” Bryan asked.
    “Gatsby’s, of course,” Kelsey replied, lifting her auburn hair from her shoulders and waving it about, making her ponytail a fan.
    “I’d like to come, Chase,” Dhanya said.
    “Me too,” Max chimed in quickly. “Since we’re both going, why don’t I pick you up, Dhanya?”
    Dhanya blinked, caught by surprise. “Well, uh, I did have plans with Ivy tomorrow night.”
    This was news to Ivy—and it was pretty lame. But Chase nodded, not seeming to recognize a rejection of his offer. “Great. I’ll bring the other car. It’s got room.”
    “And Will and Beth,” Dhanya added.
    Will stopped sketching. Kelsey rolled her eyes at Dhanya’s contrived excuses. Ivy figured that somewhere in the Moyers’ fleet of cars there was one big enough for all of them, but Max had caught on. His tan became tinged with pink.
    “So,” Will said, loudly enough to draw attention from Kelsey’s grimace and Chase’s smug smile, “since it’s easier to keep plans sort of the same, the four of us will meet you there, Max.”
    “And Max will be my date,” Bryan added.
    “What about me?” Kelsey demanded.
    “I thought you preferred Gatsby parties,” Bryan teased. “But you can bum a ride with us if you want.”
    Ivy listened to the banter for a little longer, then stood upand walked to the ocean’s edge, letting the wind blow away the group’s conversation and laughter. It seemed as if it would be forever until that night, when she’d see Tristan again.
    They both knew they were taking a chance by meeting. It would be easier to take precautions if they knew who had threatened them. Had Gregory learned that Tristan was inside Luke’s body? If Gregory knew, would he openly attack Tristan or lie in wait for a vulnerable moment? Maybe Gregory wouldn’t have to do anything but help Luke’s enemies. To kill the body that was now Tristan’s would be just as good as killing her.
    But who were Luke’s enemies? If Andy was right, someone or maybe several someones out there had planned a successful murder—though they didn’t know how successful they’d been. Would they try something else just as effective? Was she going to lead Luke’s enemies directly to Tristan?
    A light touch on Ivy’s elbow startled her.
    “Hey.”
    “Bryan—hi.” Turning, she caught her long hair as it whipped around in her face. “Going in the water?”
    “No. Hanging out,” he said with a jaunty half-smile.
    Not this again , Ivy thought, recalling the night he had flirted with her at the skating rink. He’d denied it was an attempt to make Kelsey jealous, but getting a rise out of each other was their favorite sport.
    Bryan moved closer to Ivy and faced the beach—so hecould enjoy Kelsey’s reactions, Ivy thought. “Bryan, isn’t there another big party going on tonight?”
    “Yeah, a couple houses down from Max’s. Want to come?”
    “No. I want you to wait till then and find some party girl to make Kelsey jealous. You should remember this from college: Roommates are off-limits.”
    His green eyes sparkled with laughter, then suddenly grew serious. “Here’s the deal,” he said. “I’m going to smile while we talk and touch your hand, like the great flirt I am—”
    “Please don’t .”
    “But it’s all for show.”
    “No kidding!”
    “Because there’s something I need to talk about, and it’s hard to get the time to do that with you alone.”
    Ivy had begun to turn away, but turned back. “What do you mean?”
    “It’s about Luke.”
    Now he had her full attention.
    “We were friends.”
    Ivy stared at him with amazement. “Friends!”
    Bryan barely nodded, then said, “You’re looking kind of intense. I’m going to tilt my head and smile at you as if fascinated—”
    Ivy grimaced.
    “Good thing you’re not facing the beach,” Bryan added, laughing.
    “You know Luke? Why did you