Read Online Finding Evan by Lisa Swallow - Free Book Online Page A

Faye too. No. I pull a textbook from my bag and try to focus on the words. Two hours. Plenty of time to finish my assignment.

Chapter Eight

    NESS

    Evan left for Lucy’s yesterday, a few hours after my fake gastro. I could tell from his hesitance that he knows I’m still upset about tonight. If that’s all that’s wrong. I can’t shake my suspicion that something is going on he’s not telling me about. Evan’s distance concerns me; recently he avoids talking about anything beyond the day-to-day. He’s shutting me out again. Hiding from something. When Evan comes back, we’re going to talk about this. Needing to see Lucy is fine, but I can’t go back down the route where secrets ruin what we have.
    I haven’t heard from him today and I know why – the MedSoc party is tonight. After the argument we had at lunch the other day, about him not coming with me, I know he’s avoiding one last snarkfest from me. We planned to go together for weeks – have fun together and escape the real world for an evening. And partly to show him I do want him involved with my friends, and that he’s imagining the Ollie stuff.
    When I found out Evan wasn’t going, I tried to pull out. Abby stopped me. She’s been invited by Jared and wants me to hold her hand around the scary med students. As if. She’ll leave me on my own after ten minutes.
    I decide to buy some new shoes to match my dress – a painful process because I hate shoe shopping – but I’ve no heels, and the dress I’m wearing looks stupid with flats. When I arrive home, I discover a blanket-covered Abby surrounded by used tissues. She croaks a hello to me.
    “You can’t be sick!” I protest.
    Abby’s pale face and reddened nose confirm she’s not going anywhere tonight. “I don’t want to be either; I was looking forward to tonight.”
    And now I’m not.
    I know it’s not her fault, but this isn’t my kind of night out, and I was relying on her after Evan let me down.
    “I could still pull out and not go,” I say half to myself.
    “Don’t be boring! You’ve spent the money on tickets and clothes now. And I want to see you in those.” Abby points at the box. “Get changed! Shoo! Be Happy-Ness, not Boring-Ness.”
    I pull a face at Abby. She’s added words to Ness to give me new names ever since we were kids. Evan heard her once, so he has his own names for me. Both of them think it’s hilarious, mostly because the stupidity winds me up. Sometimes I think I should’ve stuck with Vanessa.
    Relenting, I disappear upstairs to get ready. An hour later, I trip downstairs in my new red heels.
    Abby’s eyebrows shoot up. “Evan will be pissed off he missed you looking like that.”
    “Like what?” I smooth the red satin dress; I thought my choice was okay. Not too short, and although the material clings to my curves, the dress isn’t exposing much flesh.
    Abby gives a small laugh. “Sexy as hell, Ness. Especially, since you’re so gorgeous anyway. I’d better ask Jared to keep an eye on you.”
    I flush to what I expect is the same color as the dress. “Should I get changed?”
    “No! Lots of people will be dressed like you. Lipstick looks good too.” She puckers her lips at me.
    I walk over and plant a big red kiss on her hot forehead. “I still can’t believe you’re sick!”
    “Yeah, I’m pissed off. I want to go!” she whines. “Make me a Lemsip before you go, Dr. Armstrong.” For emphasis, Abby coughs.
    I screw my nose up. “Actually, I think I’m glad I’m going; I don’t want to stay here and be infected.”
    Abby pulls a face and I consider offering to stay with her. No. I can’t stay at home just because Evan isn’t here. His choice. And this is mine. A horn sounds from a taxi outside and I grab my coat.
    “Got your keys?” she asks.
    I hold up where I’ve strung them around my neck. This and the entry ticket are all I’m taking.

    ***

    The heat in the club hits me as hard as the loud music assaulting my ears. I