Read Online The Idea of You by Darcy Burke - Free Book Online Page A

“What about you? How did you cope?”
    That was a tough question to answer. Evan didn’t typically show a lot of emotion, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t any. He’d been angry and sad and, most of all, confused. He just didn’t understand how someone could be depressed enough to end it all. But he also accepted there were many things he’d never understand, and that was just the way his brain worked. “It might sound simplistic, but I acknowledged early on that this was a tragedy and that I couldn’t change it. The only thing I could do was to keep on living.”
    She came toward him, her mouth curving up. “You are the smartest, most grounded person I know. Thank God you provide some much-needed sanity in this family.” She kissed his cheek. “Now tell me what the heck is going on with you and Alaina Pierce! Was this a date?”
    â€œNo. She wanted to go wine tasting and couldn’t. No big deal.”
    â€œNo big deal? You went to three different wineries, as far as I can tell, and picked up a bunch of bottles of wine. That had to have cost you at least three hundred bucks.”
    â€œYeah, so? I have plenty of extra money since Mom and Dad won’t let me pay them rent.”
    She started toward the door. “You know, it wouldn’t be bad if you liked Alaina. Sean says she’s great.”
    â€œI do like her.”
    Tori looked back at him over her shoulder, her brow arched. “I mean like like her. As in dating.” She stopped in the hallway and turned to face him. “Unless you’re still together with your neighbor. What was her name?”
    â€œMichelle.”
    â€œThat’s right. You guys were together for a long time. I guess I just assumed you broke up when you moved back here.”
    For nearly two years they’d done their thing, but they’d never been “together,” not in the way Tori meant. “There was nothing to break up. It wasn’t serious.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Her brow knitted, and she adopted her older-sister expression. “Evan, you do realize that she might have thought things were more serious than you did. I mean, are you sure she’s okay?”
    â€œI think I can manage my own relationships, thanks.” Or nonrelationships, such as they were. “She’s fine.” Except she texted him sometimes and asked him to visit. He’d declined at first, but now he pretty much ignored her. Shit, maybe Tori was right.
    She exhaled. “I’ll stop micromanaging. You know I’m just trying to help, right?”
    â€œI do. Thanks.”
    Tori pivoted and started toward the stairs. “But seriously, if you and Alaina are going to date, let me know.”
    He followed her up. “Why, so you and everybody else can meddle? I heard how much you appreciated that when Sean was trying to woo you back last fall.”
    â€œOooh, that burns!” She laughed. “Point taken. I’ll mind my own business.”
    They got to the top, and she turned again and then touched his arm. “I just want you to be happy.”
    â€œI think you want me to be in love—like you are.”
    She cracked a smile. “Maybe I do. It’s pretty great.”
    He could see it all around him. Her and Sean. Sara and Dylan. Derek and Chloe. All of them happily married or engaged. Then there was Kyle and Maggie. Not married or engaged yet, but definitely happy.
    â€œSee you later.” He left her and hurried upstairs to his room for some quiet. He needed downtime every day, otherwise he’d be an overstimulated mess. He pulled up his e-mail and saw a message from Dad.
    Evan swallowed as he opened it, surprised to find he felt a bit nervous. But it was his first big promotional campaign for Archer. No, it was his first big promotional campaign, period. Dad had taken a chance when he’d hired a fledgling marketing and design consultant. Evan had come up