Evermore - Alyson Noel [37]
“Ever—” he starts.
But since I’ve already started, I may as well continue. “Have you seen Haven lately? She’s like a Drina Mini-Me. She dresses like her, acts like her, even has the same eye color. Seriously, stop by the lunch table sometime, you’ll see.” I glare at him, as though he’s responsible, as though it’s his fault. But the moment our eyes meet, I’m right back under his spell, a helpless hunk of steel to his irresistible magnet.
He takes a deep breath then shakes his head as he says, “Ever, it’s not what you think.”
I pull away and press my lips together. You have no idea what I think.
“Let me make it up to you. Let me take you out, somewhere special, please?”
I can feel the warmth of his gaze on my skin, but I won’t risk trying to meet it. I want him to wonder, to doubt. I want to drag it out for as long as I possibly can.
So I shift in my seat, glance at him briefly, and say, “We’ll see.”
When I exit fourth-period history, Damen is waiting outside the door. And assuming he just wants to walk me to the lunch table, I say, “Let me just drop my bag in my locker before we head over.”
“No need.” He smiles, securing his arm around my waist. “The surprise starts now.”
“Surprise?” And when I look into his eyes, the whole world shrinks, until it’s just me and him, surrounded by static.
He smiles. “You know, I take you somewhere special—so special you forgive my transgressions.”
“And what about our classes? We just blow off the rest of the day?” I fold my arms across my chest, though it’s mostly for show.
He laughs and leans toward me, his lips grazing the side of my neck as they form the word—Yes.
And as I pull away I’m amazed to hear myself answer with how instead of no.
“No worries.” He smiles, squeezing my hand as he leads me through the gate. “You’ll always be safe with me.”
sixteen
“Disneyland?” I climb out of my car and gaze at him in shock. Out of all the places I thought we’d end up, this never cracked the list.
“I hear it’s the happiest place on earth.” He laughs. “Have you been?”
I shake my head.
“Good, then I’ll be your guide.” He slips his arm through mine and leads me through the gates, and as we wander down Main Street I try to imagine him coming here before. He’s so sleek, so sophisticated, so sexy, so smooth—it’s hard to imagine him trolling a place where Mickey Mouse rules. “It’s always better during the week when it’s not so crowded,” he says, crossing the street. “Come on, I’ll show you New Orleans, it’s my favorite part.”
“You come here enough to have favorites?” I stop in the middle of the street and stare at him. “I thought you just moved here?”
He laughs. “I did just move here. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been,” he says, pulling me toward the Haunted Mansion.
After the Haunted Mansion we head for the Pirates ride, and when that’s over, he looks at me and says, “So which one’s your favorite?”
“Um, Pirates.” I nod. “I think.”
He looks at me.
“Well, they’re both pretty cool.” I shrug. “But Pirates has Johnny Depp, so that kind of gives it an unfair advantage, don’t you think?”
“Johnny Depp? So that’s what I’m up against?” He raises a brow.
I shrug, taking in Damen’s dark jeans, black long-sleeved T-shirt, and those boots, his easy good looks dwarfing every Hollywood actor I can think of, though it’s not like I’ll admit that.
“Wanna go again?” he asks, dark eyes flashing.
So we do. And then we head back to the Haunted Mansion. And when we reach the part at the end, where the ghosts hitch a ride in your car, I half expect to see Riley scrunched in between us, laughing and waving and clowning around. But instead, it’s just one of those cartoon Disney ghosts, and I remember Riley’s appointment and figure she must be too busy.
After yet another go on those rides, we end up at a water-front table in the Blue Bayou, the restaurant inside the Pirates ride. And as I sip my iced tea I look at him and say, “Okay, I happen to know this is a really big park with more than two rides. Rides that have nothing to do with pirates or ghosts.