Page 45 of Next to Everything We Wanted

“It’s fine,” she said, giving me a short hug. “Really. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

Guilt twisted my insides. I hated keeping things from my friends, but I had to do it to protect Gavin. Even though I didn’t know what I was protecting him from. He couldn’t be an undercover criminal, right? Had I thrown myself into a dangerous situation?

Deciding that I hadn’t put myself through enough torture, I went over to the stage after everyone got out of the booth. Everett and Celia were still in the middle of their animated conversation, and it only took a few steps to realize that this was a bad idea.

Before I could back away, their gazes went toward me. Neither one looked thrilled.

“Can we help you?” Everett asked, annoyance seeping through his tone as his brows squished together. “Or are you looking for Ivan?”

“Oh, I just wanted to say that you guys did great tonight,” I said, mustering a smile.

He scoffed. “Yeah, thanks.” The darkness in his voice made it sound like I’d just insulted him.

Okay, it was official—Everett Tate was the rudest person I’d ever met.

Celia jabbed him in the side. “Thank you,” she told me, her lips curving in a small smile. “I like your lipstick. Red looks good on you.”

“Thanks, I like yours, too,” I said, my smile genuine this time. Before I could say anything embarrassing or suspicious, I ran back to the twins, my face flushing.

“That was quick,” Adam said as he opened the door.

“Quick enough so they didn’t rip my head off. They probably think I’m a complete weirdo.”

“That’s because you are,” Emma said.

I glared at her. “No milkshakes for you next time.”

She frowned. “You’re the coolest girl ever. And especially the coolest babysitter.”

I grinned. “That’s more like it.”

“Why do you keep staring at your phone like it’s money you’ve found on the ground?” Dad asked as he placed my plate on the table. “Did you finally get a boyfriend?”

“Dad!” I sighed, putting my phone in my lap. I took a bite of my waffles. “Mmm, these are the best waffles you’ve made in forever. The perfect combination of soft and crunchy.”

“Thank you.” He sat in his chair across from me. “Now stop trying to distract me from my question.”

My neck prickled with heat. “I wasn’t texting anyone.” Well, at least I wasn’tsendinganything. Ever since last night, my focus had been fully consumed by Ivan’s number sitting in my phone. I didn’t know how I’d focus at the birthday party gig I had today—one where we had to dress up as pets of all things.

Dad raised a dark eyebrow at me. “Is something going on that I don’t know about?”

“Yes. No. Maybe? I don’t know.”

“None of those are the answers I’m looking for.”

I sighed, fiddling with my fork. “You know the band that plays at What Do You Bean every Friday night? Somewhere in the Sky?”

“The one with the lead singer you and Emma are crushing on?”

“We arenotcrushing on him!” Man, I wished Emma was here so she could share the embarrassment with me.

“The pictures in your rooms say otherwise.”

“I only haveonepicture. And it’s of the whole band, not just Ivan. Emma and Adam have a whole collection of stuff he’s signed.”

Dad shook his head. “Is the lead singer the person you’re texting?”

“I’ve been trying to. He gave me his number last night, and I have no idea how to start a conversation. It makes my hands sweaty.”