Page 97 of Next to Everything We Wanted

I drummed my nails against the desk. Maybe his last name started with an H since his stage one did. Then again, Ivan and Gavin didn’t start with the same letter. It was probably something else. Something similar to Hicks.

I looked up last names similar to Hicks, but none of the results seemed right. Gavin was one letter longer than Ivan, so maybe his last name was a letter longer than Hicks?

What if Gavin wasn’t his real name, after all? He never flat-out said it was. Then again, it explained his freak-out.

I took out a piece of paper and wrote down my ideas.Gavin. Ivan Hicks. Every letter in Ivan is also in Gavin. Is every letter in Hicks also in his real last name? Gavin Hickson?

“Sienna!”

I jumped, my pen flying out of my hand, to see Emma in the doorway. “Sheesh, knocking exists, you know. Where’s the fire?”

“I can’t find movie butter for the popcorn.” Her brown gaze traveled to my laptop. “What are you doing?”

I slammed my laptop shut. “Emailing my boss.”

“Yeah, right. I’m going to look in the garage for butter.” She spun on her heel before shutting the door, her footsteps thumping away.

I sighed before opening my laptop again and looking up Gavin Hickson. A few random men popped up, none looking even close to my boyfriend.

The door flung open again. “Never mind. Adam found the new bottle.”

I groaned. “What did I just tell you?”

“Sorry.” Emma glanced at my laptop. “Is that your boss?”

“Stop getting in my business.” I shut my laptop again.

She frowned. “Join us before the movie starts.” She turned around and slammed the door, the pictures on my wall shaking.

I got up from my desk and went into the living room to watch the movie. Maybe it was a good thing Emma had interrupted me—I didn’t need to doubt my boyfriend like this. If I wanted to know his last name, I could just ask him. He said that he’d gotten in the wrong crowd when he was in high school, but that didn’t mean he had a warrant for his arrest or anything. He didn’t have a bad bone in his body.

A good relationship couldn’t last without trust, and I wanted us to last for as long as possible.

CHAPTER 23

Gavin

Saturday was the first time I visited my family in a month. I’d planned on staying there for the Fourth of July, but since my parents were invited to a party and I didn’t know the people well, we celebrated the day before instead.

Asher and I seemed to get along, though the drift from Memorial Day weekend was still between us. I hated that things were so awkward, yet I kept quiet so everyone else could enjoy their day.

On the drive home, I stopped at a gas station and bought myself snacks. While I refilled the tank, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I took it out to see new texts from Sienna.

Sienna

Happy 4th of July!

Are you doing anything fun today?

Gavin

Happy 4th!

Just on my way home from visiting my family

Sienna

Why are you texting and driving?