Evie's Knight by Kimberly Krey Read Free Book Online Page B

brown eyes.
    She almost said no, but something stopped her. It was that familiar energy–the charged vibe that flowed between them–seeming to assure her of peace and safety.
    She nodded. “Sort of. I have no idea what to do. Milton wants us to choose some huge thing in our lives, but I don’t really have anything that major. Nothing I want to share anyway.” She’d mumbled the last part.
    “I know what you mean.” Calvin slid his hand along her back, escorting her out of the class as the students filtered through the aisles. The action wasn’t forward, but it was definitely friendly. And when the tips of his fingers curved slightly along the side of her waist, it felt straight-out flirtatious. “At least this time you don’t have to share it with the entire class. Just me.”
    Just him. She liked the sound of that, yet she wasn’t sure it was any better than having the whole class critique it. At least then it was anonymous.
    “One thing I do know, from experience, is the closer you can get to the emotion–whatever it is–the better you’ll do on your piece. It’s just how creativity works.” He shrugged dismissively. “It doesn’t have to be big to anyone but you. As long as you can feel it strongly enough, it’s bound to come through in your art, touch other people.”
    She considered his words as they shuffled through the crowded hall. Her attention shifted from the pleasant warmth of his hand on her back, to the outer fringe of where her mind dreaded to go. There was something big in her life–so major, it had left scars on her heart that would never fade–but she couldn’t imagine sharing it.
    “You really have yours picked out?” she asked, walking into the bright, open air.
    Calvin released the door he’d been holding for her. “Would it make you feel better if I said no?”
    “Of course it would.”
    “Okay. I have no idea what I’m going to do.”
    She led him to the side of the entrance and turned to look him in the eye. “You’re lying.”
    “I know.”
    “You probably have the whole thing done already.”
    He chuckled. “No. I’m not that far. I just have an idea in my head, that’s all.” He eyed the crowd. “You expecting your friend today or are you going to need another ride?”
    “No, I drove today. But Kelly should be around here somewhere. We carpool.”
    He lifted his chin. “So what do you do on weekends, Evie?”
    Her brain scrambled. What did she do on the weekends? “Besides homework? Just hang out with Kelly. Sometimes we’ll head out to one of the dance clubs in town, or check out a local party.”
    His dark eyes narrowed. “Have you heard about the party tomorrow night–the one on Twenty-third Street? I told Parker I’d go with him. I’m his designated driver for the night.”
    “You’re not twenty-one yet?”
    “I am, actually. I just don’t like getting wasted.”
    Evie hadn’t heard a guy say that before; it was nice. 
    “Hey, you two,” Kelly approached her with an accusing grin, holding her hand out for Calvin. “I’m Kelly, the friend who had to bail on Evie the other day.”
    He shook her hand. “I guess I should thank you for that,” he said. “I’m Calvin.”
    Kelly tucked her black, bobbed hair behind one ear, catching her lip ring between her teeth.
    “Hey, where’s that party you were talking about this morning?” Evie asked her.
    “You mean the one you were groaning about?”
    Evie rolled her eyes. “Yeah. That one.”
    “It’s at the mansion.”
    “Where at?” Evie asked.
    Kelly pulled out her phone, scanned through a few texts. “On Twenty-third.”
    Calvin looked at Evie. “I don’t really want to go either. But if you’re going, it’ll make keeping my word a whole lot easier.” 
    “She’ll be there,” Kelly blurted.
    As Calvin stepped toward the lot, he looked to Evie for confirmation.
    She nodded. “I’ll be there.”

Chapter Seven
     
    Evie stepped through the back door, wiping the sweat from her