I can’t tell if he’s being condescending or genuinely curious, but I do see the way Carter’s now watching Susa.
Reappraising her.
A desperate need for them to like each other thrums through me.
“Because Daddy helped write that bill, for starters. He’s the ‘Evans’ in question in the full title.” She sits back, a playful smirk on her face, tapping her pen against the desk, her legs crossed and one foot bouncing a little. “And I was standing right there in Gov. Alexander’s office when he signed the dang thing. Somewhere, I have the pen he used. He gave it to me.”
The instructor’s eyes widen. “You’re Senator Benchley Evans’daughter?”
She lifts her chin a little. “I’mSusannahEvans,” she says. “And I’m going to make a name for myself, thank you very much.”
Somehow, I believe she’s absolutely right. I hope I’m there to see her do it in person.
By the end of class there’s a couple of things I know for certain—she’s nearly two years younger than me, acts older than Carter, and seems to have a brain that can run circles around both of us and the instructor.
Am I turned on?
Hell, yeah.
I also know she’s way out of my class, so to speak.
At the end of class, she holds out her hand for Carter’s phone. He passes it to her after unlocking it, and she plugs her name and address into it, then texts her phone from it.
With a playful smile, she returns it. “Can you be there by five? I’ll go shopping on the way home. Anything special you need for your moussaka, or can I get what I usually get?”
“Whatever you usually get,” he says, studying her.
She gives him a playful smirk. “What are your names? You never introduced yourselves.”
“Carter Wilson.”
She looks my way. “Owen Taylor.”
“Carter. Owen.” She’s already packed her stuff. “See y’all at five, then. Feel free to bring laptops or textbooks or whatever. I’ll be happy to tutor y’all for free in this class.” She drops us a wink before she heads out, leaving both of us watching her.
At the same time, Carter and I turn and our gazes meet.
I feel a wall go up in him, just a subtle way he shifts position. “Looks like we have dinner covered,” he says.
“Looks like we do.” I feel like he’s…studying me. I don’t get the distinct feeling he’s that into Susa, though. Hell, she’s ten years younger than him.
Before he can walk out, I reach out and touch his arm, staying him, letting the room empty.
“Are we okay?” I softly ask.
As if it was never there, the wall disappears. “Yeah. Why?”
“I just… Sorry. Nothing.” There’s me, frantic to be a people pleaser.
Thanks, Mom.
He tips his head, indicatingher. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt tonight. Sorry. My brain was already running through logistics, and I kind of shifted modes without thinking.”
Relief fills me. Of course. Military. “Sorry.”
He playfully smacks my shoulder. “Don’t apologize. It’s nice having a friend who can read me the way you seem able to.” He pauses and turns back to me. “Never hesitate to be honest with me, Owen. Please. I don’t have many friends.”
I opt to lighten the mood. “And now you’re stuck with an annoying little brother.”
