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Evan
“Evan,” Natalie shrieks as I shove her through the bathroom door of the garishly bright diner. “What is your problem?”
I struggle for air and get light headed. I bend forward and take a few deep breaths. “Did you not recognize that guy?”
This is bad. This is really, really bad.
Nat rubs my back. “No, I didn’t even get a chance to look at him before you went all hulk-smash on me.”
“That’s Lane... the mega attractive nurse from earlier this afternoon.”
Nat’s jaw drops, and she hits my arm, sending pain rippling through my collarbone.
“Shut up.”
I nod.
“Well shit, EJ, what do we do now? We can’t just run out of here...”
I lay my hand on my chest, and my mind spins in a whirlwind around the only solid thought planted in the center. There’s one thought I know is the right one, but the rest spin and sputter to come up with a better lie.
"I have to tell him." I slump back against the counter, and Nat whistles low and long.
"Yup. It's time Cinderella..." She grins at me.
"What does that mean?"
Nat checks her phone and shows me the clock past midnight. "Pumpkin time. You either run and leave your glass slipper, or you fess up and hope your prince isn't a frog." She giggles, and I swat her in the stomach.
"Gross. He is not a prince." I think back to the way he caught me when I fainted, and a slow smile spreads across my lips. Maybe he sort of is...a little.
"Whatever, you know what I mean. But if we walk out right now Lane will recognize you..."
Nat paces in front of me while I chew on my thumb.
"You distract Jordan, and I'll talk to Lane?"
"But how?"
A sick feeling fills my insides. "You know you’re my favorite person in the world right? My OTP. My soulmate. And I adore you more than anything in the universe."
Nat's face twists into confusion but she nods.
"Give me your phone," I say.
Nat reluctantly hands the device over, and I start furiously tapping the screen. When I'm done, I enter Jordan’s phone number from my wrist and take a deep breath. I say I'm sorry and hold the phone out.
Natalie: Jordan? It's Nat. I need to talk to you. Evan doesn't get it. I feel like you'll understand. I'm sorry, I know you don't know me or anything...
Nat's eyes fill with tears.
"I'm sorry, Nattie. I will make it up to you. I promise."
She nods, and I feel like the worst friend in the world.
A minute later I hear footsteps in the hall, and I rip open the door.
Jordan's concerned eyes tear at my insides and I feel worse. I should tell him. Right here. We'd be alone. Isn't that what I'm waiting for? Time alone?
I open my mouth, but the truth is not what comes out.
"Maybe you can talk some sense into her," I say stiffly, not to making eye contact for too long.
My limbs shake as I approach the table and see, Lane. My nurse. His face lights up when he sees me, obviously remembering me. I thrust my hand out at him as I slide next to him in the big C-curved booth.
"Hi. I'm Evan." My voice is determined. Lane's features bend into this quizzical frown, but he stays quiet.
"Lane." He looks from me to the rest of the group. I'm guessing he is deciding why no one else at the table finds my presence to be strange.
I swallow my fear and lean into Lane. I don't know how much time I have.
"They don't know about me, Lane," I whisper, and he tightens up in his beautifully cut jacket. "None of them. Even Jordan. I wanted to be free of it for a night."
Lane is pure shock, but half a second later the waitress starts bringing out plate upon plate of food, and the clatter and noise from everyone around us allows him to respond.
"Are you asking me to pretend I don't know you?" he whispers back. "To lie about your condition? Do your parents know you're out here, Evan?"
Tears sting my eyes, but I fight them back as I shake my head. "Not lie. Just don't say anything. For now. I will tell him after we eat, I promise."
His expression is weary, and Hector is watching us, so I force a smile onto my face.
"It's nice to meet you, Evan," Lane says loudly, pouring himself a coffee, but his eyes are untrusting. "My brother has been through a lot. You have to tell him," he adds quietly, and it shifts my panic to solid resolve.
I set my frown and rip the tea bag from the package. "So have I, Lane. Unless you forgot about my chronic, life threatening disease? This was supposed to be one night. He knows I'm leaving."
He stares at me, untrusting but conflicted. I meet his eyes, forcing down the fear that my magical night of normalcy is official over.