Tainted Love Book 3

Daxon

Evin sat next to me my whole school life. We had side-by-side lockers and cubbies when we were grade-school kids.

I dropped out when we got to our sophomore year of high school, and I don’t think I ever looked back. I shut the door on all that.

I didn’t need it anymore, so I just didn’t think any of it was important for the life I was living. The life I’m living still.

I guess that includes Evin.

Her hair is cut long enough to hide her scar but styled to show it off in a way that says she doesn’t care. Her only makeup is on her eyes. Her glasses have changed since the last time I saw her.

Before, I remember thinking that the shape was more of a sexy substitute, and now it’s more like a sultry librarian.

Giving me “no loud noise in my library” vibes, but in a total “let me bend you over the front desk, Miss Noise Complaint” way. Yeah, I definitely have a boner now.

She makes a face at me, waiting for me to respond. I just haven’t yet.

Holy shit.

I'm speechless.

“Sorry, uh, this never happens to me.” My hands feel sweaty all of a sudden. I feel heat flooding my face.

What the hell is happening to me right now? Am I going through the change? Is this my midlife crisis? Have I fucked so many older ladies that I’ve caught menopause?

This is a hot flash.

The corner of her dark green book is held down for a minute and a half longer, waiting for me. Watching me.

She has a ring through her septum just like me, and, well, damn…but I don’t want to imagine his face right now when I’m getting to look at hers.

I have silver barbells, but the golden hoop on her is making me rethink my choice. The lace-worked edging stands out.

“Wow.”

It’s happening again.

“Wow what?” The look on her could freeze most men in their tracks long before getting this close to her. Evin did always have a way with that.

“Eh…how, um, are you still here? You must have graduated like eight years ago, or did you drop out like me? Come to babysit your baby bro, too?

“Weird how things come together like this, huh? The university is really doing it.”

I take the space on her armrest, placing my elbow down and tucking my knuckles under my chin.

The slight bit of air she takes in and the way it comes out kinda seems like I almost made her laugh. I’m going to count that one as a win, too.

“Ms. Carter, we’re in a deadlock. What should we do?” Percy’s voice shouts off the stage.

“Ms. Carter?” Her name tastes fluffy in my mouth. I don’t even know how to explain it. It’s not right. But it doesn’t sound bad. “Heeeyyyy, Ms. Carter” comes to mind.

I haven’t seen that movie in so long. When I get back tonight, I’ll pop that on and do a little drinky-drink with a little smokey-smoke after everything is all good before I go beddy-bye tonight.

Folding the corner of her page, she sets her book down in her seat and goes to the stage. I watch her walk up, taking a mental picture of everything I’m seeing right now.

Evin steps into the judge’s box, picking up a stack of white cards and flipping through them with ease. I can’t tell the dark color of her nails from back here, but I’m sure it’s fitting.

She's always been on the dark side of things. Never on any teams. Not one to raise her hand in class, even though she was smarter than the teachers.

I remember the workbooks she had. I would copy and paste them into my own in every class. Changing them slightly so they couldn't tell.

I remember her walking home a few times, headphones over her ears and a CD player jammed in her jacket pocket. The music would be up so loud that I could hear every note until she got to the end of the block.

Always rocking the high tops, no matter the season. Her hair pulled back every day of the week.

She never ate at lunch or took part in any of the parties. Not even the birthday cupcakes they'd give us in class. She always gave me hers.

Now she's a teacher? Ms. Carter. Why didn't I have her info pulled up? I’m supposed to know who’s at the school. What the fuck am I doing right now?

Pulling out my phone, I tap away at the screen, half looking at it and half looking at what she’s doing on the stage. Dane sits beside Percy, waiting and talking to himself as she shuffles the deck.

Hearing both sides of her team, she puts the cards down and closes her eyes.

She’s thinking.

“Death penalty. Hannah, you have the floor.”

Wow.