second book in the Evelyn Black series
• • mature - language, drugs, alcohol, themes of sex • •
NEXT BOOK: Back to Hope
• slow slow-burn (like years) friends to lovers •
• soft burn romance •
[ all books listed in prologue via chronological order ]
...
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"This one!" Nell calls from around the corner of the boutique.
In a natural flock, Evelyn and Jaz rush around the corner to find their friend holding up a baby blue satin fabric, royal blue prints of cosmic lace framing the bust and creating a subtle off-the-shoulder sleeve.
Jaz audibly gasps. "Nell!" She seizes the skirt's ball-gown fabric, her eyes wide. "Holy hell! This is gorgeous!"
"Put it on," Evelyn orders excitedly, "put it on now!"
"Only if you're buying the green dress," Nell bargains. "I still quite like the pink one I tried on."
"Fred is very fond of blue," Evelyn teases. "That's all I'm saying." She can't help but smile enormously at the blush that crosses Nell's heart-shaped face.
+++
"Evelyn!" He shouts from the other side of the quad. "Hey!" And as she finds the origin of his voice it turns into the sight of him running through the snow as best as he can. Towers of white flakes splash up around him as he hikes his knees up to trench through the thick coat on the ground.
The sight of it is amusing, especially as he stumbles once or twice; Evelyn can't hold back the giggle in her throat.
"Holy Shit Ced," She laughs as he hoists himself over the cement sill. "I could've met you around the hall," she tells him.
"Sorry," he smiles. "It's just that I've kinda got an urgent question for you."
Curiosity pulls her brow up. "Urgent?" She asks.
"I've been trying to find ya all day," He admits. "I um—" he swallows, eyes searching Evelyn's face, "I was wondering if you wanted to go with me— to the ball, I mean..."
Her eyes widen. "Oh— Ced..."
"And I know it's cutting it close, I figure you have a date by now, but I couldn't resist asking," he adds quickly, the instant apprehension on her face worrying him. "And it doesn't have to be a date or anything, just as friends..."
The wheels in her head turn faster than usual.
George never asked me, a voice cries, the sound of it nearly bringing tears to her eyes.
There's still 6 days until the ball, another chimes, maybe he's asking still... there's a chance...
Or he doesn't want to, so he hasn't...
"Yes," she answers pointedly. "I'd love to go with you, Cedric."
A weight pulls at the twisting toughness in her chest as she answers.
His grin splits wider. "Awesome," he breathes. You can see the excitement lighting up his eyes. They look at one another for a moment, both of them smiling; his warm expression eases the quease in her stomach.
