My Lover Boy| JJ Maybank

Chapter 8

The restaurant was buzzing with energy. Sarah and Evelyn, both a little tipsy, couldn't stop laughing, leaning into each other like they were sharing a secret. The dinner so far had gone really well. Evelyn was ecstatic that she finally had a functional family again.

"Okay, okay, listen," Sarah started, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably. "You guys don't understand—Evelyn here... she's the worst at karaoke." 

She pointed dramatically at Evelyn and burst into giggles again.

"Excuse me!" Evelyn nudged her back, giggling too. "You're the one who kept saying you wanted to do that song and, for the record, I'm actually really great at karaoke." 

Rafe, across the table, shook his head, grinning. "Yeah, you two are about five minutes away from starting a sing-along right now."

Sarah gave an exaggerated gasp. "Rafe, please. We would never..."

Evelyn eyed her friend. Everyone knew that if the restaurant had karaoke, they both would get up immediately and dominate the stage. 

Rose watched them, smiling wider than Evelyn had ever seen before. "I should've brought my camera. You two are something else."

Ward, sitting at the head of the table, raised his glass. "Well," he said, trying to get the focus back, "I think it's safe to say Evelyn really does fit in great."

"A toast!" Sarah exclaimed.

"To Evelyn Cameron," Ward replied.

Everyone clinked glasses, though Sarah missed on her first try and laughed as she finally managed it on the second. A few drops of champagne spilled, but no one cared. Rafe eyed the both of them, and Evelyn could tell he knew they had had a bit to drink before coming.

"Thanks for adopting me guys."

~~~~~~~~~

The car ride with JJ the next day was a bit awkward. Maybe it was only her who felt it since she didn't want to tell him that she was a Cameron now, but Evelyn could tell that they were getting more comfortable with each other. They talked from the second she got in the car, to the moment they parked in the driveway.

When JJ and Evelyn arrived at the Chateau, John B was once again, sitting on the front porch, but this time, Sarah was with him. It was weird that she was there, especially after the conversation she had had with Topper the other day.

"Sarah?" she asked. "What are you doing here?"

She looked up, startled. "Oh, uh, just telling your brother here that I wasn't the one who told Dad about the scuba gear."

"Oh, wait he knows?"

John B replied before Sarah could respond, "Got fired."

Evelyn slowly nodded her head in acknowledgment, not knowing what to say. She certainly felt bad for her brother, but she was also convinced that if he had just asked, Ward would have lent it to him. 

"What are you doing here?" Sarah asked Evelyn.

"Uh, just visiting my brother?" Evelyn replied, not wanting to reveal the truth. "We're attempting to mend our relationship."

Sarah eyed her with suspicion. It was extremely unlike her to try to fix things with John, but Evelyn was glad that Sarah left it alone. She just nodded her head, and said she was going to leave them to it.

"All right, are you dummies ready for the hunt?" JJ asked.

~~~~~~~~

The sun hung low in the sky, casting golden light across the water as the small boat rocked gently in the harbor. Evelyn stood at the bow, her hair whipping around her face in the salty breeze, her heart racing with excitement and nerves. Next to her, JJ leaned against the railing, his smile infectious as he scanned the horizon.