The Boy Next Door

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

The next morning was hectic. I was desperately trying to help Savannah get ready while getting myself ready. Thank goodness Evan thought ahead and got cereal out for her to eat while I was showering.

"Ready to go?" I asked as I heaved a breath of relief that the morning was going to become normal.

"Yep! Miss Carly-there she is!" I nodded.

"Good. I'll see you for dinner." After giving her a side hug, I dashed to my car and hurried to school, barely missing the tardy bell.

Evan saw me come in and smiled. I sat beside him and gave him one of those "my morning was stressful don't you look at me like that" looks. Smiling a bit more, he shook his head and looked up towards our teacher.

By the time practice had come, I felt nearly guilty for the amount of time I'd spent with Savannah that morning. So when she arrived and smiled at me, I felt a huge weight lift off my chest.

"Ready?" Our coach asked before spotting Savannah. "Does anyone know this girl?"

"I do," I answered quickly, before she told Savannah to leave. "She's Evan's sister, recently moved in."

Nodding, she continued with practice.

I stepped off the field forty-five minutes later and greeted Savannah properly. "How was school?"

"Good."

"Good. I need to go to work." She waved as I walked to the locker rooms for a quick sponge bath.

The clinking of forks and lack of speaking communicated all we needed to know about each others' day: it was exhausting. Evan was falling asleep at the table. After all, he did get up at three thirty.

"Tomorrow," I said, "I'm planning on just having pizza."

Savannah nodded with enthusiasm. "Pepperoni!" Evan agreed as he got up and put away his dishes.

Savannah and I cleaned up dinner. She was more talkative now. "Evan was fun this afternoon. We played board games and he said he's going to take me to the park tomorrow."

"Cool. Since the only time I'll be spending with you is the mornings and after dinner, I'll try to be more calm about getting out on time."

"It's alright," she smiled. "I'm just happy I get to be here! Any amount of time would be more than before!"

I smiled back at her. "You're the sweetest thing I've ever laid eyes on. Speaking of, have you met Madelyn yet?"

She shook her head. "Maybe she can come to the park with me and Evan tomorrow!"

"Maybe so. Uh, bedtime is eight fifteen, okay?"

"Fifteen minutes later than before!" she cheered, heading to the living room to watch tv.

Walking past Evan's room, I saw him asleep already. I sighed lightly and hoped it wouldn't be like this the whole time. Once school's out, I thought, this will get so much easier. Evan and I can both work mornings and Savannah can play with Madelyn while we're gone.

I needed to ask if my parents would watch her for us, I forgot to do that.

I entered Savannah's room and saw that my clever sister had taped a note to my window that I could read if I leaned out a bit.

Meg, I miss you! Come home pleeeeaaassseee!!!!! Momma said I need to sleep without you here, but I wanna say goodnight! Can you come and say goodnight and then go back? Maddie

I frowned a bit and closed the window back. I'd call, I decided.

"Hello?" answered Dad.

"Madelyn put a note up on my window for me to read. Could you give her the phone for me to say goodnight to her?"

He chuckled. "Sure."

A few seconds later I heard a small voice on the phone. "Hey, Madelyn."

"Meg! Are you coming home?"

"No," I smiled and sat on my bed. "I'm going to say goodnight to you over the phone."

"Aw, okay."

My sister was wonderful, I thought as I hung up a few minutes later.