“I’m glad to see Zach’s not the only cocky one in the family.” Evie looked up and caught the ghost of a smile pass under his mustache. Evie set the table while the steaks were resting and a few moments later Lilah and Vega arrived with the salad and the cobbler.
After Lilah said grace, Jesse made a show of serving his steaks, and gave Evie his first real bit of culinary advice.
“You can make my cousin here like drown hers in A.1., ’cause—”
“Let me live my life,” Lilah scoffed.
“But if you season it properly and know your way around the heat the way I do”—geez, it was like Zach had grown a foot and packed on a hundred pounds—“your steak won’t need a thing.”
Lilah rolled her eyes. “Try it his way. And then next time I’ll make garlic-butter sauce. There’s more than one way to eat a steak.”
“Mine’s the best way,” Jesse said right before he popped a bite of the meal he’d prepared in his mouth.
Evie shook her head, then followed suit. She managed to hold in a groan of pleasure, but a small breath of pleasure did slip out of her nose.
“See,” Jesse muttered with his mouth full.
“It’s good,” Evie said. Jesse had a different approach, but if Evie paid attention, she could learn a thing or two from him. Including intriguing Pleasant family gossip.
* * *
Evie was forever in debt to the people who organized her and her grandmother’s belongings. It only took her a few minutes to find her journal from the summer when she turned fifteen. After the four of them had dinner, Evie went for a walk down to the end of the lane with Vega and the dogs.
Lilah didn’t have to go back to work for another few days. She asked Evie if she wanted to join her for a late-night movie marathon, but Evie felt drained again. It had been another long day and the excitement from the exhibition had worn her out more than she’d realized. And in the morning, she was off to see the doctor. She’d had enough action for one day. She retreated to her room and started going through her box of journals.
She flipped back and forth through the pages until she found the entry she’d been looking for. Zach had been right about the scar on her arm. In messy handwriting, the twenty-third of June.
Busted my arm. I hate that stupid horse.
The next entry wasn’t until late August and it was long. Her fifteen-year-old self, celebrating the removal of her cast, recounting how Nana Buck had grounded her for attempting to even ride Flex, and the tragic account of discovering that Zach had kissed a girl named Katie. She didn’t leave any clues as to who Katie was, but Evie made her feelings about the situation very clear. If anyone was kissing Zach Pleasant it should be her. Her fifteen-year-old self would be very pleased with recent developments.
She read on, and saw that sophomore year had been filled with drama. A fight with Delfi and details of how Britnay had planned a sleepover to force them to make up. Something about a couple—Callie and Mitch?—who’d had a messy public breakup in the halls. Lots of entries about Zach. Entries on how she dreamed about him, daydreamed about him, wondered what it would be like to “go all the way with him.” And she wasstressedby the idea. All of it seemed so silly and trivial, especially as most of her grievances seemed to be resolved almost overnight. There was one entry that made her stop. A simple sentence a few days before Halloween:I miss Mom and Dad.
Evie stared at the words, her heart aching for her younger self and parents she no longer knew, but when she turned the page, what she read lifted that ache almost instantly.
I’m in love with Zach Pleasant.
He found me crying in the library after my family tree presentation and convinced Nurse Baker I was sick and needed to go home. He told her Nana and his parents were in Dallas for Golden Spur so he had to drive me home.
We drove to Sonic instead of going home and we just hung out there until dinner time. I think he wanted to kiss me when we were sitting his truck, but we didn’t. I know it sounds dumb, but sometimes he looks at me like he’s really thinking about me. I know he tells me all the time we’re buddies, but I don’t know.
It doesn’t help that Mr. Pleasant jokes that I’m his girlfriend all the time either. Zach hates it.
I want to make a move, but I think rejection is literally deadly and I just can’t risk it. Also Nana will have me shipped off to a Swiss boarding school if she finds out any parts of our bodies touched. I hope she never finds out I saw Jesse’s dick by accident that one time. She’ll send me to a convent.
Nana totally busted us ’cause Nurse Baker called her at the ranch to double check after we left, but Zach stuck up for me and Nana understood why I wanted to get out of school. She’s kinda pissed, but she said that I can still go to Britnay’s Halloween party. Maybe I’ll dress up as Katie. He’ll kiss me then.
She dog-eared the page before she set down the diary, then picked up her phone. Still thinking about the amazing show you put on today. Are you still up at the ranch?
Her face heated shamelessly when she saw his immediate response pop up on her screen. Hey! Thought you’d be asleep by now. About to head back.
Evie texted, You want some company? When you get back. She imagined Zach had to be up early the next day. He seemed to be an early riser, and while she was tired herself, she wanted to see him. The rodeo had been a complete tease. Forget the tricks, she never thought seeing him on horseback would be such a turn-on. She didn’t want to wait a whole twenty-four hours before she could see him again.
Zach:If you can sneak away from Nurse Vega. Fuck yeah.
Evie:No sneaking required. I’m grown, as she likes to say.
Zach:I knew I liked her. Meet me at my place in 10.