“We should get started,” I said.
“Started?”
“Link brought some paint.” I nodded to the wall. “We should get started.”
“You don’t need to do this,” she replied.
“I know I don’t need to. I want to. If you’ll let me.”
She chewed her bottom lip for a few moments and then spoke so softly, I barely heard her. “Okay.”
We went back inside, and after I shook her father’s hand and offered whatever support I could give, we grabbed a can of paint and a couple of brushes and headed out back. Taylor, Link, and Hailey were already busy out front.
We painted in silence for a while, and then she nudged me with her elbow. “You’ve been studying?”
“Been trying. It’s just not as much fun on my own.”
“When’s your test again?”
I scowled. “Next week.”
“I could be persuaded to help you do a last-minute cram.”
“Really?”
“Yep.” She slapped her brush against the wall and finished off her section. “If you play your guitar and sing me that song that you told me about, I will give you one hundred percent of my tutoring capabilities, and you’re guaranteed to pass.”
“Song?”
“The Lynyrd Skynyrd one. ‘Simple Kind of Man.’ Your favorite.”
God, this girl. She remembered.
Could I do it? Could I pick up that guitar and finally sing? Could I try?
“It’s a date.”
“It’s not a date.”
“No?” I slapped on some more paint.
“It’s a beginning, Trevor.”
“I’m good with that.”
We worked in silence for the rest of the afternoon. Sure, we made small talk and stuff, and even though things weren’t all tied up in a pretty bow, I needed to believe we’d be all right.
So even though the thought of playing guitar and singing a song in front of a crowd scared the ever-lovin’ crap out of me, I would do it.
I was either going to rock it or I was going to crash and burn, but at least I’d have Everly with me. And failure didn’t look so bad when the prize was the girl I loved.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Everly
“You ready yet, girlie?”
I pulled my boots on and glanced up as Hailey walked into my room. She gave a low whistle and I blushed, because I was already considering changing. She caught my look and shook her head.