Some Kind of Normal

I scooped up my laptop and threw it in my bag, hiking it over my shoulders before sending Mrs. Henney a quick wave and escaping into the hot Louisiana sun.

It was a week until Fourth of July, and here in Louisiana, that meant hot. The kind of hot that leaves T-shirts soaked in minutes. By t

he time I reached Everly’s home, my hair stuck to my neck, and I was dying for some water and seriously considering tossing my shirt.

Except her mom answered the door, and I didn’t think it was appropriate, her being a pastor’s wife and all.

“Trevor, I…” She seemed surprised and moved so that she could see around me. “Where’s Everly?”

Wait. What?

Okay, this wasn’t what I’d expected, but I played along because it was obvious that Everly had been lying to her mother and I didn’t want to be the one to get her into trouble.

I pulled out all the stops, and according to my grandmother, I had a lot ’em. She’d told me once that I could charm the panties off a nun if I wanted to. (Her words, not mine, because the words nun and panties should never be in the same sentence.)

I smiled and gave a half shrug as I rolled back on my feet. “Oh, man. I guess I got mixed up and came here instead of the library. She’s going to think I’m a tool.”

Mrs. Jenkins looked relieved. “Oh, yes, she left for the library about an hour ago. You must be late.”

“Sorry, I’ll head over there now.”

Mrs. Jenkins held up her hand. “How has she seemed these last few days?”

Huh. She’d been lying to her parents for three days?

“Okay,” I answered, taking a step back. I didn’t want to have a long conversation, because I wasn’t exactly sure what else Everly had lied about.

“Just okay?” Mrs. Jenkins bit her bottom lip and her eyes got all big and shiny. That was a sign—of what I didn’t know—but it couldn’t be anything good. It was time to leave.

“Normal, you know…yeah, she’s okay,” I replied. “I should get to the library.”

“Do you want a bottle of water? I could get one from the kitchen…” She seemed to be searching for words, like her mind was already somewhere else.

“Nah, I’m good. I’ll see you later. Sorry to bother you.”

I walked up the street, pausing long enough to take off my shirt, and after stuffing it into my bag, I took a moment to call Link. He’d been hanging with Hailey down at the pool after his shift at the bakery was over. But no luck. No Everly.

Huh.

I thought of Baker’s Landing, but aside from the fact that it was out of town and would take nearly an hour to get to on foot, I didn’t think she’d go there. That was my place.

It was then that a lightbulb went off and I crossed the street at a slow jog, ignoring the hoots from a passing car full of girls. I didn’t stop until I finally saw the old mill, and by then, my knee was throbbing.

It hadn’t been used as long as I’d been alive and probably for a long time before that. With shingles missing from the roof, chipped white paint, and broken windows that looked like large gaping wounds, the mill wasn’t exactly postcard material. But if Everly was looking to disappear for a few hours every day, I could see why she’d pick this place, because who else in their right mind would hang out here?

I picked my way up the steps, careful to avoid the loose boards and the ones that were missing. The main door was locked, which was a joke really, considering the windows were broken. I looked inside, but it was dark and I couldn’t see much, so I walked around to the far end of the building and continued out back.

And that’s when I found her.

This part of the old mill faced the river, with the dam a few hundred yards away and the brush that clung to the riverbed giving her privacy. Everly had her earbuds in, so she didn’t know I was there. I took my time and let my eyes roll over a whole lot more of Everly than I’d seen before. I can’t lie—the view from where I stood was smokin’.

Her long hair was tied up loosely on top of her head, and she was on her stomach, feet up in the air, moving to the beat of whatever song she was listening to, reading a book.

My mouth was a little dry, and I thought to myself that lime green was my new favorite color. Especially when it was paired with a skimpy bikini, one that showed Everly’s curves off in a way that made my chest tighten and my heart speed up.

Her skin was golden, and every time her legs bobbed, muscles moved. She was all smooth lines and smooth skin and a bikini bottom that showed a lot. I cleared my throat, but it didn’t do anything.

Earbuds. Shit. I didn’t want to scare her, but I couldn’t spend the next two hours staring at a half-naked girl. (Well, I probably could but could and should don’t exactly mean the same thing.) I took a step closer and then came up short when I realized her top was undone. All that smooth skin and no tan lines.