Champagne Toast (7 page)

“
How far back do you want me to go, sweets?
”
Evan asks as he leans up and pushes his elbow into the pillow, supporting his head with his hands.  I mirror his movements and gaze into his eyes again.  I love that he calls me
sweets
.  It all started one night when we were watching The Breakfast Club here in my apartment.  It
’
s one of my all-time favorites.  I have a thing for misfits
,
and that movie delivers.  I love when Judd Nelson glares at Molly Ringwald and says,
“
Sweets, you couldn
’
t ignore me if you tried
.” 
I told Evan that line makes me think of him.  Because seriously, even if I tried to ignore Evan, it would be impossible.  He got under my skin the day he walked into Molly
’
s
,
and as much as I tried to deny my feelings for him, they were impossible to ignore. 

“
As far back as you wanna go.  I just want to know you better,
”
I shrug.

“
Well, I grew up in Green Bay, hence my love for the Pack
.” 
He laughs as I roll my eyes. 
“
We moved when my dad lost his job.  I think I was around 7 years old.  He found another one, but we had to leave Wisconsin and made our way to the oh-so exciting Chicago suburbs.
”

“
They
’
re not so bad,
”
I interrupt, stroking his forearm gently.

“
Oh yeah, I know.  But, I missed my grandparents, my aunts and uncles.  I missed having family around.  We were secluded for so long.  I eventually made friends and stuff, but it was hard.  My mom hated it.  That
’
s why they live in Green Bay again.  She ne
ver felt at home in Arlington Heights
.
”

“
But, you didn
’
t want to move back?
”
I asked.

“
Nah, I mean, I was only seven.  I adapted, made lots of friends, and eventually stopped feeling so homesick.  Except during football season.  But, it
’
s not a far drive or anything.  I
’
ve gone to games with my cousins.
”

“
Are you close with your folks?
”
I press on.

“
Hmm, yeah, I guess so.  I adore my mom.  She
’
s a gem, seriously.  I admire her so much.  She was the biggest support a kid could
’
ve asked for growing up
.” 
Evan sighs and then continues,
“
My dad
’
s always been kinda detached, but I always knew he loved me.  Speaking of which, you don
’
t really talk about your family so much
. . .
wanna tell me about your parents?
”

“
There
’
s not too much to tell,
”
I lied, knowing there was so much I could tell.
“
My parents are pretty conservative, kinda stuck in a time warp.  My mom serves my dad his meals in front of the TV.  He sits in his ridiculous recliner and eats off of a TV tray.  I swear, she doesn
’
t even question it.  It
’
s so sad.
”

“
She doesn
’
t mind?
”
Evan asks, raising an eyebrow.

“
I think she
’
s used to it. In all honesty, she wouldn
’
t know what to do with herself.  For Angeline Armour, her entire existence revolves around being married to my father.  Her
entire
life has been based on being his wife.  His needs matter, hers just don
’
t.  It breaks my heart.
”

“
I
’
m sorry to hear that
,”
Evan says softly, stroking strands of my hair.
“
Do you two get along?
”

“
Well, we
’
re not really close.  I love her, though.  And I
’
d do anything for her.  But, I never want to end up like that.
”

“
So, I shouldn
’
t expect you to serve my meals to me, then?
”
Evan winks, attempting to lighten the mood. He is so friggin
’
charming.

“
You
’
d better not, because it
’
s never going to hap
pen.  Consider yourself warned. 
Seriously.
”

“
I
’
d never expect anything like that from you.  You have to know that
.”  C
oncern spreads across Evan
’
s now serious face.

“
Of course I know that.  It
’
s embarrassing, though.  Don
’
t take it personally if I don
’
t introduce you to them for a while.  They
’
re in their own world.  I see them for holidays
and such, but that’s about it.”

“
Don
’
t they live in the area?
”

“
Yeah, they live about 30 minutes from here
.”
Evan
’
s eyes widen in surprise.
“
I know, I know.  It
’
s
bad.  I’m a horrible daughter.”

“
I didn
’
t say that.  I just wish you had a
better relationship with them.”

“
Me too, Evan, me too.  But, I think they
’
ve always seen me as a bit of a freak.  I
’
m nothing like either of them and I know they resent me for it.  My dad was always pressing me to get a degree in English or History or whatever.  He wanted me to be a teacher like my mother.  He hated that I was more interested in my art classes and barely paid attention when it came to the
‘
real
’
classes.
”

“
What kind of art classes did you take?
”
Evan asks, and I can tell he
’
s interested.  My heart flutters a bit.  He doesn
’
t know about my passion, not yet anyway.  I think I
’
m ready to tell him.

“
Well, I was always into painting and sculpting.  But, in my senior year of high school
,
I discovered photography.  My uncle, Mark, gave me an old film camera and I
’
ve had it ever since.  It
’
s kind of a relic, and it
’
s starting to lose its ability to take good pictures, but I love it.
”

“
Film, huh?
”
Evan chuckles.  It stings.
I don
’
t want him to think I
’
m silly, the way others have in the past.

“
Yeah, I know.  Everyone
’
s moved on to digital.  But, there really are so many things about film that are just so much better for the pictures.  I
’
ll bore you with the details another time.  But, honestly I don
’
t know that I
’
ll ever go digital; at least not with the photos I take for myself.  If I ever have a business
. . . ”

My words trail off, and suddenly I
’
m feeling extremely self-conscious.  My pulse begins to quicken as I stare at Evan for some sign of skepticism regarding having my own business.  Every boyfriend before him has looked at me like I was crazy, like it was something I could never hope to achieve.  But, this feels different.  Evan stares back at me with a confused expression.

“
Where
’
d you go, Kate?
” he asks inquisitively.
“
I was fascinated and you went somewhere else in your brain. Everything okay?
”

“
Yes, it
’s better than okay.”
I smile broadly as I use every ounce of willpower to keep the tears in my eyes. I love that he
’
s fascinated, and I don
’
t want to freak him out with my baggage of boyfriends past.

“
So, do you take a lot of pictures, then?
”
Evan asks.  I love that he wants to know more.  It
’
s refreshing and exciting and I find myself drawn to him even more than before.

“
Yes, I
’
m constantly taking shots. I go downtown to take pictures of the architecture and the people.  I love to see tourists, they make interesting subjects; especially when they have no idea they
’
re being photographed.
”

“
And you think you
’
d like to have a business?
”
  I nod.

“
I think that
’
s awesome.  You have, what do they call it, entrepre
neurial spirit?  I love that.”

“
You don
’
t think it
’
s silly?
”
I ask with a small voice, afraid of his impending answer.

“
Why on earth would I think that
’
s silly?
”
Evan asks as he sits up in the bed, glaring down at me.  He looks shocked and I feel exposed.  I suddenly realize just how much of myself I
’
ve revealed in the last few minutes.
I want to escape.  I want to
run
.

“
I don
’
t know,
”
I snap, glaring right back at him.  I can feel myself getting defensive.  My cheeks are growing red with heat.  I can
’t look at him,
and I
’
m worried this conversation is headed in a bad direction.  God,
I wish I could control my anger.

“
Please tell me your parents didn
’
t tell you it would be a bad idea
.” 

I
’
m silent for a few seconds before attempting to put on a brave face.
“
Whatever, it
’
s fine.  They weren
’
t the only ones.  Other people felt the same way.
”

“
What other people?
”

“
Huh?
”
I ask, playing dumb.  I
’
m trying so desperately to avoid this conversation.  But, somehow I know Evan won
’
t let this go.

“
Kate, talk to me,
”
Evan insists, stroking my hair.
“
Don
’
t pull away, please.
”

“
Boyfriends, okay?  Every single guy I
’
ve
ever
dated has thought it was stupid, like it was lofty or something.  They didn
’
t think I could do it.
”

“
Why would they think that?
I don
’
t understand.  Did you show them your pictures?
”
  I nod.  Evan is silent and it scares me.

“
Yeah, well, maybe I
’
m not as talented as I like to think I am,
”
I mutter.

“
Show me something,
”
Evan says matter-of-factly.

“
What?
”

“
You heard me.  Show me some of your work.  I promise to give you my honest opinion.
”

“
I don
’
t know, Ev
.” 
I say, tilting my head in disbelief.  This was new territory. I practically had to beg Shawn to look at my photos.  He never once asked to see them himself.