Read Ever: The Ever Trilogy, Book One (Volume 1) for Free Online

the shelter, so she could get away with open-toed sandals and light colored clothes. I’m more of a hands-on kind of girl, and I spent my shelter hours in the back with the dogs. Cream leggings on me would have been ruined within the first five minutes. Nothing like muddy paw prints up and down your legs to ruin your brand new springtime fashions. I had on an old pair of dark purple sweats, cut off to be shorts, and a black wife beater with an unraveled hem and a few scattered holes.
    Our boss, Jo, reprimanded us for being late, even though we were actually two minutes early according to the digital clock on the wall. But to Jo, late was not being a good five minutes early for your shift. We’d come to realize that Jo just complained to hear herself complain, and we were used to it. We offered her our usual “Yes, Jo. Sorry, Jo” in unison, while we bowed our heads to her in mock ascension. I followed Jessie to the break room where we stuffed our lunches into the employee refrigerator then headed off to our respective jobs.
    I was so deep in thought that the day flew by quickly. When two came around, and I hadn’t shown up at the front desk yet, Jessie came looking for me. I had apparently been spending an excessive amount of time washing my favorite Husky-Corgi mix. Spectra’s fur had probably never been as clean—and probably will never be again. I was so lost in my thoughts about my frustrating feelings for my ghostly best friend and my curiosity about the new guy next door, that I hadn’t even been paying attention to the massive amount of soap suds covering the poor dog. Unfortunately, I too was covered.
    Jessie’s high-pitched squeal snapped me into the present. “Oh my gosh, Ever! Look at all that soap!”
    I broke away from my thoughts about Frankie and Toby, my eyes widening in surprise as I noticed all the bubbles. Spectra sure didn’t seem to mind the mess, since it meant she’d been getting my undivided attention for so long. Jessie rushed to my aid, laughing hysterically as she did so, to help me rinse Spectra and get everything cleaned up the best we could. By the time we were ready to go home, we were both soaked and soapy and looking remarkably like the wet dog who was watching the fiasco unfold in front of her.
    Jessie followed me home, waving to me emphatically every time I glanced in my rearview. I had to wonder if she looked where she was going at all, or if she just watched for me to look back at her so she could do her ridiculous waving thing. When we got to the house, it hadn’t been long enough of a drive to dry off, so we were definitely quite the pair. We looked as though we’d driven through the car wash in a convertible—with the top down.
    Of course this would be the time Toby chose to try his luck with me a second time. I was sure he’d be rethinking the notion, the longer he had to think about my awkwardness from yesterday. Apparently not. Seeing me now, I was sure he would reconsider.
    As I got out of the car, I quickly considered my options. I could bury my head in the dirt and stay there. Forever. Like a sopping wet ostrich stuck in the sand.
    I could jump back into my car and drive away like a madwoman. Hmmm. Nope. One glance told me that would be impossible since Jessie’s bug was parked behind me in the driveway. Oh! I know! I could run away on foot since the car wasn’t an option. I glanced down the street, pondering the idea.
    “Hey.”
    Aw man, too late. Option D it was then: say hello.
    He leaned against the trunk of my magnolia tree, with what I guessed was his trademark nonchalance oozing off him. His dark sunglasses hid his eyes again, much to my dismay. I just wanted a little peek, that’s all. I don’t think that was too much to ask for.
    “Um, hi,” I said, self-consciously running a hand over my wet hair. I looked over at Jessie and … uh oh.
    With a sly smile on her face, she looked back and forth between Toby and me, and I just knew I was about to regret