Free The Taming by Teresa Toten, Eric Walters Page A

right at me. Strange, that smile. How did he do that? “You are that good.” Thumpa, thumpa  … His eyes were actually green, not blue as I’d originally thought. And his hair was a bit darker than your standard Palm Beach blond. I’d never had an excuse to stare right at him for this long. So I did. Evan had really dark eyelashes and eyebrows, which was unusual for golden girls and boys. And he was tall, almost as tall as Josh. I’d got that part right.
    “So, Katie, I’m not much of a movie guy, but there’s this really good documentary playing.”
    Why was he telling me this? Had I missed something?
    “Yeah, so, the word is that it’s a killer documentary about this ghetto school in Mumbai. What do you say? Friday night? It’s playing at the Carlton.”
    What did I say about what? Friday night? What Friday night? What movie? Dear sweet holy … “Wait, wait! Are you asking me out? Like, on a date? You and me?” Oh God, I’d said that part out loud, and with all the practised aplomb of a girl who has never in her entire life been on a date.
    Big luscious smile. “Uh huh,” he nodded.
    Words, I had to pay attention to the words. Pull yourself together, Katie, you’re an actress! You are a good actress! Brilliant, I was referring to myself in the third person. Oh, that way madness lies . Quoting King Lear ? It was official, I was certifiable.
    “Since you are my betrothed, he sought out my approval, my dear Katherina,” Josh said.
    I bent down to face Josh. What was he blathering on about, and why was he always better off the stage than on it?
    “And I gave him my permission, grudgingly,” he added.
    I turned back to Evan. “So you’re asking me out, really?”
    “That would be the idea,” he said. Again with that killer smile. Evan Campbell was a walking Colgate ad.
    “Yeah, sure, okay, great. So, uh, seven? Wait, you didn’t say the time. I shouldn’t say the time. You should say the time. What time?” I stuttered.
    What was I doing? Was this really happening? Evan smiled again. At me. That boy was definitely smiling at me . That fact alone made being visible worth it, and worth anything that might come from the fallout.
    “Seven is good,” he agreed. “Where do you live?” He glanced uncomfortably at the mangy crop of high-rises that made up my block.
    “No, don’t bother! I’ll be downtown anyway,” I lied. “How about we meet at the theatre?”
    “Whatever suits you best.” He stepped towards me to … to what? We never found out, because Josh tooted the horn. I jumped back fifty feet.
    “Hey, guys, I’m all for young love, but could this happen a little faster?” Josh yelled out.
    Evan winked at me. “See you at rehearsal tomorrow.”
    “No!” Okay, that came out way too loud. I startled both of us. “No rehearsal tomorrow, remember, and just a script review on Friday, so I’ll see you at the theatre, the movie theatre, I mean.”
    Evan looked a bit uncertain. “You’d better give me your cell number.”
    “Don’t have one.” That shut him down. I could see him struggle not to look surprised. “But don’t worry, I’ll be there for sure, absolutely. And if you aren’t, I’ll still go in. Like you said, it sounds like a great story. Bye.” I turned and walked away before I could say another mind-numbing, idiot, brain-rot, stupid thing.
    I heard the car door shut. He gunned the Audi and I watched it recede into the distance.
    Okay, sit-com dialogue aside, did Evan Campbell just ask me out? Was I being punk’d? Were we back to the Stephen King thing? Was I having a heart attack?
    See me?
    There would be no avoiding me. I was putting out ear-splitting heart thumps that could be heard from a block away. It was a toss-up which was going to make me more visible, starring in the school play or going out on a date with Evan Campbell. My money was on Evan, that’s how big his star power was.
    I tore off for home. There were only two days to prepare. There was so,