Free Never (The Ever Series Book 2) by C. J. Valles

dog.”
    Chasen’s eyes narrow for a second, but he quickly nods and laughs.
    “Touché.”
    “Chasen is correct,” Alistair says. “It will require all six of us, two with Wren at all times.”
    My cheeks redden.
    “That’s going to make showering difficult,” I blurt, not able to help myself.
    Chasen begins laughing again when Audra cuts him off with another deadly look.
    “ Six of us?” she seethes. “Alistair, have you forgotten that he was the one who caused all of this?”
    I frown, unsure if she’s referring to Ever—for not killing me in the first place—or Alex—for leading who knows what here. When I see her staring at Alex, that answers my question.
    “I have to agree … ,” Ever begins.
    I look up at him and think: Keep your enemies closer .
    “… with Alistair,” he finishes.
    I look around at each of the perfect figures in the room and then reach over and touch Alistair’s hand.
    “Thank you, all of you …”
    … for caring whether I live or die , I don’t add.
    With nothing left to say, I get up and make my way toward the front of the house. Ever joins me a few moments later, and when we get into his car, he touches my cheek.
    “Why do you feel guilty?” he asks curiously.
    “I just wish I weren’t the cause of all this.”
    He studies me and then laughs.
    “A stranger from another dimension comes here to kill you, falls in love with you, upends your life—and you feel like you’re inconveniencing us ?”
    I shrug.
    “It’s just weird, everyone standing around talking about me. Honestly, I never liked my own birthdays as a kid. It always felt wrong being the center of attention. Like, why would people celebrate my birthday? I guess I still feel that way.”
    “You shouldn’t,” Ever says as we turn onto the main road.
    When my phone buzzes, I look down. It’s a text from my mom saying that she’s ordering pizza. I write her back saying I’m starving.
    “Would you like to spend some time alone with her?” Ever asks.
    I nod. Then something catches my eye in the rearview mirror. Headlights. Ever looks over at me, clearly less than pleased.
    “A necessary evil,” he says.
    Alex .
    “Great.”
    As soon as the car glides to a stop in front of my house, I see a red streak tear by us. It sounds like exactly what it is—a high performance racecar being driven way too fast by a reckless driver. Ever gets out, and I laugh in confusion when it takes a normal human amount of time for him to come around to my side, which gives me time to get out and give him a wry look.
    “You know, that might be the second time I’ve gotten the door open by myself,” I tease him.
    Then I notice he’s looking up toward the house. I turn and see Mr. Hannigan standing on his front steps looking mystified. He waves eagerly.
    “Hi, Mr. Hannigan.”
    “How are you, Wren? You know, I used to fly jets before your mother was even born, and I could have sworn I heard one just now. My old ears are playing tricks on me! Did you kids see anything a few moments ago?”
    “Just a Ferrari,” Ever says, his features completely deadpan.
    I look over at him sharply before Mr. Hannigan laughs, his features crinkling.
    “Very funny, young man. You nearly had me going there for a minute. Wren, you say hello to your mother for me.”
    I smile weakly and wave.
    “I will.”
    I wave again as Mr. Hannigan turns to go back inside, and when he shuts his front door behind him, I give Ever a look.
    “ Just a Ferrari ,” I say in a poor imitation of Ever’s cadence.
    He smiles.
    “He never would have believed it.”
    We start walking toward the house, and I see the curtain shift.
    “What does she think we’re going to do in front of the entire neighborhood that she has to check up on us?” I huff.
    Ever takes my face in his hands.
    “Maybe this?”
    He bends down, and my heart races like it does every time he looks at me that way. Suddenly he stops and straightens to his full height. The sound of someone