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

he’s always around. It’s not that she doesn’t like him, but she is getting a little nervous about how much time I’m spending with him. It’s probably for the best that he didn’t stay. I grab utensils, plates, and bowls from the cupboard and pour us both sparkling water before joining her at the table.
    “Um, family stuff, I think.”
    Lying about Ever is getting easier and easier. I comfort myself by remembering that the less my mom knows, the safer she’ll be. I hoist an enormous slice of deliciously oily pizza onto my plate. It’s from the same place I went with Ashley, Lindsay, and Taylor—cheesy décor, but great pizza. By the time I’m mid-way through my third piece, I’ve caught my mom up on everything I can, which excludes any immortal-related activities.
    After we’ve cleared the table and wrapped up the leftover pizza, I head upstairs to finish my homework. When I’m finished, I pack my backpack and go down the hall to brush my teeth, trying not to think too much about what I learned from Alistair and what could be hunting me. Stopping by my mom’s room to say goodnight, I smile and wave when I see she’s on the phone. Back in my room, I crawl into bed with my poetry anthology. Opening it, I glance at the other poem I’m doing. Spirits of the Dead . Very cheerful.
     
    Thy soul shall find itself alone
    ’Mid dark thoughts of the gray tomb-stone—
    Not one, all of a crowd, to pry
    Into thine hour of secrecy
     
    I sigh heavily. Poe definitely had his issues; it’s probably what made him such a great poet. It’s not like I don’t have issues of my own, but that’s not going to make me a great poet. I write a few sentences for the paper and then get up and put the book in my bag. When I hear a gentle tapping at my door, it creaks open and my mom pokes her head in.
    “Just wanted to say goodnight.”
    “Love you, Mom.”
    She comes over and kisses me on the forehead.
    “Don’t stay up too late. You’ve been sick.”
    She shuts the door behind her, and I go over to the bed and sit on the edge. I feel strangely detached, like I’m floating. There’s something disturbing about spending half the night with immortals as they plan how to keep me alive, and the other half trying to figure out my Algebra 2 homework and eating pizza.
    It’s like I’ve split into two people.
    Thinking of the two individuals outside somewhere, I wonder: if I think of them simultaneously, does that make me invisible to both of them? Then I remember that I had pressing questions for my stalker that still haven’t been answered. But I’m stuck since I’m not about to summon him to my bedroom in the middle of the night. Ever is a different matter.
    I whisper his name, and he appears instantly right in front of me. I open my mouth to say something, but he presses his finger to his lips and disappears. Confused, I look around before hearing the sound of my mom’s hurried steps on the hardwood floor. I turn just as my door bursts open.
    “Mom!”
    “Sorry, sweetie! But I forgot to tell you. … Your father called me—at work—this morning and said you weren’t answering your e-mails. He was worried. I told him you had the flu. Anyway, he said he needed to book you a ticket for spring break to go down there to visit—”
    “Seriously?”
    “I told him just to buy the ticket, but I said it has to be refundable.”
    “Good, because I’m not going.”
    “Wren, you haven’t seen him in … well, too long. Besides, you shouldn’t feel like you have to protect my feelings. Your father and I had issues for a long time, and I’m happy he’s moved on. You’re still his daughter, though.”
    “Barely,” I mumble. “And I’m protecting my feelings, not yours. I know you can take care of yourself.”
    She smiles.
    “I can. Now get some sleep.”
    This time she flips off the light before leaving. By the time I turn on the lamp on my nightstand, I find Ever right in front of me.
    “That was a little too