Free Sun Poisoned (The Sunshine Series) by Nikki Rae Page B

desk.
    I shrug off my trench before sitting down.
    “How are you?” I ask, not sure of what else I’m supposed to say.
    Evan ‘s eyes are on the papers in front of him. I notice there are three picture frames on the desk, but they’re not facing me, so I can ’t see who’s in them.
    “ I am alright,” he says after a minute.  ”And you? Are you settling in?”
    “ Yeah.” I open my bag, already anxious to get this whole money situation squared away. “It’s really awesome here. I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity.”
    Evan looks up now, smiling politely. “That is good to hear.”
    Before any more small talk can be made, I say, “I did have a question though.”
    “ About what?” He sets whatever he’s been working on aside and folds his hands on the dark oak desk in front of him.
    I take the folded check out of my bag. “When we agreed to play here, Myles told us that we’d be paid, and that we got free room and board.”
    He blinks a few times. “That is correct.”
    “ Well, here’s the thing,” I say, unfolding the paper in my lap. “We only played five songs on opening night. I think this is wrong.” I hold my check out to him, but he doesn’t move to take it. He doesn’t even unclasp his hands.
    Evan just stares, his eyes glued to the side of my head. Suddenly, like he’s just remembered I’m in the room, he says, “You think it is not enough?”
    “ No.” I almost laugh. I let the check fall to his desk, giving it a little push so maybe he’ll look at the numbers written there. “I think it’s too much,” I say.  ”Way too much.”
    Evan doesn’t so glance at the paper between us. He only looks at me. “You each received five hundred dollars for showcase night,” he says. “Yes?”
    I nod.
    “That is what everyone decided.”
    I have to fight the urge to draw my eyebrows together. “Who is everyone?”
    “ Me, Myles, Jamie.” He shrugs, but it looks like it’s more for my benefit, to tell me this is no big deal. But it is.
    “ Jamie didn’t seem too happy about it,” I say without thinking.
    Evan cocks his head to the side like he finds it amusing. “He was out-voted.”
    I pause for a second to take all of this in, then I ask, “Why does Myles get to decide too?”
    “ He is part owner,” he says simply.
    I decide on keeping up with the conversation rather than getting immediately fixated on this information. I’ll save that for later.
    “Look, I don’t want any special treatment because Myles is my boyfriend,” I say.
    “ It is not special treatment.” He smiles a little. “Actually, Myles thought your band deserved more.”
    I take a deep breath.
    “I know this is probably new to you,” he says. “But trust me, that money was earned.”
    I don’t know what else to say, so I keep quiet.
    “Now for the reason why I wanted to see you.” Evan says, deeming our conversation over. He stands and slowly walks around to the front of the desk and leans against it. “I have a favor to ask you.”
    I take the check back and fold it up. “Okay…”
    “ Ava is a difficult time here.” He crosses his arms in front of him. “She has been for a while.”
    This isn’t where I saw this conversation heading. I thought he was going to ask me to stay late or something. “Okay.”
    “ I feel like both of you have a lot in common,” he continues. “And she has a hard time talking to people.” Evan uncrosses his arms so he can fold his hands in front of him. “She is afraid of most of them.”
    “ So…” I say when he doesn’t go on. “What do you want from me?”
    He smiles slightly, like he knew he was beating around the bush. “I want you to spend some time with her,” he says. “Nothing serious. Just be a friend.”
    “ I don’t think I understand,” I say. “You just want me to hang out with her?”    
    “ Exactly.”
    He stares at me and I honestly don’t know what I’m supposed to say besides, “Uhm.”
    When he still does