The Taming by Teresa Toten, Eric Walters Page A

Oranges . Never mind Petruchio, even Romeo could have taken lessons from Evan. My Evan .
    Putting the Oranges in their place was like scaling a mountain just for me. I got carried away and told him so when we met for frappuccinos after rehearsal. It wasn’t like telling him that I loved him or anything, so that was okay. Right?
    “… and I’m so, so glad that I wore my new outfit. You always say how image is important.”
    He got busy examining the dregs of his drink.
    “It’s brand new. Well, for me. You haven’t said anything. Do you like it?”
    “The thing is, Katie …” He leaned over and placed both his hands over mine. “The thing is, you’re a thoroughbred and, uh, velour , well, it’s a bit barnyard.”
    Was that a no?
    “You’re classier than,” he fingered the material with distaste, “than Juicy Couture.”
    “But it’s a designer and everything!” I was confused. Lisa should have warned me. Instead, she’d said that it really showed off my body. Clearly, I couldn’t trust her judgment. Maybe Evan was right about her. Was she trying to sabotage us? Was she jealous of me?
    “You’re my girl now, right?” He winked. “You’ve got to dress the part.”
    So it was true! I had heard that right! I was his girl!
    “I’ll even go shopping with you, if you want,” he said. “I’d like to see you modelling new clothes … just for me.”
    I felt myself start to blush. It was my turn to examine my empty cup. Shopping required money and I didn’t—
    “What’s wrong, did I embarrass you?” he asked.
    I shook my head. “It’s just with the play and cutting down my hours at the bakery … I just don’t have …”
    “It will be my treat,” he said.
    “I can’t let you do that. You already pay for everything .”
    “A man is supposed to pay for his date. Call me old-fashioned, but that’s the way I am. Can’t a guy get his girl a present?”
    His girl . He’d said it again. It was better each time.
    “Consider it an early birthday present,” he said.
    “But my birthday isn’t for months.”
    “Hence the early part.” He paused. “It would be rude to turn down a present.” He flashed that smile and my feet practically melted. “Okay?”
    I nodded.
    “Good.” He got up, and right there in the coffee shop he bent down and kissed me. A lot of kids from school were still there. That sort of thing weirded me out a bit. I just wasn’t used to being kissed in public, or to being kissed period, which must have been why it felt so intense or something. Lisa said that he was addicted to PDAs, public displays of affection. She was definitely jealous.
    “Let’s set a date and time,” he said.
    Everyone was looking. “But, I work remember, and then there’s the play and homework. I don’t know when we can go.” That hadn’t come out right, but Evan still smiled at me. He was so patient with me, and I was such a dork.
    “It’s okay, I’ll pick you up after your second shift on Saturday and we’ll spend the rest of the day getting you a few things that are up to your new standard.”
    Then I remembered Lisa and Travis.
    “Don’t worry, I’ll still get you home for a really early night. I know you’ll be tired.”
    Saturday, Lisa and Travis were going to line up to get student tickets for a dinnertime jazz concert, and I’d made plans to join them for a set. I hadn’t really seen them over the past couple of weeks. Maybe I could see them on Sunday instead. I’d make up something.
    “Yeah, wow, brilliant!” I finally said. “I’d love that!”
    He pulled me to my feet. “And then, as a bonus, we can get together on Sunday, and I’ll help you run lines.”
    Did I nod? How did this happen? He was so amazing. How did someone like me get someone like him? I must have said that last bit out loud.
    “Stop that.” He pulled me into him. “Repeat after me.”
    We were standing up together in the middle of the coffee shop. I felt singled out, like being on stage