The Blackmail of Evelynn Faust by Shirley Anne Edwards
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 25, 201
Buy Links:
Amazon ♥ B & N
Book Description:
Evelynn Faust suffers from horrible insomnia and paranoia. The summer before her senior year of high school should be one of the best summers of her life. But she’s tormented by guilt and an addiction that haunts her every waking moment.
Evelynn is a drug dealer who also craves the drug she sells. The money and the popularity that come with it aren’t bad either. But when she’s caught dealing on school property by Eric Wagner, the respected and admired police chief’s son, the game is over.
He won’t snitch on her, unless she gives him whatever he wants - her.
She’s being blackmailed.
Evelynn has no one to turn to for help. Not her parents who don’t understand her rebellious nature or her circle of friends who only care about partying and getting high. When Adam Tristen moves in across the street, and he wants to get to know her better, it all seems too good to be true.
She must make a pact with the devil.
Evelynn now looks over her shoulder wherever she goes, waiting for Eric to act on his threats. But Adam, the charming college sophomore, sees something special inside Evelynn, and he wants to help her fix mistakes. In order to do that she must confront a dark secret from her past that could destroy her family…her life…and her entire world as she knows it.
She must take a leap of faith.
“You’re sure we can be in here?” Adam and I sat in the club’s kitchen each enjoying a plate of food. We used one of the stainless-steel tables while the staff moved around us, acting as if we weren’t there.
“Yeah. My boy, Lenny’s father, is the manager here. Remember when I told you to wait a minute in the hallway? I asked him for permission.” He smiled and finished eating the last of the Swedish meatballs on his plate.
During the hour, we ate to the point where I worried I might burst out of my dress.
Adam wiped his mouth and raised his glass in a salute. “I forgot to mention, but you look great in your dress.”
Whoa. Does he have ESP?
I put down my fork. “I was just thinking I ate like a pig and must be bulging out of it, and not in a sexy way. Sure you’re not physic and reading my mind?”
“If I were, I would know why you’re running away from a guy. So, what’s the deal? Why are you afraid of him?”
“I’m not scared of him.” I tapped my fingers on the table while a waiter placed crackers on a tray.
Adam’s hand dropped over mine. “Evelynn. I saw the fear in your eyes.”
I laughed, hoping he would take the hint and drop it. I finished the rest of my soda to give me more time. He cocked his head to the side, waiting for me to continue. I would reveal just enough to stop his questions. “Eric and I have a history. We were friends for a short time in grade school. But, he’s developed a massive ego because of his father, and his overall popularity at school. He has a hard time taking no for an answer.” I inhaled a shaky breath. “He thinks he’s in love with me.”
“And you’re not in love with him?” Adam squeezed my hand.
“Heck no. I’m sixteen. What do I know about love? He’s the least-likely person I’d fall in love with.”
“Sixteen is too young to be with one person in a committed relationship or to be in love.” He shrugged. “I’m twenty and never been in love with a girl.”
“How about boys?” These days I never knew with guys and wanted to make sure with Adam before we went any further with our new…friendship. He didn’t seem offended by my question and took a drink from his glass. “Not into dudes. I’m 100 percent straight. But my parents would love for me to settle down with someone. They got married around my age and expect me to do the same, at least when I graduate college.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of pressure. My parents are hoping I graduate high school and grow out my hair.”
“Your hair? What’s the matter with it?” He tugged on a few strands, and my belly tightened.
“Ah, it used to be down to my waist. I cut off over six inches last month because I got sick of it. My mother wasn’t too happy. I thought she might disown me.”
His hand moved behind my head, and his thumb rubbed my ear. It tickled. I fought not to squirm in my seat.
“I think you look like a pixie, or a fairy.” He sounded huskier.
I licked my lips as I stared into his big brown eyes. “Thanks. Since we’re sharing things we like about one another, you have nice eyes.” His eyebrows lifted in surprise, and he dropped his hand, leaving me cold from the lack of heat near my neck.
“Guys can’t have nice eyes.” He frowned and chewed on an ice cube.
“My dad says—oh no, I totally forgot.” I jumped up from my seat. “I’m supposed to be working the party, I mean, I have to talk to people with Dad about donations for fixing the track at my school. I better get out there.”
“I should go, too. See what Edmund’s up to. It was nice sitting and talking with you, Evelynn.”
“You can call me Ev. Everyone else does. But not Evie. Only my seven-year-old sister, Olivia is allowed to.”
“Sure, no problem.” He kissed my cheek—something I didn’t expect. “Thanks for making me welcome here. I hope we can hang out again.”
“You don’t mind hanging out with a high school girl when you could be with a college woman?” I teased.
“Don’t sell yourself short.” His lips twitched, but he didn’t smile, although humor flashed across his face. “Age has nothing to do about it. You don’t act like some immature sixteen-year-old girls I’ve hung out with.”
“Thanks for the compliment.” I gave him a light punch on his arm and went to throw my plate in the garbage.
“Here, let me.” He collected our dirty plates to throw away.
“Thanks again.” I flicked my bangs away from my forehead. “Do I look okay? Maybe I should go to the bathroom?”
His stared with appreciation. I would have liked to say attraction also, but then again, I could’ve been mistaken. He gave me two thumbs up. “You look great.”
“I’ll catch you later.” I walked out of the kitchen, giving him a wave.
“You better believe it,” he said.
I skipped down the carpeted hallway. I was high, but an entirely different one from the other times I smoked up. Passing a mirror, I noticed how red my cheeks were. Adam was right. My dress did fit me in all the right ways. It had just taken someone like him to see it.
Author Bio:
Shirley Anne Edwards is a Northeast girl who first found her love for books when she read Nancy Drew's The Secret of the Old Clock Tower at thirteen.
Shirley found her love for writing at a very young age, and since then has let her imagination run wild by creating quirky characters and vast worlds in her head.
Shirley lives in New Jersey and works in the entertainment industry in New York City.
In the immortal words of Mark Twain: "Life is short, Break the Rules. Forgive quickly, Kiss SLOWLY. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret ANYTHING that makes you smile."
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