“What’s going on?”
I manage to hear her muffled question, “Is it gone?”
“What? Is what gone?”
“The thing. That horrible creature.”
I still her hands and tilt her chin up at me.
“The bat. It flew right into my hair.”
“Are you serious?” I run my hands through her hair. For what? Evidence? I don’t know, but my fingers are mesmerized by her silken tresses. I’d venture to say that my fingers might never be the same again.
Her forehead crashes into my chest and her fingers are gripping my black T-shirt.
“Sh…It’s okay.” I pull her in close. “It was just a bat. I know you hate them, but he didn’t follow us in here.”
“I’m sorry—”
“Don’t be sorry. Everyone’s got their fears. I nearly pissed my pants at that dumbass clown a second ago.”
A strangled cough mixed with a laugh breaks free from her.
“It’s okay.”
“I’m sorry. That was so dumb. I don’t know why I reacted like that.”
She looks up at me with a few fresh tears trickling down her cheeks, and she uses the back of her hand to wipe them away. Evie almost never cries. I’ve seen it on occasion, but it’s usually about missing her mom. She’s not the kind to cry over a bat.
“What’s going on? Is this just about the bat?”
She shakes her head and forms a pouty shape with her lips. “I’m just in my head a bit tonight.”
“About Logan?” I don’t want to ask about him, but if she cares about him, I guess I care about him.
A befuddled look skips across her face and my toes curl in my shoes. “Logan?”
“You were trying to catch his attention tonight, weren’t you? Did he do something stupid to you? Should I go knock him out?” Not sure I’d knock him out. I’m thinking it’d be a pretty equal fight all things considered, but if I went in with the adrenaline of anger, I’d have the upperhand for sure.
“No. I’m good. Settle down, cowboy. I’m not thinking about him too much actually.”
“What are you thinking about then?”
“It’s dumb.”
“Just tell me.”
She puts her hands flat on my chest and rests her chin atop them, peering up at me. “I was just a bit shocked when you said that you thought Sloane was the one.”
“I didn’t—”
She pulls away. “It’s okay. I know you’re going to get married one day. I just didn’t think it was going to be this soon.”
I think I have to tell her. This is the perfect opening.
“I was hoping we’d always be friends, that’s all.”
Fuck. My chest is heaving now. Friends. That word is like a tiny whip on my heart. My blood roars, and at her waist I fist my hand into her doctor’s coat.
