“Why is me murdering him your first thought?” I ask, laughing. But he’s not laughing. He’s being dead serious.Okay, so we’re doing this.“He’s nice and for once, I don’t want to chop his head off. He’s making me reconsider this whole not-dating-anyone thing.”
Is this entirely true? Sort of. If it means getting Branson to back off and stop killing my vibe, I’ll say it over and over until it’s the only thing he hears when he closes his eyes at night.
“‘Nice?” he repeats, exasperated. “You like him because he’snice?” I nod. “Him? Seriously? The guy looks like he can’t even tie his own laces.”
I thought I broke him with the weed, but maybe not. Maybe this is his breaking point. God, I want to see him unravel so badly. I just want him to stop trying so hard at showing me up and be real with me. I want to shove him and for him to shove back.
“I don’t know why you care so much, Branson,” I say humorously.
“I don't,” he concedes. He’s lying. I don’t know how or why, but he just is. The look on his face is something bordering on disgust and anger. “I just don’t understand whyhimof all people. Why now? You could have anyone you want by a tap of your finger and you’re considering him. I just don’t get it. What made you change your mind?”
Wow. Someone’s asking a lot of questions tonight. UsuallyI’mthe talkative one. I always have been. There’s something slightly unsettling hearing him talk so much in one sitting.
I tilt my head playfully, twirling a strand of my hair around my finger. “You’re awfully curious for someone who hated me a few weeks ago. Remember that? The good ‘ol days,” I point out.
“I don’t hate you, Scarlett, and you know I don’t.” He looks at me with that intensity that I can't place. My heart trips over itself when my name comes out of his mouth in that tone. It's rare that my full name ever leaves his lips. Not like that, anyway. He blinks back at me as if there’s something I'm missing. “Just tell me why.”
I could lie to him. I could tell him Max is the greatest guy I’ve ever met and he’s justitfor me. But he’s not. Somewhere deep down, I know he’s not. There’s something about him that is different from most people like us. Sure, he’s a little on the nose, but for the most part he’s fine.
“He treats me like an equal and I like him for it, okay? It’s not like there’s anyone else who wants me for me and not to use me for money or sex. And he doesn’t want either of those things from me. Well, not now anyway.”
Evan looks at me like he’s been sucker punched. Jesus, when did he get so pale? It’s giving me the heebie jeebies as he sticks his tongue in his cheek and nods slowly as if he’s trying to process the information. What is wrong with him?
“Good to know, Angel. If he fucks up, just let me know.”
I bark out a laugh at the faux protective thing he’s got going on right now. “Yeah, like you’re going to do anything,” I say. He pins me with a look. One ofthoselooks and my mouth clamps together before opening. “Fine.”
He nods. Once. Twice. And then he’s gone.
I stand there for a few seconds, dumbfounded before I collect myself, trying to shake off whatever that was.
I don’t like him being protective over me, trying to handle me like I belong to him or like I’m his girlfriend. We’re just two people who are working together on a project, sometimes try to solve mysteries together and occasionally smoke weed. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. And the last time I checked;bodyguarddoes not fit into that description.
When I return to the bar where Max is, he’s still waiting for me. His whole face lights up when he sees it's me and I can’t hide the blush on my face even if I tried to.
I slide back into the stool. “Miss me?”
“I thought he was trying to take you away from me,” he responds.
“Not quite,” I say. “Where were we?”
“I was about to tell you how much I want you.”
This,I think to myself,this is exactly what I need.I need someone who's going to whisper things like that to me over loud music in a bar. Someone who makes me feel weak in the knees by just being in their presence.
Suddenly I’m desperate for him.
For a release.
19
Evan
I’m not a stupid person. On paper, I get straight A’s and I pass every test with flying colours. I have basic road safety knowledge, I know first-aid and I can start and put out a fire. But for some reason, I act like an absolute fool around Scarlett Voss.
Not only did I act like a dick by pulling her away from her date, but her friends also scalded me for it. Which also means if Wren were to complain to Miles, he wouldn’t shut up about it. Luckily, after watching Scarlett get into her car with that weird British dude, I got back, and Miles wasn’t home yet.
The first thing I did this morning was go for a run. I don’t usually run and I’m not the most athletic person, but after having a few days like I’ve just had, I need to burn off my energy somehow.
