“Just call me Cal,” he says, shaking her hand, giving her that charming Branson smile. My dad clears his throat. “I apologize for my . . . outburst.”
Scarlett laughs awkwardly. “I apologize too. I think your son has some explaining to do.” Scarlett scowls at me, and I try not to laugh.
“I agree,” my dad mutters, shoving his hands into his pockets.
I look between the both of them. “This is . . . new.”
“You could say that,” Scarlett murmurs, and my dad laughs.
He shakes his head, smiling at the two of us. “I had a feeling this would happen sooner or later.”
“You did?”
“Yes,” he says, laughing quietly. “You talk about Scarlett all the time, despite her being the enemy.” He winks at Scarlett, and she laughs, bumping her hip into mine. “I knew you always had a thing for her.”
Heat creeps up my neck, and I can tell I’mdefinitelyblushing right now. “Always, huh?” Scarlett teases, poking me in the side. “So the whole hating-me thing was really just a front?”
I circle my fingers around her wrist. “Something like that.” Her eyes stay on mine for a prolonged beat, and I can’t look away. Obviously, I’ve always had a thing for her. Anyone with eyes can see that. I just wish I didn’t take this long to do something about it. I tear my gaze away from hers, looking back to my dad. “So you’re not . . . mad?”
“I’m not surprised, but I’m not mad either. I just want you to be happy, Evan. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.” He takes in a steadying breath, his eyes softening slightly. “I’m really proud of you,” he says quietly, each word laced with the kind of sincerity that makes my heart jitter in my chest a little.
“Dad,” I half-scoff, half-warn.
“No, you need to hear it. You and I have been through a lot, but you’ve never let that stop you. You’ve always worked hard, always gone after what you want, and you’ve proved to me how badly you want this,” he says, and something catches in my throat when he smiles and adds, “I think you’re ready to come back to B&Co.”
I let out a short laugh. Or Ithinkit’s a laugh. It’s hard to tell when my heart is beating so fast and loud in my ears. The pride on my dad’s face is unparalleled, and it shouldn’t put me on edge the way it does.
I know he wants the best for me. That’s why he let me go from B&Co in the first place. But is he still going to feel the same when I tell him I don’t want to work for the company anymore?
I don’t want to think about that. Not now. Not tonight.
“Thanks, Dad” is all I manage to say, and he gives me one firm nod. I clear my throat, turning back to Scarlett. “Okay, well, now that you’re all introduced, I’ve got to go.”
Scarlett pouts. “You’re just saying that, so your dad doesn’t embarrass you.”
“That too.” I kiss her chastely on the cheek. “You gonna be okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: SCARLETT
I’ve been trying to be normal about watching Evan play piano, but the second I see him walk onto that stage in the perfect suit with his head held high, all the air escapes my lungs.
I’ve seen him play before. This really shouldn’t be that big of a deal. But I’m soproudof him. He worked so hard for the SEI and he deserves that internship more than anyone in our class. I’ve listened to the way he talks about music and how these events were some of his favorites as a kid, and now he gets to be the one providing that comfort for other people. I can’t imagine how surreal that must be for him.
I can’t take my eyes off him. I’ve seen Evan stressed out, focused, tired, but I’ve never seen him this confident. It’s clear just by the way he sits in front of the grand piano that this is what he was made to do.
The room hushes as Jaden starts by introducing the orchestra and the main sponsors for the event. There’s the quiet hum of the band shuffling and the conductor getting ready to start, and I hold my breath.
There’s silence.
And then Evan starts a slower rendition of the intro to Frank Sinatra’s ‘One For My Baby’.
A tear slips out instantly, and I wipe it away, letting out a quiet laugh at how ridiculous this all is. How do I feel like this already? This shouldn’t be happening to me. I should already be fighting the itch to get away from him and be alone again, but I don’t feel like that with him. I want more of him. Constantly. I want to be in his bedroom watching horror movies with himas he pretends he isn’t scared. I want to push his hair out of his face and trace my finger over the lined dimples on his cheeks. I want to watch him get ready, and stare at the loose tie around his neck. I want so much of him that it’s terrifying.
Evan is completely in his element right now, his eyes closing every few seconds to get lost in the music before the lead singer begins the song. I almost lose my composure, but I hold it together, barely.
Cal sighs beside me. “He’s good, isn’t he?”
