Page 41 of Defensive Indifference

When Evalina emerges from the hallway, she’s pulling on a cardigan sweater, but she can’t hide her tear-streaked cheeks. It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to pull her into my arms, to comfort her, remind her that she deserves the whole world from a man, not whatever happened tonight. She keeps her distance, stops with several feet between us.

“Thank you for coming for him. I’m only sorry that he—” Her voice chokes and the tears start again.

I can’t help it, won’t bother trying anymore. All I want is for her to be okay. I close the distance and pull her into my arms. At first, she’s stiff and unsure, then she melts into my embrace and lets it all go. Every tear, every frustration, everything that’s been bottled up for who knows how long. So I hold her, hug her close, let her have the moment to anchor herself again.

Moments pass and quiet takes over, so soft and sweet that I wonder if she somehow fell asleep with her head against my chest. I brush her hair from her face, which brings a soft sigh from the depths of her chest. She stands upright and dries her face.

“I’m sorry. Thank you for being such a good friend.”

I don’t like how she says friend. I shirk off the shiver as it grates over my ears and refocus.

“What happened?”

Evalina shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “So stupid. I was dumb to agree to a date at all, let alone with a regular at my shop. Nick seemed nice at first. I mean, he has been for over a year. Every morning, same order, same wink when he leaves. Tonight he showed his true colors. He was rude to waitstaff, talked down to me, then when I wouldn’t kiss him—”

The grumble that works through my chest and out of my mouth is not missed. “When you wouldn’t kiss him, what?”

“He tried to argue it was owed to him and got a little handsy.” She raises her brow as if to ask what are you going to do about it. It could be a challenge, maybe not, but the smirk on her lips says there’s more to the story.

“And?”

She shrugs. “And I kicked him in the shin. He got madder, so I tased him and he fell face-first into the rosebushes.”

“You…you tased him?” I’m trying to picture her, taser in one hand with her other hand on her hip, zapping the guy until he falls into rosebushes.

It’s not that hard to conjure the image.

I bite my lower lip, working hard to hide the fact that, despite what brought about the circumstances, she is the most feisty and self-secure woman I’ve ever met. My lip aches, and I can’t hold it in any longer. Laughter breaks free, bringing a deep scowl to her face.

“It isn’t funny, Koa.”

My laughter cannot be contained, even as I bend over and try to compose myself. “No…you’re right…it isn’t.”

“Then why are you laughing at my expense?” She steps closer. I worry she might still have that taser, so I stand and back up a few steps, arms up.

“I’m suddenly very grateful you only threw donuts at me.” Working to stifle my laughter does no good.

Evalina groans, but behind it is a chuckle that leads to full-blown laughter. “You should have seen him! He went stiff as a board and just…toppled over.” She makes a falling motion with her arm and laughs harder. “Face smashed every branch of that big old shrub on the way down. The paramedics had to detach the thorns from his clothes before they could drag him out.”

“You have no idea how much I wish I could have seen that.” I double over again, working to compose myself.

“Shh, you’ll wake Dustin.” She swats my shoulder, shoving me a few inches away. “But I do mean it. Thank you for coming when he called. I didn’t think he was awake.”

She sighs again and maneuvers around me to get to her sofa, where she flops.

“I was out at The Salty Dog with some friends, so it was no big deal. I was worried, though. The whole eight minutes here, all I could think about was whether you were okay or not.” I sit beside her, taking advantage of the fact she hasn’t thrown me out. I’ve no intention of pushing anything, not even an inkling of my feelings for her, but I want her to know I truly am her friend. This is what friends do.

She rolls her head to the side to face me. “It’s a big deal to me.” Shifting up on the sofa, she pulls her legs beneath her and turns sideways. “The fact that Dustin even called you says a lot about you. He trusts you, and he doesn’t trust men easily. I think Coach is the only other man he really likes. His little friend, Camden, has a nice father, too. I’m just…just really grateful, that’s all.”

“I like him a lot. He’s a good kid, but that’s all thanks to his mother.”

She huffs and shakes her head. “Sometimes I think in spite of me. I don’t know what I’m going to do, Koa. He needs more than I can give him, but I don’t know where to begin filling those holes.”

“Lean on your friends. You have them, you know. Me, Andrew, Annie. We’re here for you, okay?”

She quirks her head to the side, eyes me, and smiles. “Why you? I mean, I understand Annie and Andrew, but what’s got you sticking around?”

“I thought I was clear on that, but if you need me to say it aloud, it’s because I think you’re incredible, and I adore your son. Do you need more than that?”