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“You could leave some clothes here,” he motions toward his closet. “So we can stay in bed a little longer in the morning, and you wouldn’t have to rush home to change before going to the office.”
His words hover in the air for a moment before swooping into my chest with force. It’s a very serious proposal, even for someone who has thrown himself headlong into this relationship.
“Really? You know this is the beginning of the end, right? You give me a piece of the closet, and then you find makeup scattered around your bathroom.” I smile, trying to play it down, but my heart is going crazy at what he’s just proposed.
Evan shrugs and smiles. “I’ll free up a bathroom cabinet, then.” He winks before grabbing some towels and walking to the door. “I can use the other bathroom. You take a shower here.”
His proposal is so natural I have no doubt that it’s as serious and heartfelt as the one about the clothes. I can’t help but wonder if this taking thing slowly isn’t all that different from planning a life with someone.
When I enter the kitchen, I find Evan preparing breakfast and reading the news on his iPad. He’s wearing a pair of boxers and a T-shirt and still has wet hair from the shower. He’s light years from the perfect man and his tailored suits. This is the real Evan, the one hiding under the businessman’s façade, and it’s an unforgettable sight. He looks up and smiles when he notices me.
“I made you coffee. I hope you like eggs, bacon, and toast.”
I grab the cup and am surprised to find the drink precisely as I like, with a teaspoon of sugar and a drop of milk.
“It’s perfect. Thank you.”
He hands me my plate after filling it with eggs and sits next to me, diving into his breakfast and checking emails on his phone.
“Do you mind if I don’t come with you to your apartment but go straight to my meeting with the lawyers?” he asks as he puts his cell phone on the counter.
“Of course, no problem. Why are you seeing the lawyers?”
Evan shrugs and sips from his cup before swallowing a bite. I can’t tell if he is trying to avoid answering.
“I need to figure out how to raise money without selling shares of Jail Records,” he admits without looking me in the eye, just giving me a quick glance.
“Raising funds? Is there a problem we don’t know about?” I ask worriedly.
Evan inhales deeply and shakes his head. “No, I thought back to our conversation about the Red Velvet Curtains, when I told you I couldn’t help them. Nothing has changed. The only solution is to pay the penalty and free them from their contract. I want to see if there’s a way to do this. No pressure, I swear. But I need to know if it’s still possible to save their career because, after that last meeting with the record company, I’m sure they’ll never release those eight albums.”
I see the guilt in his eyes and I know how important this is to him. How much he hated every single moment of that meeting with his father, but was willing to put up with it to get that money. He was ready to be humiliated and harassed for the millionth time by that slimy man to get his friends out of a difficult situation.
“What do the others say about it?”
“The Jailbirds?”
I nod.
“That there’s no money to pay the fine. Damian has had enough, but Lilly would bust his balls if he tried to sell everything he has to help them out.”
I smile, amused. “Yes, I could see her doing something like that.”
Evan turns toward me and puts his hands on my cheeks. “I don’t want you to worry, okay? I promise if I need help, I’ll ask for it.”
He kisses me on the tip of my nose and smiles.
“Seriously?” It comes out like a plea.
“Yes, seriously. And to prove that I won’t work myself to death late into the night, I’ll take you out for dinner tonight. How does that sound?”
A grimace appears on my face, and his smile immediately disappears. “I can’t tonight. I have dinner with your brother,” I admit, feeling a little guilty. It’s a last-minute meeting while he’s here in New York on business. He wants to see me, without Evan.
Evan freezes at my rejection. I’m not even sure he’s breathing. “My brother. Aaron.” It’s not a question.
“Do you have another one I don’t know about?”
“And why would you go to dinner with my brother?” He is almost baffled by my statement.
