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After an enormity of moments, Evan pulls back, his face flushed with desire and something more profound.
We share a look, words unnecessary, as the weight of the moment settles around us. It's a bond that transcends the physical, a connection that promises so much more.
Chapter seventeen
Uninvited Custodian
Theinternethasnoidea how to navigate our relationship, but they're trying to. The moment Evan and I decided to try out dating, pictures of us sitting on the balcony together dawned on the front of news covers, leading me to believe paparazzi had been watching us for the past few months, waiting for the perfect time to strike.
“Fucking creeps,” I huff, scrolling through the endless articles. Never thought that would happen to me more than once.
“Stop reading those.” Evan gently lowers my arm, prying my eyes away from my screen. “They can mind their own business.”
“Yeah, they can, but they’re not,” I retort. Evan shrugs and rolls his eyes.
“What can we do? Sit down; you’ve been pacing around too long.”
“I thought you said the exercise is good for me,” I cross my arms with a false skeptical countenance.
“It is, but it’s been hours, and your ankles are swollen,” he counters. “If you sit, I’ll make you Chamoy pickles wrapped in fruit rolls."
While pretending to think about it momentarily, I pursed my lips.
“Fine,” I remark, plopping down on the couch. In two more months, my belly has grown quite a bit, which is also captured by these buzzing camera flies. They must be having a field day with this one. HowDantemust be taking it is beyond my imagination.
“Here you are,” Evan hands me my pickle abomination wrapped in a paper towel and sits beside me, placing an arm around my shoulder.
“Thank you,” I speak softly, taking a bite. Lost in thought, I'm thinking about my future. My baby’s future. How my life became a public spectacle in less than a year. Stuck in the worst and best place possible, I can’t fully enjoy the positives.Heis still out there and probably losing his mind all because people can’t stop sticking their noses in everything—
“So,” Evan states. Glancing at him as he carries on, “All paintings have been framed and preserved at the auction house.”
“It’s tomorrow, right?” inquiring, although I'm already aware, but needing confirmation nonetheless, he nods. I wish he didn't have to leave.
“Why don't you come with me?”
My head snaps to glare at him, “That’s a terrible idea, and you know it.”
“You haven’t been outside in months; don't you want to go out?”
“Sure, but like out on a walk or something. Not pregnant in front of cameras being streamed to millions. People are already wondering if they should participate in your auction with all of this happening,” I wave my hand, exasperated.
“Okay, okay, it was merely a suggestion. Not that it could make things any worse. It’s already in the news.”
“Showing my face in public could make everything a million times worse, and…andhim,” I clamp my jaw shut.
“Nothing I can’t take care of,” Evan declares.
“Still,” he holds me close, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“If you want to stay, then you can,” he affirms. “It’s getting late. We should get to bed.” It isn’t that late, but what else is there to do? Evan helps me up to my feet and leads me to the bedroom. Pregnancy has cured my insomnia for the time being, knocking me out as soon as my head meets the pillow.
***
As predicted, Evan is gone when I wake up. I wanted to say goodbye before he had to be surrounded by scrutinizing judgy pricks, but I’ll have to settle for sending my prayers over the TV. I click the power button on the remote and flick to the channel where they’ll be displaying the charity event soon.
Breakfast hasn’t soothed my nerves at all and only makes me want to throw up, but I manage to keep it down as I sit down, thumbs twiddling.
“It’s gonna be fine; he’s gonna be fine,” Evan is much more experienced in handling public situations than me. I’ve practically been isolated all my life, and he doesn’t seem to worry about anything. I don’t know how he’d done it for so long with all the money and fame, but I respect him more for it every day.
