AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh look,” Oli says, clapping as Kevin moves on, his head held high, his sights set on Isaac. “All the men you’ve fucked are in the same room. Can you believe it? What are the chances?” She sighs wistfully and brings her hands to a prayer position as she looks up at the rafters. “Sweet baby Jesus, thank you so much for—”
She breaks off as Eve elbows her hard enough in the gut to make her grunt out a breath. She sputters and bends over, holding her stomach, looking every bit the drama queen she’s always been.
“What the shit, dude? What if I’d been holding Robert? You could have done serious damage. And how could you live with yourself, knowing you injured your nephew?”
“I’ll show you damage, Olive Tanner,” Eve hisses, grabbing Oli by the arm and dragging her outside. Her cheeks are bright red, her skin flushed and sticky with sweat. “I can’t believe you just fucking said that…” The rest of her angry rant disappears as the door softly clicks shut behind them.
My brows crash together as Oli’s words sink in. She’s fucked everyone in this room?
I look around, my eyes lingering on each man. Isaac, I know about. But does Oli? Me, obviously. My gaze zeroes in on the new fucker, Marcus, and I grit my teeth together. Did Eve fuck him? Her touch was casual, but his wasn’t.
Did she just want a casual hookup? A fling? While he wanted something more? He was looking at her like she was his next goddamn meal.
“So, Preacher Payne.” Kevin’s nasally voice pulls me from my seething spiral, and I turn my attention to him. He’s the last guy in the room, but I can’t imagine Eve giving him the time of day. So either Oli was talking about just Isaac and me, or this fucker Marcus has been between Eve’s legs. “I wanted to discuss my internship with you.”
Isaac lets out a long breath as he turns toward Kevin, his hands sliding into his pockets. “How about we set up a meeting for when I return from my next lecture?” he asks.
“Well, I was hoping—”
“I’m a bit busy here,” Isaac says, and my brows lift at his tone. I sink back into the pew as a few more people filter in through the door. “Come by in a few weeks, but make sure it’s during my office hours.”
Kevin’s shoulders round as he nods pitifully. I can’t help but feel a bit bad for the guy as he trudges down the aisle of pews. His eyes scan the room, meeting mine briefly before bouncing back.
“Roman?” He stops in the aisle, uncaring of all the people he’s blocking. “Roman, is that really you?” Biting my tongue, I tip my chin at him. “You’re back.”
“I’m back,” I say, nodding. I fold my arms over my chest and sink further down in my seat.
“But—but—you’re back.”
I don’t know why he sounds so shocked, or why he’s making it sound like it’s life changing information. It’s not and his life will literally change zero percent from my sudden appearance.
“Yep.” I nod a few times and look around the room again. It’s filling up quickly now, with people coming in the side and main doors. Eve and Oli are still nowhere to be found, though.
I feel the kid’s eyes on me, and I let out a long breath as I look back at him. He glances around, his hands wringing together in front of him. “What’s up, Keith?”
He swallows. “Kevin.”
I press my tongue against the inside of my cheek, considering him. I don’t know why, but I don’t like him. In fact, the more people filter in, the more hateful stares I receive, the more I realize I really don’t like anyone in this fucking town.
“Well, anyways,” he looks around again before taking a step forward, “can you do me a favor?”
I huff out a breath. I don’t even know this guy.
“Depends on what it is,” I drawl. “What do you want?” I almost expect him to ask if I can put in a good word for him with Isaac. But he shuffles closer, too fucking close for my comfort.
I choke a little on the overpowering scent of his aftershave, which is weird because he doesn’t look like he can even grow a beard yet.
“You think you can talk to Eve for me?” he whispers. “I know things ended badly between us, but I’d like to give her another chance. You know, she’s so pretty and nice. I think we could be a great couple.”
I blink at him.
What the fuck?
It takes my brain an insane amount of time to process his words, but when I do, it feels like my thoughts are making their way through sticky tar.
“What?” I choke out, completely dumbfounded. “Eve?” I hold back from adding the word my. Eve’s not my anything. Not anymore.
“Yeah,” he says, nodding a few times. “Can you tell her to call me?” I just stare at him, shock taking over my body.
