AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But he has.
And now...I don't want him to leave.
I look toward the kitchen to find that he's already doing the dishes, and that he's parked Alex in front of the TV with the dogs. Alex is piled up in fluffy bodies, his eyes drooping and the blue light of the TV painted across his face. I walk down the hall and stand next to Evan, biting my lip.
"Sorry about that," I whisper. "I'm being a jerk."
"You're good," he says.
"I need to feed the dogs--"
"Already done," he says, then he meets my eyes. "You were in there for a while."
I can tell he wants to ask if I'm okay, and I'm certain in that moment that I'll start sobbing if he does.
"Don't ask," I say.
"Okay...I won't," he says. "Just--I'm here."
Somehow, that's even worse.
I try desperately to swallow the lump in my throat, but I'm already crying, tears streaming down my cheeks. Evan plays it cool, keeping his reaction muted so my kid won't freak out--but Alex hears it anyway.
He has a sixth sense for this shit.
"Mom?" he says quietly, still sitting on the couch.
"I think her headache is really bad," Evan says, looking over his shoulder. "Would you be okay with me telling you a story tonight?"
What the hell is wrong with me? I'm normally so good at getting a hold of myself, but right now...
"I think I just need to go to bed," I tell Alex, not able to look at him. "I'm okay, kiddo."
"Are you sure?"
I can hear him tearing up too. This little visit of Evan's is getting less fun fast.
"I'm sure," I tell him. "You enjoy your movie and cuddle with the dogs, okay? I'll be out to check on you in a couple hours."
I can't hold it together anymore, and I walk down the hall. Being away from Alex, then meeting Evan, then what we did last night, and what Teresa said today...it's all starting to get to me.
I need to get away.
I need to go somewhere safe.
So I go to my room, with all its painful memories and rumpled sheets that smell like Evan Hart.
And I spin my wedding ring on my finger until I fall asleep.
Chapter sixteen
Evan
Ihavenoideahow I fucked things up so fast.
One minute, everything was golden with Sam...and now, it's very much not. I'm distracted as I finish up the dishes, and it feels weird to be the one putting Alex to bed. He fades fast, though, listening to a story I make up about a dog on the beach.
Then I'm shutting off the lights, making sure the house is all locked up.
