Page 139 of Five Days to Be Mine

“What do you say to dinner?”

“Yes, please. Sinful Bites?”

“No, I’m taking the night off. I have something else in mind.” The smile on his face makes me feel so adored, flutters burst low in my stomach.

I tidy up my workspace, turn off the lights and we’re exiting the doors, when I see a man with a ball cap and a leather jacket walking past.

There’s something in me that recognizes him and I stiffen.

“Mara, what is it?” Evan asks me, pressing his hand to the small of my back.

“Nothing.”

But the man turns and my mouth goes dry as my dad jogs over to us. “Mara! There you are. You keep ignoring my calls. I went by your old apartment and I guess you’re not there anymore.”

This man is going to wreck everything. I stare at my father, not believing that he is here to wreck everything, but of course he is, and bile rises in my throat. Evan reaches for my arm, but I can’t.

“I got to get away from here,” I take three steps away from Evan. “Leave me alone. Please.”

I see the angry expression on my father’s face and I don’t think, I just take off, walking briskly, then jogging.

At the entrance to the park, I run left, down a windy trail and finally stop to catch my breath, my hands on my knees.

What am I going to do now?

I don’t know how I am going to face Evan, knowing that my dad probably asked him for money.

Evan had a little luck yes and a lot of privilege but he’s worked hard for everything he has and someone like my dad could make a mess of his life

I had tried to put my father out of my mind, convincing myself I could have something good and happy with Evan. Taking out my phone, I see two missed texts from Evan.

I ignore them and dial Suki.

“Princess.”

The phone slips from my fingers to the ground. I close my eyes.

“Mara, look at me.”

I shake my head.

I feel his fingers under my chin, tilting my head to his, and I bite my lip. “Come on, princess. Open those beautiful eyes.”

I can’t resist him. Evan picks up my phone. I shove it in my pocket, wipe away my tears.

“Why did you run?”

My stomach tightens and I feel like I'm going to throw up.

“I don’t like seeing him. But I was afraid he was going to ask you for money. I don’t know. I felt overwhelmed and ashamed.”

Evan pulls against his chest is the only place I want to be.

“Princess, if I have to capture you a million times to prove to you that there is nothing you could ever do that’d make me not want you, I will. I’m going to take you back to my kingdom and punish you for leaving.”

More tears fill my eyes. “But did he ask you for money?”

Evan chuckles. “People ask me for money all the time. Brennon Consortium has a whole staff that deals with donation requests or financial aid requests. It wasn’t a big deal, Mara. You decide what you want to do with your dad, but if you want help in finding a way to help him, I’m here.”

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