Page 44 of A Match Made In Evan
I can see the ellipsis bubbles for his reply as I rapidly fire my questions at him.
Me
While you’re practically sleeping in the same bed??
Jay
This was before she knew I was in a relationship.
His responses come back as quickly as my questions.
Jay
I was oblivious.
She was mortified.
And we’re sharing a room with separate beds.
While I’m still contemplating that, he sends another message. It stills my racing heart, soothing some of the panic.
Jay
Please tell me you’re not actually freaking out right now. You’ve never been a jealous wanker before.
I reread the message and chuckle, feeling mildly sheepish. He’s right. I’m acting like a real tosser.
When I message him again, it’s with complete honesty.
Me
I’ve never been in love before.
James’ bubbles appear and disappear before his final message comes through.
Jay
I’ve only ever been in love with you, Ev.
***
I’m still riding the high from James’ sweet message by the time Thursday morning rolls around. We’ve texted on and off for the couple of nights that he’s been gone, but I can’t wait to hold him in my arms and kiss him within an inch of his life. So sue me if that sounds sappy: he started it.
Around ten a.m., my office is evacuated due to an issue with the security system, and I opt to head back to Jay’s place to finish my day’s work there. There’s no point going to my sad, dated, cramped apartment at the back of Burleigh when his bright, airy house in Palm Beach is just waiting for me, after all. Not when this is where I told Jay I’d meet him tonight, after his flight gets in from Sydney at stupid late o’clock.
I’m setting myself up at the kitchen bench, logging into my VPN on my laptop, when a sound filters in from the direction of the bedrooms.
James doesn’t have pets. He doesn’t even have plants anymore (not after the disaster of my last attempt at house sitting).
I lean back on my bar stool and listen intently.
It’s a strange sort of sound. Muffled and distorted, but something like a…howl, maybe?
Worried that I might have left the laundry door open and an animal of some kind has gotten inside, I climb off my stool to investigate.
James will kill me if some neighbourhood cat has pissed on his carpet.
The closer I get to the hallway leading to the bedrooms, the louder the sound seems. I hesitate, trying to determine where it’s coming from, and I determine that it’s coming from Mia’s room at the far end of the hallway.
