Page 67 of Jaime
He forced a small smile.
“Liz is here.”
For a moment, I didn’t know how to react.
“I thought she was in rehab.”
“Last I heard,” he agreed. “Looks like she’s been out for a couple weeks, couch surfing.”
“Oh.”
We watched each other for a moment and the silent question grew louder and louder until I had to say it.
“What does this mean?” I asked. “Is she here for Evie?”
He swallowed, brows twitching into a worried frown.
“I’m not sure,” he whispered. “She hasn’t said and I’m too afraid to ask.”
His hands tightened in the fabric of my jacket.
“She only gave me guardianship. I don’t really have a claim to her. If she tries to take her...”
He was shaking, top to bottom, and I didn’t think it had anything to do with the morning chill, but I squeezed him tightly, pressed a kiss to his cheeks and gently steered him back toward the door.
“Come on, it’s cold out here. We’ll deal with this however is best for Evie.”
He didn’t seem very happy with that statement but managed to nod.
Before he could open the door though, I pressed another kiss to his cheek.
“I’ll be here to help, Jamie. In any way that I can.”
He took a shaky breath, nodded, and then went inside, holding the door open for me.
As soon as I stepped inside, I was met with the sight of Jaime’s older sister sitting on the couch with Evie held carefully in her arms. She was a slight woman, small in height and stature, with a pixie face, long brown hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, and huge brown eyes that rose to stare at me while I entered.
“Hi,” she said slowly, giving Jaime a look.
“This is Ethan,” he said. “My boyfriend.”
He didn’t look at me when he said it, adding the words so quickly I thought he might be hoping it went unnoticed.
No such luck. Hearing him call me that nearly made me melt into a puddle on the floor and Liz's already big eyes went even bigger.
“Oh. When didthathappen?” she asked, staring between us.
Jaime shrugged, rubbing a hand through his hair.
“I’ll be right back,” he muttered and took off for the bathroom, probably to get away for a minute.
I bit my lip, wanting to go after him, but Liz was already talking to me.
“Wow, so you’re my brother’s man, huh?” she asked.
I resigned myself to sitting and talking. I would just have to grab Jaime and kiss him silly another time.
“Yes, Ethan. Nice to meet you.”
