Page 48 of Waiting For Ever
“I got you, Letty. They’re on a shelf in the office. I’ll run and grab them.” I set down the unopened pack of tortillas I just took from the refrigerator to continue our breakfast burrito assembly line. “Be right back, guys,” I call to the little sisters over my shoulder as I push past the swinging doors into the main dining room of the café. My cheeks hurt from smiling as I rush down the hall to the office. The crack of the cue ball on the pool table in the game room just adds to the vibe. Rushing past, I catch the group of young men playing pool. My mind has seconds to register the familiar faces just before I hear his voice.
“Evvie? Oh my God. Itisyou.”
I freeze.
My heart slams against my rib cage like it wants to escape my chest. His hand on my shoulder turning my body is gentle but feels like a vise. My teeth clamp down on my lower lip after my tongue juts out to pull it inward. I look up into Chase’s face, beaming like we’re long-lost friends. Like he isn’t the one who turned my life upside down.
“What are you doing here?” he asks conversationally. Looking down my body and back up to my face, taking in my appearance—leggings and a knotted oversized Brew shirt I snagged from Julian’s closet this morning. “Do you . . . work here?”
Work. Brew. Julian.
I snap out of my freeze state. “Uh, yeah, and . . . you can see we’re slammed so . . . I better get back to it.” I turn and rush into the office, closing and locking the door behind me. Leaning against the door, I begin to shake. Tears roll down my cheeks one after the other silently as I sink to the floor.
Fuck!I knew it! I knew it would be him.
I let myself forget for a minute.Goddammit.I want to run. Disappear. But I can’t go back out there. I don’t want any of them to know I’m here. But now he knows. I don’t want to leave Blue Lake. That thought makes my stomach twist sickeningly. I don’t know what to do. I wish I could rewind the morning. I’d think more clearly. I’d pay more attention. I could’ve seen him before he saw me. I could’ve avoided him, all of them, until they left. No one would’ve known. Now it’s ruined. This place. This life. I can’t start over again. Where would I even go this time?
The doorknob jiggling above my head sends me scurrying back from the door. “Ev?”Lilly.“Hey, you in there?”
“Uh, yeah.” I force my voice to project normalcy. “Just had to, uh, just needed a minute. I’ll be right out.” I hold my breath, waiting, listening. After a moment, I hear her footsteps retreat. I exhale. I pull my legs up to my chest and curl my arms around them and, with my chin on my knees, I stare at the door. I should be thinking of what to do next, but my mind is a blinding white room. They say the mind is powerful. Mine is blank. Beyond wishing this would all go away, I can’t figure my way out of this. Did they all see me? Would he tell them if they didn’t? I only noticed guys. Is Kendall here? Although I can’t see her camping, cabin or not.
The sound of a key sliding into the lock pierces my thought spiral moments before Julian’s frame fills the doorway. He’s crouching in front of me as the door latches behind him.
I look into the blue pools staring back at me and take a shaky breath.
“Hi, pretty girl.”
“Hi, Julie.”
“What’s going on in there?” His finger swipes my hair back from my temple and tucks it behind my ear.
My head swivels slowly from side to side as I lower my gaze. “I knew it would be him.”
His hand stills where it’s tracing lazy circles around my ear. His fingers snake around the back of my neck while his thumb urges my chin up. “Him who, Ever?” His jaw clenches on the question.
Blowing a shaky breath through my pursed lips, I confess. “Chase. I saw his last name. On the reservations. I didn’t think . . . I’d hoped it wasn’t. I should’ve checked. Been more careful. He saw me.” Another shaky breath. “He stopped me. He knows I’m here.”
“Okay.” Julian mirrors my exhale and sinks to the floor in front of me, crossing his legs. That someone as muscled as him is flexible enough to cross his legs travels through the head haze and makes my radar, raising the corner of my mouth in a half smile. His palms pace up and down along the sides of my thighs that are still tucked against my stomach. Dipping his head to get in my line of vision again, he asks, “Did he hurt you? Touch you?”
I quickly shake my head. “No. no. He just . . . he called out to me. He stopped me. He knows it’s me. I can’t go back out there.”
“Ever.” Squeezing my thighs as he says my name brings my eyes level with his. “You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”
I roll mine at that.
“You are,” he repeats. “And brave.” He nods as he adds that. “Give me a minute, okay? I’ll be right back.” When I don’t readily agree, he leanshis face toward mine and presses his lips to my forehead. “Okay?” he asks again and then pecks my lips.
I nod.
He fluidly rises and disappears, closing the door behind him.
I stay as I am, turning my cheek to rest it on one knee. I wipe the dampness on the fabric of my leggings. Heat rises from my stomach and burns my chest, then my face.
I’m pissed.
Fuck Chase! Fuck all of them! I left their stupid town they seem to think they run. They can have Oak Valley. Blue Lake is mine. I’m starting to make a life here. One I like. Maybe love. One I’m not letting go of. Or running from. Fuck him. And Kendall. And all of them. Except Via and maybe Ryan.Shit!Are they here too? Via would’ve told me. Right? The fact that I’m not a hundred-percent confident of the answer pisses me off more. I gather myself and stand with a half-cocked notion to call Via immediately and demand to know.
Then Julian is filling my vision again. His hands clasp my shoulders, drawing me into his arms. His wingspan impresses me despite my current meltdown. Each arm extends across my back, hands resting on opposite shoulders. “He’s gone.” He rests his chin on top of my head as he says it.
