Page 18 of Chance
“He’s got it bad for you, kid,” Matt said, taking the seat beside me.I glanced at him, and he gave me a smirk.“He’s not perfect, Evie, but he’ll try for you if you let him.”
Matt was being real with me, so I gave him my truth.“I’m not looking for perfect.Just someone who can and will heal all the broken pieces.And right now, he’s doing a good job.”
Eyes so like his son’s softened for a moment before he blew out a sigh.“You’re a good girl.I can see that plain as day, honey.If you want him, you’re gonna have to hold on tight.”
Another chill climbed my spine.
It felt like a warning, and it probably was.I should have listened.Instead, I forced a smile and mumbled an excuse about using the ladies’ room.
As I stood, I caught sight of Abi still seated at the table.She was stretched out, her feet in a big man’s lap.He was massaging her calves, his focus solely on her as she lounged back, her glass of ginger ale in one hand, her phone in the other.A soft laugh reached me, and the man beside her appeared to glow from that pretty sound.
A cold sweat beaded on my brow, the back of my neck.Heart racing, I told myself I wasn’t seeing what—whom—I thought I was seeing.Needing a moment, I raced to the bathroom, my stomach in knots as I locked myself in a stall.
That wasn’t him.
It wasn’t.
Why would it be him?
Gulping, I took a deep breath.Counted to five.Released it for a count of five.
“Evie?”
“Sammy?”I squeaked, then cleared my throat.“I’m okay.”
I heard footsteps, then the closing of the bathroom door.At first, I thought she’d left, but then I heard the water turn on at the sink.“It’s okay if you’re not okay.”
“Sammy, I’m peeing.”I wasn’t, not yet, but I needed to.
“It’s a public bathroom, babe.You do you.I’m touching up my lipstick.”I heard her humming to herself.“I locked the door.In case you needed a moment.”
It took a bit, but I began to relax and was able to relieve myself, all while Sammy hummed.After flushing, I opened the stall door and found her standing at the mirror, frowning at her reflection as she turned left and right.
“Does my ass look big?”
“What?”I glared at her as I washed my hands.“You have a perfect ass.Like, the best ass I’ve ever seen.”
“I dunno.Maybe I should start doing squats.There’s this thirsty bitch in apartment three.Nowshehas a perfect ass.Ugh, I hate her so hard.”She smoothed a hand over her hip then pulled a tube of gloss out of her pocket.“Want some?”
Taking it, I swiped some on, appreciating the extra time she was keeping me in the bathroom so my heart could finish calming down after the freak-out I’d had minutes before.I was sure I’d hallucinated seeinghim, but I was still struggling with the memories that had bombarded me.
Sammy started fluffing her hair.God, she was beautiful.I was a little starstruck as I watched her.She was sexy and confident.But maybe not as confident as I’d first thought, given that ass comment.This woman was a freaking goddess in the flesh who gave bone-chilling vibes when she was upset.Her little trace of vulnerability eased some of my embarrassment about the tiny panic attack I’d almost had over a memory.
Even if that memory was from the worst night of my life.
There was a loud knock at the door.“Hello?”
“Should we let them in?”I whispered, not ready to leave just yet, but I felt bad about making someone wait.
Sammy took her time, fixing a tiny smear of lipstick on the corner of her mouth.“Ignore them.It’s no one important.If they are desperate enough, there’s another bathroom.”
They knocked again then complained loudly about using the men’s room.
A minute passed, and I was starting to feel better.Sammy, however, didn’t appear to be in a rush, and I was enjoying her company.She was easy to be around, not forcing me to talk or making me feel like I had to fill the quiet.Simply having her there was comforting, as if she were lending me her strength.
Another knock came on the door.“Ugh, is someone in there?”The next knock was harsher.“Hurry up!There’s a line forming.”
“OMG, Sammy.You better not be in there with Elias again.I have to pee!”
