Page 20 of Tattoo My Heart
“Nobody move. There’s glass and water all over the place.”
She turns around and marches to where we keep a sweeper and a pan. While she moves around in the back room, I take a moment to scowl at Cal.
“I can’t believe you told her that,” I whisper yell at him. “That,” I point at his crutch, “isnotmy fault.”
He has the nerve to laugh, the sound booming around in the quiet room, making it easier for Nancy to hear us. Just great.
“What did you want me to tell her, Evie? That you attempted to give me a blowjob and I came in my pants?”
“I… You… I…”
I am left completely speechless, and I feel oxygen deprived.
“Take it easy there,” he sneakers. “I thought you were the queen of blowjobs. Why act so embarrassed?”
“I am going to kill you,” I murmur quietly, careful so that Nancy wouldn’t hear me. If there’s ever a trial, I don’t want her to have to testify. It would devastate her, poor thing.
“Only with pleasure, I hope,” Cal deadpans.
I take a deep breath and try to calm my raging heart. I can’t go to prison because of this man. I would never make it. I am way too tender for that kind of life.
“Here we go.” Nancy is back, already hard at work with, cleaning up the mess we made.
“Thank you so much for doing this, Nancy. I would’ve done it…”
“No biggie,” she waves me off. “God knows I got angry at my brother before and threw things at him.”
Her words feel like I just got doused in cold water. I shake my head, trying to recover, then look at Cal, hating that tears are forming in my eyes. What if anyone saw us? They’d think I was making out with mybrother.
“Evelyn is definitely not my sister,” Cal speaks up. His voice comes out strong and determined. “That would be the last thing I’d want.”
“What,” Nancy laughs. “A sister?”
“Not this sister,” he points at me, sounding almost as if he hates me.
Nancy, completely oblivious to the tension suddenly coating the air in the room, shakes her head in amusement.
“You kids are funny. I’ve always wondered why you never hang out,” she continues. “I thought you’d gotten over your dislike of this sweet girl, Cal. It’s been years now that your dad married her mom. You need to accept it.”
She has all the scoop from my late grandmother, who was always very vocal in her support toward our blended family, and chastised Cal about it every chance she had.
“Evie,” she switches gears. “My nephew is coming to see me tomorrow.”
I shake my head at her, more in an attempt to shake off the emotions muddling my brain at the moment.
“Oh, t-that’s good, Nancy.”
My eyes are glued to Cal’s. He is watching me with clear amusement, and I worry that I made a mistake. The combination between him just giving me the time of the day and the reply I got from the guy off theHolidatesapp just meshed together. In my head, they became the same person, and, for a brief second, I really thought that Cal was into me.
“I thought I’d have him cover,” Nancy continues, “make the introductions.”
I’m not sure if it is the way she watches me over the rim of her glasses or the way she just said the words, but I have a feeling that she wants this to be more than just an introduction.
I feel completely out of my comfort zone, but I nod in appreciation.
“Sounds good. I’ll be here.”
A low growling sound comes from the direction of where Cal is standing. When I glance at him, I notice the thunderous look on his face. He is flexing his hands, squeezing the fingers into a tight fist, then releasing.
