Page 67 of Quarterback Sneak
We all hear the door to my room open. I spin around to see Evie step out into the hallway. Her face is deathly pale, but her eyes are open and she looks coherent. Relief floods me instantly. “Evie.” Her eyes lock on mine, but she doesn’t give me anything.Is she terrified? Angry? Sad?Normally, I can read every expression on her face. Right now, it’s so very blank, and I hate that.
She looks around the room and hesitates. “Hey, Evie,” Quint says in a gentler voice than I’ve ever heard him use. Maybe there’s hope for him yet. When her eyes land on my father, I watch as she tenses.
I open my mouth to make the introductions, but he beats me to it. “Hey, Honey,” he says in a voice usually reserved for my mom or sister. “I’m Zane’s dad, and this is his mom. She was the one checking you for injuries.” Evie’s eyes flit over to my mom.
“Thank you.” Her words are soft, but at least she’s talking. Relief flows through me.
“Of course,” my mom says tenderly.
“I’m good now. Thank you so much. I just want to go back to my room.”
I don’t fail to notice that she doesn’t look at me when she says this. I walk right up to her, being careful not to startle her. “I can take you back to your room, if you want. Or you can stay here. We have a guest bedroom you can use for the time being.” Wedon’t actually, but I will make one if it will get her to stay here. She stares at my chest.
“I’d like to go to my dorm.”
My heart falls. “Okay. I’ll take you back.” Reid stands up and gives me a small nod. He’ll go with us for extra security. “Reid’s going to go with us. Is that okay?” She gives a small nod, still not meeting my eyes.
“It was nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood,” she says as she passes my parents.
“You too, Evie,” my mom says tenderly. “You’ll have to get Zane to bring you over to the house for dinner sometime soon.”
She nods but doesn’t respond. While I’m grabbing my keys and wallet, she lets herself out the front door. “Be careful,” my father warns. I want to hear what he’s learned, but I don’t want Evie outside in the dark by herself.
“I will be.” I head outside and down the steps. Evie’s already standing next to my truck with her arms wrapped around her. I don’t miss the way she looks all around her, as if searching the darkness. “Hey.” I walk over to her and open the passenger door. “You’re safe, Evie.” She doesn’t look at me as she climbs into my truck. Reid meets my eyes a moment before he climbs in the backseat.
The ride back to campus is made in absolute silence. I don’t even bother turning on the radio, afraid it will spook her. When we pull up in front of her dorm, I keep the truck running and hop out. But she’s down before I get to her side. She walks towards her dorm building, and I follow. She has no problem getting in at this early hour because my dad made a call. Once inside the building, she heads over to the stairs. I follow silently behind her. When we get to her door, she opens it and looks at the lock on the handle. My heart sinks because I know what she’s doing. “Will you stay out here and see if it actually works?” Her words are soft but determined. I let her close the door, and I try it.
“It works.” I don’t tell her that one swift kick would break the lock; she doesn’t need to hear that tonight. But I can at least give her peace of mind. “Let me show you something,” I tell her as soon as she opens the door. I grab the chair from the desk on the opposite wall. I shove it under the door. “Nobody’s coming in now,” I tell her. I look at the bathroom door. “Want me to do the bathroom door as well?”
She shakes her head. “I can do it.” She doesn’t look up at me. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Evie,” I try one last desperate attempt. “Please talk to me.”
She finally lifts her head, and those gorgeous eyes meet mine. For just a moment, she lets me see the same raw fear I saw earlier tonight in the woods. “I can’t.” Her words are a plea for...something. I just don’t know what. To leave her alone? To not ask any questions? “Thank you for coming to get me,” she whispers.
“Always, Evie. I will always come to you when you’re in danger or scared.”
She closes her eyes a moment and then steps back. “Goodbye, Zane.”
Everything in me urges me not to leave her, because those words sounded way too final. But I fear hurting her or scaring her even more, so I let her go. “Goodnight, Evie. Call me anytime, night or day.”
She nods but doesn’t say anything. I stare down at her, memorizing her beautiful face. I want nothing more than to take her in my arms and protect her, but she won’t let me. I force myself to turn and leave her room. I close the door behind me and wait for the sound of the chair being shoved under the handle. I sit down on the ground next to her door. Thankfully, it’s somewhere around two in the morning; nobody should be coming and going at this time of night. And I’ll disappear before the girls in this dorm get up and moving for the day. But for now,I’ll make sure she stays safe. I war with telling her I’m out here, so she’ll feel safe and maybe get some sleep. The other part of me worries that she’ll demand that I leave, and I really don’t think I’ll be able to.
I reach out to Reid.Hey, I’m going to stay outside Evie’s door. I just can’t leave.
He answers immediately.I figured.I already took your truck and drove back to the house. Just let me know when you need a ride.
Thanks, Man.
The next few hours drag by. My dad keeps me in the loop but doesn’t give me a whole lot. I know there’s more, but he doesn’t say anything through our bond. I lean my head against the wall and close my eyes, looking to rest just for a few minutes. I hear a sound, and my eyes snap open. The door to Evie’s room opens before I can move. She steps out into the hallway and stops suddenly. “Zane. What are you doing here?” I push myself to my feet. “Have you been out here all night?”
Judging by the light outside, it’s still early. “I’m pretty sure it’s only been a few hours.” I take in her pale skin and the dark circles under her eyes. “Couldn't sleep?” She shrugs. “Did you want to try again? I’ll keep watch for you.”
“I’m heading to the coffee shop; I have to open this morning.”
“Are you sure you’re up to that?” Her chin rises, and I fight my smile.My girl’s getting her fight back.
“I’m good. Thanks.”
