Page 76 of Stolen Fate

“That’s all,” I said, trying to sound firm. Only my heart was beating too loudly in my chest, and I could barely hear my own voice with all the blood rushing to my ears.

How ridiculous that I turned into this mess of a girl at the mere mention of Jace.

“I don’t believe you,” she said, calling me out. Katie was never really one to beat around the bush. She was as straightforward as they came, and it was one of the qualities I admired most about her, but also one I hated, especially when it came to me.

“Why not? I’m telling the truth.”

“Yeah, sure. So, he’s not hot?” she asked. I could almost see that smug look on her face from her tone.

I frowned. “His level of hotness is irrelevant. He’s my employer, and that’s all he should be.”

“Why can’t he be more?”

“Because I love my job, and I love Elliot. I don’t want to mess it up, Katie. And since when did you turn into such a romantic?”

“Hey, I’ve always been a romantic.”

I scoffed. “Coming from the girl who rolled her eyes at the cover of my favorite romance novel?”

She laughed. “I’m sorry, but that cover was obviously photoshopped. No man actually looks like that, right?”

Jace did, I wanted to say.

The naked image of him was forever seared into my mind, and I didn’t want to forget, even if I could.

When I didn’t say anything, Katie let out an unusual high pitch squeak. “Oh my God, you’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”

“What are you talking about?” And I was glad she couldn’t see me, otherwise she would see how red my cheeks had gotten.

She laughed. “You’re totally picturing him naked. Does he look like the hero on your dirty book cover?”

“Of course not,” I answered quickly. Or perhaps a little too quickly, because all I could hear for the next thirty seconds was Katie’s obnoxious laugh on the other end of the line.

“You know, I called wanting to talk to my best friend. If you can’t talk right now, I’ll just let you go,” I said when her laughter died down a little.

“Oh, please. You called me at seven in the morning on a Sunday. I’m usually asleep at seven in the morning on a Sunday. You were hoping for my voicemail. The joke’s on you. I’ve been sleeping with my phone on loud since you moved away.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “Is that why you picked up? You would lose sleep for me? How sweet.”

“That’s what I am. Sweet as apple pie.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t been talking to you,” I said, and I was sorry. Katie was there for me during one of the hardest times of my life. I didn’t want to avoid her. I missed her like crazy. “I just…”

I didn’t know how to put my feelings into words without sounding like an asshole. But Katie understood me, probably better than anyone else.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “I know why. You sound happy, Evelyn.”

“I am.”

“So no regrets? Even if you’re crushing hard on your boss?”

I groaned. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”

“No. I think it’s a good thing for you. And if he treats you right, I don’t see why you can’t just do something for yourself for once in your life. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes, Evelyn. You have to give yourself permission to put yourself first in life. It doesn’t make you a bad person.”

“I know. But I already told you why I can’t.”

“You’re scared this won’t work out, but have you thought about what it would mean if it did? You could be happy with a good man by your side, and you would never have to leave Elliot.”

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