Sunset In Central Park (From Manhattan with Love 2)

“What woke you?”

“Frankie, banging on my door.”

He tensed. “Look, I understand you’re worried about your friend, but I can’t talk about this right now, Ev.”

“I’m not here because I’m worried about Frankie. I’m here because I’m worried about you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.” She grabbed his hand. “Let’s go to the park. It’s lovely at this hour.”

His chest ached, but he didn’t want her to know how bad he was feeling so he forced himself to tease her. “How would you know? You hardly ever see this hour?”

“True. So let’s go and see if the rumors are true. I’ll buy you coffee and we can talk.”

He didn’t want to talk, but he couldn’t think of a way of telling her that wouldn’t offend her so he gave in and walked with her along the street toward the park.

It was a slow Sunday morning and the neighborhood was just waking up. They strolled past family-owned stores brimming with fresh produce, and Eva dragged him into Petit Pain, the artisan bakery that also sold the best coffee in the area.

“Here.” She handed him a tall coffee and a bag containing a still-warm pastry. “Let’s go and find a comfortable bench to sit on.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Never argue with a woman who’s just woken up.”

He gave up arguing and they walked in silence until they reached the park.

It was still relatively quiet, with only a few families with young children already in evidence. Matt pushed open the gate and then paused, his fingers digging into the smooth wood. “Was she upset?”

Eva nudged him through the gate toward the nearest seat. She didn’t ask who he was talking about. “Yes, but so are you.”

Upset? His gut twisted. His feelings were more complicated than that. He felt sad and sore, as if his emotions had been dragged across a rough surface. “What did she tell you?”

“Nothing. She asked if she could stay in Paige’s room for a while. Then shut the door on me, which is what she does when her mother gets in touch.” She sipped her coffee and watched the squirrels playing on the grass. “Roxy texted me and told me her mom showed up in person, so I don’t need to know much more than that. Her mom messes with her head.”

“I know, but I was hoping we’d moved past that.” And that was the other emotion he was feeling. Bone-deep disappointment. He’d truly believed her feelings for him were strong enough to overcome her reservations about relationships.

“I was hoping so, too. If she messes this up I will kill her.”

“Messes what up?”

“Your relationship. In fact, I’m so stressed I need to eat half your pastry.” She reached across and took the bag from his hand.

“You should have bought one for yourself.”

“I’m on a diet. If I steal yours it doesn’t count.” She broke off a piece and ate it, sugar dusting her lips. “That’s so good. You’re right. I should have bought myself one. Or five.”

“So what are we doing here, Ev? Did you want to give me wise advice?”

She licked the tips of her fingers. “You’re talking to a woman who hasn’t had sex in—oh—” she counted on her fingers and then shrugged “—more time than I’m prepared to admit, so I’m not in a position to dish out advice. I’m here because you’re sad, and sometimes when I’m sad it helps to have company.” Something in her voice made him glance at her.

“Are you sad, honey?”

She stared intently at the bag in her hand. “We were talking about you.”

“Well, now we’re talking about you.”

She reached into the bag and broke off another piece of pastry. “Sometimes. There are days when I’m okay, and other days when I’m so lonely it feels as if I’m the only person on the planet. What is wrong with me, Matt? Why can’t I meet someone special?”