Until June (Until Her 2)

Watching his retreating back, I feel Evan get close before he blocks my view. Then, his fingers are on my chin, lifting my eyes to meet his. “Go inside. I’ll be in, in a minute.”

“Don’t do anything that will lead to me visiting you in jail,” I whisper-yell, resting my hands against his chest, feeling the anger coming off him in waves.

“Go inside,” he repeats, putting his hand to my stomach, pushing me back an inch before pulling the door closed, shutting me inside.

Debating with myself about ignoring his order, I mutter, “Shit,” and head back to the living room, so I can call my uncle. That’s when I see Ninja through the glass of the backdoor snarling and barking up a storm. “It’s okay,” I coo, as he runs past me into the house toward the front door, coming back a moment later and taking a seat close to me. I leave a voicemail for my uncle, telling him that Lane is at the house, outside with Evan. When my phone rings a minute later, he tells me that he’s on his way and to stay inside then hangs up.

Rolling my eyes at that, I take a seat on the couch. A few minutes later, I jump in place when the door slams and Evan’s boots stomp down the hall. “Why did you open the door to him?” he asks, stopping at the mouth of the living room, planting his feet wide apart, and crossing his arms over his chest.

“I didn’t know it was him,” I explain quietly, licking my lips nervously when his eyes narrow.

“You didn’t check the peephole?” His body language and tone make it obvious I fucked up.

“If I had, I wouldn’t have opened the door.”

“Do not fucking get smart with me right now!” he roars, making me jump again.

“I’m not.” I stand, needing and wanting to gain some control of the situation. “I wasn’t even thinking.”

“He could have forced you inside the house, June. He could have done something to hurt you.”

“He didn’t.” I frown then, like an idiot, continue, “He wouldn’t do that.”

“Are you sure about that?” he thunders, leaning forward with his hands on his waist.

Swallowing, I close my eyes, because I know he’s right. I have no idea what Lane would do. I didn’t even know his name was Lane until I was dragged into the police station in the middle of the night. And that guy who was outside on the front porch wasn’t the Lane I knew.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper after a moment, feeling tears burn my throat as I try to swallow them down.

“Come here.” Opening my eyes, my gaze connects with his still pissed-off one.

“You’re mad,” I state the obvious, while keeping my feet planted where they are.

“I’m fucking furious, beautiful, but I still want you to come here.” He points to the ground where he’s standing.

“I feel safer over here.”

“June,” he warns, and my feet move. As soon as I’m close, his arms shoot out, wrapping around me, and his face drops to my neck, where he breathes in deep.

“I’m sorry. I won’t answer the door without looking again,” I whisper, circling my arms around his back.

“I know you won’t,” he rumbles against the skin of my neck, holding me tighter.

Running my hands down his back, I ask softly, “Are you okay?”

“I knew who he was when I pulled up to the house and saw him standing in the doorway. I saw your face and could tell you were scared. I wanted to fucking kill him for putting that look on your face.”

“He was fine at first, but then he saw my engagement ring and got angry,” I explain, and my hands start to shake.

“You have nothing to fear,” he vows, pulling away to look at me. “Nothing,” he repeats, and I drop my forehead to his chest, feeling his lips at the crown of my head.

“Will you be okay for a few, while I go out and talk to your uncle?”

“Yeah.” I nod against his chest and his hands move to my jaw, tilting my head back. “I’m sorry,” I repeat once more, while holding his concerned gaze.

“I love you, baby, so fucking much that even the idea of you breathing that motherfucker’s air pisses me off.” His forehead touches mine and I watch his eyes close briefly. “I’m not mad at you, okay?”

“Okay,” I agree, fisting my hands in his tee while his words wash through me.

“Give me a few minutes, yeah?”

“Yeah.” His mouth touches mine in a soft kiss, that lets me know we’re okay, before he lets me go and disappears down the hall.

“Don’t answer the door again without Ninja being in the house,” Evan instructs, and I tilt my head back to look up at him from my position against his chest in bed.