I met his gaze. He looked anxious and upset.
"Evan? What…what are you doing here?" I stepped forward, concerned. "Are you all right?"
He held out his hand beseechingly. "I-I have to talk to you," he begged.
I stepped back, grasping his hand and pulling him inside.
"You were home. You texted me and told me that." I stared at him in horror. "How did you get back here? You didn't drive again, did you?"
He shook my head. "I flew." He tightened his hand on mine. "I had to see you. I had to try. I have to talk to you, Holly."
I furrowed my brow in confusion but nodded. "Okay, Evan. Come in and talk."
Evan
Once in her living room, I pulled off my coat. I stood looking at her, my eyes drinking her in. It felt like years, not days, since I had last seen her. She looked so good to me. Soft, pretty, warm. I wanted so badly to touch her, pull her into my arms and hold her, but I wasn't sure if I could.
"Holly, I—"
She moved closer, now clearly concerned. "Evan, sweetheart, what is it? Why are you here?"
Sweetheart. She called me sweetheart.
I wrapped my arms around her, thrilled when she leaned into my embrace, her face buried into my chest. I held her close, needing to feel her warmth and quiet strength.
Her voice was calm. "What did you mean you had to try? Try what? Why did you need to talk to me?"
There was a tone to her voice, one I prayed was hopeful.
"I made a mistake."
She
leaned back, gazing up at me, but didn't leave my arms. "What? Going to see your family?"
"No. You were right—I had to. I'm glad I did that. It proved I was correct and I don't belong in their world. And I finally told my father off. I won't let his opinion of me rule my life anymore."
She smiled and cupped my cheek. "Good. I'm proud of you. But what mistake?"
I drew in a deep breath. "I should have come right back here."
"What do you mean?"
I released her, needing to move and let off some of my nerves. I started to pace. "I never should have left here, Holly. I never should have left you behind." I tugged on my hair. "When I left my parents', I should have come right back here and talked to you. But I didn't know how you would react. If you wanted me to come back." I clenched my hands. "You didn't ask me to stay. You let me walk away. Didn't you feel anything for me?"
Her voice quavered. "Yes, I did. I felt a lot of things."
"Then why?"
"I didn't want you to go," she admitted. "It took everything I had in me not to come after you when you left. I wanted to ask you…but I was afraid. I wasn't sure how I would handle it if you said no." Her voice became thick with emotion. "I didn't think I could be what you needed."
"You are. You are exactly what I need.”
"Evan…"
I stopped in front of her, my entire body shaking. "I want you to come with me," I blurted out before I could change my mind.
"What?"