My phone rings, and I look at the clock to see it’s almost nine thirty. I walk to the front door, picking up my Gucci purse and opening it as the ringing stops.
I look and see that it was from an unknown number. I wonder if it’s one of the clients I met with today. Now is not the time to do this, but they need to know that I’ll be there no matter what. So I call the number back as I walk back to the kitchen.
“Hello?” he says, and I stop walking. “Evelyn,” he says my name, and I am in shock.
The only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “Who gave you this number?” I don’t wait for him to answer because it doesn’t fucking matter who gave him this number. What matters is that he used it. “Don’t call me again,” I say, hanging up, and my heart sinks in my stomach. I put the phone down and then hear it beep.
My heart hammering, I pick up the phone, not sure what to expect. Whatever it is, it’s not what’s there.
Unknown: We can do this the easy way or the hard way.
I laugh. He has some nerve, and then another text comes in.
Unknown: I have no problem calling your brother to ask to see you.
My mouth opens. What the hell is his problem? I’m pissed now, fucking pissed. I dial his number, and I can hear that he’s in the car. “Evelyn,” he says my name in a desperate plea. “Please let me explain.”
“I don’t really know what game you are playing,” I tell him. “But—”
“I’m not playing any game. I just want five minutes of your time, and then I’ll never bother you again.”
“I won’t say anything.” My voice comes out. “It’s not necessary to talk about it. We can forget it ever happened.”
“Not a chance in hell,” he says, and I have no idea what he means. “I can come to you.”
My head is spinning. “I don’t have to come inside. We can talk outside.” His voice goes softer now. “I just need . . .”
“You aren’t going to let this go?” I ask, and I close my eyes when he answers.
“No,” he says.
I think about meeting him in person, and then I imagine if someone catches us, and the thought of that is too much for me to bear. “I’ll send you my address,” I tell him. “You get five minutes. After that, I never want to see you again.”
“Text me your address,” he says, and I hang up, sending him the address. I put the phone down and get a text now.
Unknown: There in fifteen.
Chapter 13
Manning
I toss the phone on the seat next to me as I make my way over to Evelyn’s house.
The last three hours are a blur.
I watched her pretend she didn’t know me, and it killed me just a little inside. I watched her walk away, and the whole time, I wanted to run after her and get her phone number. I wanted to tell her everything. I watched her avoid looking in my direction, and the whole time, I hoped she would if only for a minute. I hoped she saw the truth in my eyes when she looked at me.
“What do you want to do for dinner?” I heard Murielle from beside me. My eyes were still on Evelyn as she walked down the steps with her nephew. I shook her arm off me while I watched Jaxon drink his slush. I side-eyed her because she’s never fucking kissed me on my lips in front of people before.
I looked into her eyes while I wiped her lipstick off my lips. “I’m taking Jaxon out for pizza,” I told her. “Boys’ night,” I said, just so she wouldn’t cause a scene. Of course she looked around to make sure no one had looked over at us.
“Don’t keep him out too late,” she said. “He has a game tomorrow afternoon.”
“I’m aware of his schedule, Murielle,” I said as I grabbed his bag and walked down the stairs with Jaxon. “Were you waiting long with Evelyn?” My stomach sunk each time I said her name. Now even more so.
“Nah,” he said as we walked out of the arena, and I could swear I caught sight of her in a black BMW. When she stopped at the stop sign, I made her out, and I knew it was her for sure.
“She was going to give us money for arcade games,” he said, “but you got here.”
“That was very nice of her.” I opened the door for him, and I wanted to ask him more questions. I wanted to know if he liked her. I wanted to know anything he had to tell me.
I tried to listen to him as he told me about his week, but all I could do was think about Evelyn. When we finally got home, I saw that the trainer’s car was there, and I just shook my head.