"You sound like my father or my boyfriend..." I tried to stop myself, but it was out there.
An awkward silence followed my words and I wished the ground would open up and swallow me.
"Sorry. I guess I am kind of bossy. It's a character trait. I think it's from basically being on my own so long. I'm used to doing things my way."
"I just meant…" I trailed off, feeling like the biggest idiot ever.
He tugged me across the bench seat of his truck until I was at his side. "Boyfriend sounds good to me," he said huskily.
"It didn't freak you out?" I asked as his eyes settled on my lips. I wondered if he would make me ask for it the way he had before.
"It's what I've been waiting for," he said, placing his lips tenderly to mine. His hands cupped my face so that our mouths molded together. I moaned as he deepened the kiss, making me melt like a piece of warm chocolate.
"You better head in," he said, pulling away. "The wind is really whipping around."
It was like he had offered me a delicious frosting-covered cupcake and then snatched it away. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow?" I groaned when he didn't seem affected by my plea to continue.
He nodded. "I'll be in and out all day, but if you really do show up, I'll make sure I find you," he said. "Be safe," he added before I closed the door. I couldn't help smiling at his bossy tone. I stood waving as he backed out of the driveway before stopping to roll down his window. "Get inside," he called out, making me laugh.
My hand was on the doorknob of my room when someone startled me by calling my name.
Chapter 11
Jumping with surprise, I turned to see Evan standing in the shadows of our porch. "Evan? What the hell are you doing here? You scared the crap out of me," I said, placing a hand over my heart for emphasis.
"Was that who I think it was?" he asked, stepping out of the shadows.
I didn't need to be an Einstein to see he had been drinking again. I ignored his question by repeating my own. "Evan, what are you doing here? I thought you were back in New York."
"Pops got sick of me and told me to come back here and stay out of trouble. He sent our housekeeper along to babysit." He was clearly drunk, but I could hear the pain in voice. As pissed as I had been over the party, I couldn't help seeing him in this state and feeling bad for him, especially after some of the insight Farrah had provided. When I first met him he seemed like an ideal boyfriend, but now all I could see were the flaws he worked so hard to hide. He looked like a lost lonely boy.
His hair was disheveled and his clothes were frumpy and wrinkled, like he hadn't changed in days. Looking at this version of Evan, with his bloodshot eyes, it was hard to imagine I'd once found him attractive.
"You and Captain Dipshit all cozy now, huh? I guess I shouldn't be surprised." He had to work to maintain his balance because of the wind gusting across the yard.
"Look, Evan, you shouldn't be here. They've pretty much called for an evacuation of this whole area."
"Sure looked like you were enjoying it too."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm pretty sure that's none of your business."
"What about us? I thought we had something special going," he said, stumbling forward.
"I never pegged you as dense, Evan," I said, grasping the doorknob. "Look, I'm tired. You should probably head home."
He raked his hand through his hair. "Maybe I will, or maybe I'll call everyone over for another party—a hurricane blowout," he said, falling onto his backside.
I bit back a sigh. "God, Evan. Can you even walk to get home? Why don't you co
me in and try to sober up and we'll talk for a while?" I asked, feeling like a sucker. I couldn't believe I felt so sorry for him. Three weeks ago he could have dropped dead for all I cared.
"Now that's what I'm talking about," he said with glassy eyes.
"Not for that," I said, shaking my head. "If you come in it's to talk," I said, opening my door.
"You might like it," he offered, stumbling into my room.
"I highly doubt it. I have a boyfriend now anyway. You just look like you could use a friend."