Tangled In Lies (Tangled & Torn #1)

11. Evangeline

Chapter 11

Evangeline

T he bell above the door chimes as I walk into my favorite coffee shop the following day. It’s a small corner shop just a few blocks away from campus, and they have the most delicious drinks and treats.

Tyler looks up from behind the counter and smiles at me. “There you are.”

His smile falters the second he glances over my shoulder.

I don’t need to turn around to know what he sees.

My mountain of a silent shadow.

At least he didn’t complain when I asked if we could stop here since that’s my usual morning go-to before school.

The place is quiet, with a few patrons sitting in the black booths off to one side.

I approach the counter, where Tyler has already started making my coffee.

He keeps sending me glances, scanning me from head to toe as if to make sure I’m still in one piece.

Once he’s done with my large caramel macchiato, he brings it over and leans closer. “Are you feeling better? ”

I nod. “Much better, thank you.”

He studies me as if he’s trying to figure out if I’m telling the truth. “Everything else okay too? You seemed upset at the party.”

My lips tip up at the corners. “Oh yeah. It was just such a big shock. You know I don’t like surprises.”

He chuckles. “Sometimes they can be good, like when I add extra caramel or whipped cream to your drink.”

“That’s true.” I huff a laugh and reach for my drink.

Instead of giving it to me, Tyler grabs my hand.

My instinct is to pull back, aware of Holden behind me, who probably reports everything I do back to Phoenix. Tyler is my friend, and he doesn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess.

He stares at me with big eyes. “You know I’m here if you need me, right? If you need help, I’m your guy.”

My heart races with worry for him, and I take the cup he pushes my way. “Thank you. I’m just trying to lie low right now, but I really appreciate it.”

He gets the point and turns toward the glass case to his left. “What do you feel like today? Sweet or savory?”

Grateful for the distraction, I let my gaze roam over the food behind the glass case—muffins, cupcakes, croissants, sandwiches—and stop when I see the wraps.

“A spinach, feta, and egg white wrap, please.”

He chuckles. “See, that was a good surprise, right?”

I’ve been whining for weeks about them not having my favorite wrap since they had supplier issues.

“Definitely.” I watch him with a smile as he rings me up.

He’s matured in the last few years since I’ve known him. Still as good-looking as before, but now he’s also grown into his broad shoulders. He’s a nice guy and a good friend, even after our drunken one-night stand. It’s too bad I never had any romantic feelings for him.

I pay, grab my coffee and paper bag, and give him a wave. “Thanks, Ty.”

He gives me another meaningful glance. “I meant what I said.”

I nod. “I know, thank you.”

Holden is waiting by the door, opening it for me and doing the same when we reach the car.

I thank him and slide into the back seat, releasing a breath and closing my eyes while Holden gets behind the wheel and heads for campus.

Thankfully, the mix of caffeine, sugar, and carbs does wonders for my system, and by the time we walk into my first class, I feel marginally better.

Today, I share a few classes with Ruby and Mason, but I manage to avoid them as much as possible. They seem to have calmed down some after last night’s chat, but I know they must still have questions and things they want to say. My luck runs out at the end of a long day when they wait for me in the bathroom, of all places. No wonder they ran out of our math class like their butts were on fire. They know I usually go to the bathroom before I head home and probably thought it would be their best chance to corner me.

I snort. “Mason, you know this is the girls’ bathroom, right?”

His only response is a shrug .

Ruby has her Sherlock Holmes face on, staring at me with narrowed eyes like she can see straight into my brain.

Sometimes, I wish she actually had that ability so there wouldn’t be any lies or secrets between us.

But then you wouldn’t have any friends anymore either.

These two are the only good things in my life, and I can’t give them up. I won’t survive without them.

“Soooooo?” Ruby waves a hand through the air. “Is this how things are going to go now? You avoid us and sneak around with The Thing?”

I cradle my binder against my chest like a security blanket and sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m still processing what the hell is happening.”

Mason steps up and wraps an arm around my shoulder to pull me into his body. “You know we’re just worried, right?”

He smells like our laundry detergent, like home.

But their home isn’t my home anymore.

Not any longer.

That thought rips another small tear into my already tattered heart.

How can I navigate this mess without them by my side?

My eyes tear up as I lean closer.

“Oh shit, don’t cry. I’m sorry, Evie.” Ruby steps closer and wraps her arms around me and Mason. “You know I’m shit at handling tough situations sometimes.”

I sniffle and sag into the security blanket they’ve formed around me.

Ruby is definitely a shoot first and ask questions later kind of girl, the first of us to raise her fist in the air and make demands.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a situation where I can do either.

I wipe my cheeks. “Things are going to be different—they already are—but I’m going to figure out how to keep as much of my life as normal as possible.”

Phoenix will probably cherish the thought of me suffering, but he also told me he needs my help to get donations for his foundation. It’s a small bargaining chip, but I’m willing to see how far I can push him and how much of my freedom I can keep while giving him what he wants.

Maybe he’ll shut me down at every corner he can, but I have to try.

Almost in unison, we step back, but they both keep their arms around me.

Mason gives me a sad smile. “You’re really going to stay with him and marry him?”

The air is tight in my throat, only barely allowing me to suck in a breath. “I have to, for now. Phoenix needs me, so I’m going to be okay.”

Ruby sighs, clearly unhappy with this. “He better treat you right, or I’ll kick him in the balls.”

The door behind us squeaks, and we all turn our heads to look at the intruder.

Holden.

He takes in our small gathering. Nodding toward the hallway, he says, “Come on, Princess. The boss is waiting.”

Of course he is.

Ruby mumbles something that’s too quiet to hear, but I’m sure it’s all sorts of colorful words for my new bodyguard. Security detail. Prisoner guard. All the same at this point. Even though I’m not one-hundred-percent sure if his main job is to keep me from running or if he’s supposed to protect me too. Maybe Phoenix gave him the green light to happily stand by and watch me get run over by a bus or something. As long as he records it on video for Phoenix to play on a loop. We couldn’t deny the man to bask in the glory of me getting what I deserve.

Thank you, brain. A pleasure, as always.

Pushing up on my toes, I kiss Mason on the cheek before doing the same to Ruby. “Love you, guys.”

They both say, “Love you too,” as I give them a small smile.

I silently follow Holden out of the building and to the parking lot.

The second I’m in my seat with my seat belt in place, I settle against the door and close my eyes.

Thankfully, Holden takes the hint and stays quiet the whole drive, allowing me to put all my emotions back into their tight spaces where they escaped after seeing Ruby and Mason. Hiding my genuine emotions from them is much more complicated than hiding them from anyone else, except anything related to Freddy. Whenever he’s involved, they usually know something is up, but I can’t tell them what it is.

At the house, I follow Holden out of the garage and through the kitchen, unbothered when he brings me to my room like a small child. The cracks in my armor are fragile today, and I need all my energy to keep them under wraps when I’m around Phoenix.

Holden doesn’t follow me into the room, waiting in front of the open door. “Dinner is in half an hour. Do you know where the dining room is? ”

“Yes.” I don’t look at him as I put my bag on the bed and unpack my things.

I managed to do some of my homework during my free periods, but I still have more to do.

Accounting. My favorite.

Even in my head, it sounds ridiculous. I’m the last person to understand most number-related things. Math just isn’t mathing for me. That was Connie’s domain. When she died, my dad said it was now my job.

In one day, I lost my sister and the entire future I had dreamed up. Traveling the world, playing music, performing. Now I’ll spend my life with my nose in books and behind computers and my butt in a chair.

I can’t imagine anything more boring.

At least my dad got his wish for me to end up with a “real job” since I completely stopped with my music after Connie’s death, unable to play a single note or even go near a piano.

A noise startles me, and I stare toward the door. But it’s closed. Holden must have shut it when he left.

At least he’s been decent enough, a far cry from Phoenix’s open hatred.

That’s because you didn’t put Holden in prison.

With a sigh, I drop onto the bed and start my homework.

Sometime later, the door swings open with a loud swoosh, jolting me so much my pencil flies out of my hand and over the side of the bed.

With a hand on my chest, I try to calm my frantic heart and glance toward the door. Phoenix leans against the doorframe like he doesn’t have a care in the world. I see it for what it is: yet another reminder of how utterly out of depth I am when it comes to him.

“You’re late.”

Per usual, he glares at me, and I can see his nostrils flaring from where I’m sitting. I bet he’d spit fire right now if he could.

His words register, and I glance at the clock. Shit. How did time pass so quickly? I barely got anything done. And I was supposed to be at dinner ten minutes ago.

“Sorry.” I close the notebook I was working in and slide off the bed without disturbing my things. “Give me five minutes to get changed and freshen up.”

I head toward the bathroom and the walk-in closet.

“Evangeline.”

Phoenix’s voice stops me dead in my tracks, and I glare at him over my shoulder.

“You have two minutes. There’s no need to get changed.” He drags his gaze over my leggings and oversized sweatshirt. “You look fine.”

Before I can reply, he’s gone, leaving me to stare at the spot he just vacated.

“One and a half minutes.” His voice flows inside the room from the hallway.

I hurry to the bathroom to pee and at least take care of the flyaway hairs that have escaped my messy bun throughout the day.

The dining room is in the opposite wing on the first level, and I’m sure not even running would get me there before Phoenix’s time runs out.

I try to rush anyway, slamming into a solid brick wall when I turn the corner to the dining room .

No, not a wall. A chest. Phoenix’s rock-hard chest.

He steadies me with his hands on my arms before he grabs my chin and tilts my head back until I gaze at him. My nerve endings stir and tingle from his touch, and my lips part in response.

“The next time you’re late, I’ll put you over my knee and spank your ass like a petulant child who can’t follow simple orders.”