Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Noah
Rex is in rare form as he dances around the patio, doing his best Peter Frampton impersonation to “Show Me the Way.” Everyone laughs as he can barely stand yet somehow manages perfect air guitar moves and electronic voices to compliment Frampton’s iconic tune.
Everyone joins in on singing the words during the chorus because Rex’s enthusiasm for the song is just too damn contagious.
As the song comes to an end, I keep my eye on Trevor and wonder what kind of history he and Eva must have had. I’m slightly worried their past might be a threat to what I hope is my present, or dare I dream, my future.
I never disliked Trevor before. In fact, we’ve always gotten along well.
Although, in the short time I’ve observed him and Eva together, I’ve instinctively started to feel threatened.
The thoughts of his hands on her or his lips anywhere near the places I long to kiss and touch make me want to punch his fucking lights out.
Returning my gaze to Eva, I’m overcome again with how amazing she looks in the firelight.
She laughs and jokes with everyone sitting around us.
The ease at which she enjoys herself makes her that much more appealing, and I find myself changing my mind about not wanting to get involved with anyone.
I’m still planning on moving, but that move is two months away.
Two months is a good amount of time to at least see where things can go and have some fun while doing it.
I don’t know what came over me when I grabbed her hand. I haven’t felt this way about anyone in a long time. The feelings of desire, lust, even jealousy, are emotions I long ago tried to forget.
The music slows and someone must have changed the station because “Let Me Down Easy” by Billy Currington begins to play low in the background. Consumed, I watch Eva, mesmerized by how easily she holds everyone’s attention captive as she talks.
If not trying to feel anything for her feels this good, how much better would it feel if I gave in? And what if, just by some crazy chance, her feelings were the same, too? Could she possibly feel anywhere close to the way I do when I look in her eyes?
These are all great questions I need to know the answer to before we go any further. I might have been moments away from getting those answers before Trevor showed up.
He might have won for the moment, but there is no way I’m letting Eva get away again tonight.
“How’s work, Trev?” Eva asks. “I’d expect things to be more hectic with the holidays approaching. Any crazy stories to thrill us with tonight?”
Jealousy burns through my veins. I tighten my grip on her hand and see the recognition of its tight grip flash across her pretty face as she tenses. She doesn’t turn to look at me, but I know the message is delivered.
You can talk to him, Darlin. But you belong to me.
“Not too crazy,” Trevor says. “We do live in such a quiet town. My shift changes next week, and I will be back to working nights. Maybe I will have some stories for you then.”
Trevor’s a police officer, and it suits him.
The man never breaks the law and even looks down on his family members for minor offenses like speeding tickets.
He’s annoyingly perfect and so uptight it’s hard to make him smile most of the time.
How anything ever happened between Eva and Trevor blows my mind.
“Noah here has some stories,” Rex butts in, slurring and laughing at the same time. “Tell them about the fire we fought up Highway 50 and how you found the culprit running naked through the forest shortly after.”
Not one for bragging about the work I do, or even retelling too many stories from my time spent volunteering with Rex fighting wildfires, I shake my head at his comment. “No one wants to hear that kind of stuff, Rex.”
“You’re a firefighter, too?” Eva asks, surprised. “Do you ever rest? Work, school, firefighting. You’re like a crazy one-man show.”
“I like to keep busy,” I shrug. “I love being outside. I’m not one for being cooped up inside an office all day.”
She has a point though; I am extremely busy. It’s a strategic plan I developed a few years back to keep me away from relationships. It’s a plan that has succeeded so far, but might be crumbling as we speak.
“This guy right here saved an old woman from a burning building,” Rex slurs emotionally.
“What?” Eva looks shocked as she turns toward me and searches my face for the truth.
“Saw it with my own two eyes,” Rex continues.
“He’s rescued cats from trees, saves babies, helps grandmas cross the street, and risks his life for those less fortunate.
He’s a hero. He’s my hero.” Rex fakes tears as his voice breaks, and he puts one hand over his heart. Eva finally catches on to the joke.
“Shut up,” she giggles playfully, slapping him on the arm. “You’re so stupid, Rex.”
I start to grow uncomfortable. I don’t volunteer to look like any kind of hero.
Rex likes to tease me because I take being a volunteer firefighter more seriously than he does.
I also shy away from talking about myself under any and all circumstances, unlike Rex, who is always eager to use it to his advantage—mostly with members of the opposite sex.
“Come on now,” Rex continues, “don’t hold out on the lady, or I will be forced to tell her the truth about you since you seem so keen on holding her hand but not saying a word.”
“I enjoy it,” I reluctantly begin to talk about myself.
“Like I said, keeps me busy. Maybe even busier if California doesn’t start getting any rain,” I glance up at the sky.
“We’ve been having a lot of lightning, and the ground is too dry.
Could be a serious problem. But nothing crazy like this character keeps saying. ”
I motion towards Rex, annoyed.
Holding up his hands in defense, Rex shrugs. “Just trying to help a brother out.”
He becomes immediately disinterested in the two of us and focuses his attention instead on the conversation building between Trevor and Michael. They’re discussing adding additional security for the upcoming holidays and several special events scheduled to take place at Gatsby’s.
“Help you out with what?” Eva asks. I turn to meet her gaze and wonder if this is the right time to pursue the matter, but figure to hell with it. I saw how quickly my last opportunity was spoiled. It’s time to throw the cards on the table and see what we’re both holding.
“What do you need help with?” she smiles, having to already know the answer to her question. I pause for a moment and take her in. I’ve never been one to half-ass anything. If I’m going to go for it, I’ll be all in.
“You wouldn’t be interested in those details,” I say, trying to buy more time to make sure I’m positive about my decision.
“I don’t know, I’m pretty inclined to like everything about you at this moment,” she says, whispering and leaning in closer. “Try me. You might surprise yourself.”
Eva’s confidence is an unforeseen bonus. It both shocks and turns me on.
“What if I was to say I’m liking everything about you the more I get to know you too?” I whisper back, countering her confidence with some of my own.
I lean in and drown myself in the blue of her eyes. God, I’ll never tire of looking in those eyes. A man can get lost in the depths of the possibilities they evoke.
“I’d say maybe you need to get to know me even better, then,” she says, leaving me thrilled with the ease with which we’re having this conversation.
I was hoping she wouldn’t play hard to get but never anticipated it being this easy.
Without thinking, I open my life up for the first time in a long time and ask, “How about I take you out Friday and do just that? There is nothing I want more than to have you all to myself, Eva. No group. No bar. No friends as distractions.” I brush a strand of her hair out of her eyes and tuck it behind her ear. “Just the two of us, Darlin.”
Our conversation once again becomes whispers intended only for our ears as we lean into one another, attempting to drown out the world.
It’s not like I wouldn’t have asked her if everyone was listening.
It’s more the idea that privately she’s all mine with no one’s feelings to hurt and no one’s opinion but her own to form her answer.
“I’d like that very much,” she whispers back.
“It’s a date, then?” I ask, wanting to make sure that she knows my intention, and not wanting to leave anything undefined.
“Oh, it most definitely is a date,” she confirms, smiling brightly.
I smile as I ease back into my chair and hold her stare. Last night I felt crushed seeing her flee the bar. The thought that I might never see her again was a nightmare I hadn’t been able to escape all day.
Twenty-four hours ago, I had no desire to ever feel the way Eva makes me feel. Now, I can’t get enough of her. All my ideas about never falling in love again died the moment I saw her sitting at the bar in her parents’ living room.
I don’t want this night to end. I want to stay with her, holding her hand next to the fire as long as I can. The only solace I find in the thought of saying goodnight later is, it’s not goodbye. Sitting next to her on her parents’ back patio, I start to wish the week will pass as fast as possible.