Evan
Evan
I listened to Jain, my stomach twisting this way then that, as I absorbed the information.
“Let me just recap,” I said, as her eyes looked at me with fear.
My robe had slipped from her shoulder, exposing her creamy skin. She was perched on the edge of the sofa, clasping her hands together nervously.
“So, you told him you had an ex-boyfriend called Lee...who was me ?” I checked, unsure where she had connected the names, discarding the question as useless.
Jain nodded glumly, swallowing as I studied her. It made sense to me that she would do that, almost like a coping mechanism. However, I fully needed to understand what she had told Julian.
“You said I died?”
Panic struck her features momentarily before she reached out and grabbed my hands.
“Not you . I could never say those words. So I made out that my ex died, so I would never have to talk about him or see him ever again. He asked why you weren’t on social media...it just got too much.” Her voice cracked a little, and I exhaled slowly.
“Fuck, Jain. This is all a bit much for a Saturday morning.”
“Do you, uh, do you want me to go?”
Her voice was tiny, yet I couldn’t help but admire the way she composed herself. Her hands were shaking, and she was incredibly pale.
As if I wanted her to leave. I’d only just got her back.
I shook my head, squeezing her hands.
“No, I don’t want you to leave. It’s just strange. I admire the fact you told him the truth just now.”
Jain let out a strangled cry, and my heart ached.
“Jain, you’re barely twenty-two. Please don’t beat yourself up.”
“He hates me. You think I’m weird—” Jain sobbed as I pulled her into my arms.
“Jain, look at me,” I commanded as she lifted her eyes to mine. “What man would find it acceptable that his wife-to-be had done this to him barely a week before marrying him? Then for him to find out that I’m your ex—who he thought was dead—Jesus. It’s like a soap drama!” I let out a small laugh to try to ease her mind.
“I know, I need to speak to him,” Jain started, and I pulled her into my arms.
“That’s probably the last thing you need to do right now. But you know people will be demanding explanations. His family, your mother...”
She looked up at me, and I stopped mid-sentence.
“How did he know I was here?”
I shrugged, not telling her I’d already wondered as much myself.
Julian didn’t seem like the type of guy to follow her, and I’m sure if he did, he would’ve interrupted our little reunion earlier.
“Do you think he tracks me?” Jain asked anxiously, and I shook my head.
“No. Your car is parked out front...maybe he saw it,” I mused, stroking her hair as she rested on me.
“I’m sorry, Evan, this whole mess is my fault.”
“Not entirely. I blame your mother,” I muttered, fury boiling in my veins when I thought of her. “I went to see her. To tell her you weren’t happy.”
Jain sat up, and I pulled my robe around her before it fell off completely.
“Really? What did she say?!”
“Nothing of interest. I swear, I’m beyond caring about Julian and your mother. I just want to be with you, just us. As much as I understand everything that is going on, I don’t think it would do any harm to return to bed with copious amounts of tea and maybe...” I cocked my eyebrow up jovially as she smiled sadly, making me feel a total idiot for attempting to joke inappropriately.
“Is there anything I can do?” I asked, watching her as she stood, picking her clothes from the floor gingerly. I hated to see her like this, but all I could hope was that this shit storm would be temporary. The aftermath was what I was looking forward to. I remembered Julian’s eyes when she said she was leaving him, and I felt his pain.
She’d left me once, and I would carry the scars forever.
I sat quietly, gazing at the floor, when I saw her engagement ring peeking out from under the sofa. I picked it up, examining it sadly. I knew that Julian loved her, and as far as I was aware, had never done anything wrong by her. I walked over to my writing dresser, pulling out an envelope and slipped it in.
Jain joined me less than twenty minutes later, her hair swept back into a high ponytail and her face scrubbed of any makeup. Her lips looked swollen, and I guessed that was partly my fault. Her eyes were ringed with redness, but she smiled at me.
“I’ve sent Julian an email...trying to explain. Not that I think he will even read it, but you never know. I want to talk to him properly,” Jain sighed as I gazed at her in surprise.
“I think that’s great. He will be destroyed right now. Maybe it’s best if you let him lick his wounds. They will be pretty deep.” I grimaced as Jain walked over to me, placing her hands on my shoulders. She tilted her head and leaned forward, almost hesitantly. I kissed her, wrapping my arms around her waist as she relaxed against me.
“I feel horrific. I lied to Julian about you, and then he finds me here with you...”
“Jain. In five years, will it matter?” I asked briskly, her eyes clouding over as her mouth turned up at the corners.
“I hope not!”
“See, now I think in five years you will be too busy with our many children to care too much about the day you broke another heart,” I teased, and she stilled in my arms.
“Another?”
“Yes, Jain, you’ve left quite a trail behind you.” I chuckled. “Mine included,” I added as she groaned.
“I’m the worst person in the world.”
“Well, no, you’re not. If you’d have married Julian, then maybe, yes. But you had every intention of going to see him, alone, this morning. It was only the fact that he turned up here that it went down the way it did. ”
“He won’t leave it here, Evan.”
Her lip trembled slightly, and I turned her to face me.
“I’m going nowhere, Jain.”
She seemed to relax again before nodding.
“Me neither.”