Chapter 25 Eve
TWENTY-FIVE
EVE
June
After three weeks, the giddy excitement of being with Cole hasn’t worn off. Technically, I suppose we’ve been together much longer than that. It all still feels new—nerve-wracking and amazing all at once. When we’re alone together, he lights me up with every word, look, touch.
Being with him is better than I ever dreamed. He makes me so happy. I don’t care if we have to sneak around. It’s worth it. He’s worth it.
Then my mom gets one of her ideas in her head. She’s impossible to persuade otherwise once she’s thought one up. Maybe I get it from her because I can be the same.
Except this isn’t about when seasonal decorations should go up or why she’s stubbornly a Rangers fan in a family of Bruins diehards.
She believes she’s doing me a favor by springing a surprise blind date on me today. All the hints she’s been dropping this week make sense. I thought it was weird she was asking me if I met anyone lately.
I couldn’t exactly tell her, oh yeah, I’m totally getting my insides rearranged on the regular by Cole.
She also wasn’t listening when I tried to say thanks but no thanks, insisting how much it would mean to her friend if I met her nephew. Eventually, I gave up, deciding it would be easier to go and tell her it didn’t work out.
Cole finds it funny. His exact words when I called him about it were, “You don’t need my permission to go out. I know you’re my girl, and you know it. You’ll be in my bed tonight, not any other man’s.”
Then he made me stay on the phone with him while I showered and used the vibrator he bought me to make me come three times as I promised I was only his.
While I got ready, I had him on FaceTime listening while I worked out how I’m going to let down my blind date. He offered to be my escape plan.
When I walk into The Landmark, I steel myself.
Stalling for time, I wander over to the side of the bar where Mr. Boucher has let me display some of my stickers for sale along with a collectible bar coaster I designed just for him.
I also have my own small shelf at the bookstore for my earrings and handmade bookmarks, plus a spot at Clocktower Brew House, too.
It’s surreal and heartwarming to see my things supported by so many in Heston Lake.
Maybe Cole and I should work on the camper again. It’s been on hold for a while when my orders boomed from social media and him getting busy in the spring with the championship tournament.
“Are you Eve?”
I spin. The unwanted blind date is at a table for two by the wooden columns in the middle of the bar. I have my escape plan at the ready as I go over.
“Hey. I’m Dylan,” he says.
He’s a nice-looking guy with short hair and an open smile.
I hover by the table, braving the awkwardness of the sentence I practiced on the way over.
“Listen, I just want to let you know this isn’t going anywhere.
My mom set this up and wouldn’t get off my back about it, but I’m not actually—” I wave my hands as I stumble over the words.
“I have a boyfriend, she just doesn’t know it. ”
Dylan blinks for a second, then gives me a friendly smile. “Thanks for letting me know. In that case, I have a confession, too. I’m also not looking for anything out of this.”
I unwind the tense set of my shoulders. “Oh. That’s great.”
“I’m just making my aunt happy while I’m visiting her before I go back to Boston. It’s her mission in life to set me up. She doesn’t understand why I haven’t settled down yet.”
I droop against the table with a relieved laugh.
“Oh my god, same. My mom’s been dropping hints about me finding someone to ‘cheer me up’ after my last relationship ended.
It was faster to come out to meet you and get it over with to appease her before she went into full-blown matchmaking mode than explain to her I’m seeing someone secretly. ”
“Listen, if you want to walk out the door right now, I’m cool with that. Here, you can even splash a beer on me.” He frowns. “Can I have another sip first? This is really good.”
I smile, recognizing the light hue as one of Benson and Jess’ summer ales. “It’s fine. I’ll stay for a drink.”
“As friends,” he says.
Once I order, we end up chatting about the dating scene and general life struggles post-college. He shares that, like me, he took longer to graduate from college because he kept switching majors.
I plant my hands on the table and lift a brow, being dramatic. “So why aren’t you settled down, Dylan? Don’t you know by twenty-five you should be married, have a house, and you’re losing the game if you haven’t thought about kids by now?“
He snorts. “My aunt never lets me forget it whenever I’m in town. She’s worse when it comes to my sister and can’t accept she’s choosing to live her life child-free.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
He shows me a picture of both of them on his phone. “We’re more invested in our careers. Me especially since I felt like I needed to catch up.”
“Yes! I totally know what you mean. If there’s anything I’ve figured out, it’s that none of us know what we’re doing. It’s pretty reassuring. Except the times I’m going through it feeling like I’m the only one who doesn’t have my shit together.”
We toast to not knowing what the hell is going on in our twenties.
Cole and Benson arrive shortly after, spotting me while I’m laughing at the story Dylan’s telling. Cole’s features harden for a moment, then he veers for our table with my brother in tow.
“Well, look who it is.” Benson sidles to me and messes with my hair before I bat him off.
“Shocker, you guys found me at the most popular place to go out for a drink within town limits,” I deadpan.
Cole edges closer, looming over Benson’s shoulder. I can’t help but feel like he’s sizing Dylan up. While the others are distracted, I slide my hand beneath the table to brush against his hip out of sight. He inches toward me.
I swallow at the memory of his voice echoing off my shower tiles earlier while he controlled the toy I had inside me. With my brother here, I can’t introduce Cole as my boyfriend.
Benson glances between me and Dylan. “What’s up, I’m Eve’s brother.”
“Dylan. Word is, my aunt’s friends with your mom.” He shakes Benson’s hand, then turns to Cole. “Are you Eve’s brother, too?”
Cole and I both freeze. He shakes his head.
“No. I’m Cole. Friend of the family.”
“You’d think it from how he acts.” Benson snickers and slaps Cole on the back. “But nah, we just grew up tight. He’s basically family at this point.”
“Want to move to a bigger table?” Dylan suggests.
“We don’t want to interrupt. Have fun.” Benson smirks, winking at me. “Come on, Cole.”
He thinks he’s being helpful without realizing he’s wrong. On their way to the bar, Cole takes his phone out.
Mine lights up at my elbow with his text. I duck my head to keep from looking his way.
“Sorry, that’s my boyfriend.”
Dylan waves a hand. “Go ahead.”
Cole: Ready for your out?
Eve: He’s not so bad. He’s not interested in a blind date either and offered to let me toss a beer in his face.
Cole: Say when. I’ll be waiting for you.
I send him a heart emoji, peeking in his direction. He’s joking with Benson. No one would suspect we’re talking to each other.
“If you need to go, it’s cool.”
I sip my half-finished drink. “I can hang. He’s, er, out right now. We have plans later.”
We go back to talking for a bit. When I bring up my online store, he’s interested in how it works being my own boss. I get wrapped up in talking about it.
My train of thought disappears when I notice Cole has texted again.
Cole: Every minute since I walked in here I’ve wanted to come over there and kiss you until you’re melting against me.
Cole: Thinking about the first night I fucked you in the truck. The way you sank down on my cock and rode me. No one knows what pretty sounds you make for me.
Cole: Be my good girl and meet me in the bathroom. I want to fuck your pussy and fill it with come.
A flush spreads over my cheeks. I find Cole watching for my reaction, leaning against the bar with a smug expression. I slide my thighs together to alleviate the ache of desire he’s stirring.
“Sorry, what was I saying?”
“About starting your own business,” Dylan supplies.
“Right. I’ll get back to that in a second, let me just…” I split my focus to text Cole.
Eve: Are you getting jealous after all?
Cole: Just telling my girl what I want to do to her right now. Why, is it distracting you?
Eve: I’m not even dressed sexy right now. I literally put no effort into this outfit.
Cole: What you’re wearing never matters to me. You’re always sexy, and I always want you.
I bite my lip around a smile. If he wants to tease me, I’ll tease him back. It’s fun to rile him up knowing we get to go home together.
Eve: Hmm, I’m not feeling particularly distracted. I think you’ll need to try harder.
Cole: Oh yeah? Does it get you hot when I send you dirty texts?
Eve: You know it does. Who will break first, you or me? Winner gets to do whatever they want tonight.
He doesn’t respond, but I feel his attention on me when I get up to order a second drink while Dylan’s using the restroom. My hips sway for his benefit when I pass. I catch his eye before licking the salt rim on my cocktail. Heat flares in his gaze.
He tracks me back to my seat. I make a show of sucking on an ice cube before Dylan returns.
The game goes back and forth with me putting my best effort into appearing unaffected by the texts he sends. I can pass off the spreading tingle of warmth on the alcohol, but I can’t pretend the messages aren’t getting to me. He knows exactly what to say to drive me wild.
Cole: Keep squirming, baby. It won’t help if you cross your legs.
Cole: I’m what you need. Your whole body is begging for me.
Cole: Your pussy wants to take every inch of my cock, doesn’t it? I can see how hot and achy you’re getting from here.
Cole: Ready to break yet? I promise to make it better. I’ll make you feel so good tonight.
Licking my lips, I risk a glance toward the bar. He stares at me over the rim of his glass, nodding at whatever Benson’s saying.
“I’ll be back. I’m going to run to the bathroom,” I blurt.
“Want to order another drink?” Dylan asks.
“Um, you can. I—oh, shit.” I nail my hip by clipping the column in my rush to hop down from the high chair. When he jumps up, I stop him. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m good. Just bumped it.”
Dylan sits. “Okay.”
I hurry to the bathroom to splash cool water on my face.
Cole: Are you touching yourself in there? I want to come find you and feel how wet you are for myself.
I choke back a hazy gasp, glad there’s no one else in the room. My thighs clamp together against the insistent pulse of heat in my core. Teasing him has been fun, but I’m tapping out. He wins. I’d rather be in his arms right now than sitting across the bar unable to be with him in the open.
Cole: Leave your date.
Eve: I thought we agreed this wasn’t a date?
Cole: Go home. I’ll make it worth your while because I’m going to spend all night reminding you that you’re mine.
He’s too good at the whole jealous boyfriend thing, and I’m a little too turned on by it when he gets like this.
When I head back into the bar, I meet Cole’s eye on the way over to Dylan. His charming victorious smile steals my breath.
“Hey, I’m sorry, but I’m going to go. My boyfriend called,” I say. “Thanks for a fun time.”
Dylan shakes my hand. “It was cool meeting you.”
“Likewise. Enjoy the rest of your visit with your aunt. And good luck putting your foot down about her setting you up on dates you don’t want.”
“You too.”
I wave my phone. “Already on it.”
On my way out, I tell Mom bummer, we aren’t interested in each other, then warn her off setting me up again.
I feel the weight of Cole’s gaze until I reach the door. I glance back, catching his eye with a smirk before texting him that I’ll be waiting for him at home.