Chapter 50 Anais
Anais
As if pulled by an invisible magnet, my eyes lock on Evan the moment I wake.
He stands in the bathroom doorway, his expression a mixture of relief and pain as he watches me.
His icy gaze is locked on mine, like he never wants to look away.
Breaking the stare off, I let my eye roam over him, taking in his disheveled appearance.
My brows hit my hairline when I notice his clothes…
branded hospital t-shirt and sweatpants?
What the hell? Evan Maxwell is always impeccably dressed.
So, this is… I shake my head. Did I enter an alternative universe?
Huh. Still, even dressed like that, he looks like a Greek God.
“Evan?” I croak, trying to push myself up into a sitting position.
My voice jolts him out of whatever trance he was in, and he rushes toward me.
Pain shoots through me, but I grit my teeth, ignoring it, adjusting myself into a semi comfortable position. A flurry of movement erupts around me. Soft concerned voices asking questions and vying for my attention. I glance around, and it’s only then I notice the people in the room.
My parents. Evan’s parents. My brother. Lana… Evan.
Gratitude swells in my chest, that they’re all here for me, but I can only focus on one person as he muscles his way between my brother and Lana to get to me.
Evan takes my hands in his, his worried eyes searching mine – for what I’m not sure. He exhales shakily, his eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment before snapping open again.
“You’re okay. You’re awake,” he murmurs reverently, as if needing confirmation to what he already knows
I nod, unable to speak because of my dry throat.
And then, just as I think it can’t get any more intense, it somehow does.
All the air leaves my lungs the moment I see the way he’s looking at me.
Despite the cold room, heat flares in my veins, my stomach tightening with need.
This might not be the most ideal place to make love, but right now it doesn’t seem to matter.
I want him. As if he can hear every thought in my head, Evan smirks.
My eyes narrow. Then he sighs, nodding subtly to the people in the room.
I glance around, exhaling at all the eyes lingering on us.
This is absolutely the worst time to be getting aroused, especially with our families in the room.
I clear my throat, trying to tamp my erratic hormones down.
“What happened?” I wince, sucking in a breath as a burning pain flares in my thigh.
Peeling back the covers, I eye the white bandage wrapped tightly around my leg. And then it all comes back to me. Every last horrifying second plays in my mind like a movie reel.
“Jarrod,” I gasp, my eyes darting to Evan.
He grips my hands tighter, his lips forming a straight line.
He nods. “He’s been arrested.” The deadly look in Evan’s blue eyes tells me Jarrod won’t be getting out anytime soon.
He runs a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
“Why did you jump in front of me, Anais? I’m meant to protect you, not the other way around.
” The pain in his voice breaks something inside me.
That image of Jarrod lunging at Evan with that knife, the fear I felt, the unhinged look in Jarrod’s eyes, will stay with me forever. I would never let him get hurt. Not if I could stop it. All I knew in that moment was I needed to do something.
“He was going to stab you. I had to stop him.” My voice trembles.
Evan’s jaw tightens, anger flashes in his eyes. But it’s not directed at me. “You will never do that again. Ever. Do you understand me?”
I nod, the lump in my throat preventing me from speaking.
“Evan, I don’t think now is the time to have this conversation.” Elena interjects gently, her gaze soft as it meets mine. I give her a grateful smile. She’s right. Now is not the time. I understand his fear, but I don’t need his frustration or disapproval right now.
My mother steps up, fussing around me, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
The sight makes my chest crack even more, that small fissure inside me widening.
Guilt eats at me. I hate that I’ve caused so much worry.
Mom hands me a cup of water, and I chug it down, desperate to relieve the dryness in my throat.
“Honey, can you tell us why… Jarrod? … would do something like this?” Mom asks tentatively.
“Yes,” my father adds, barely restraining the anger in his voice. “Why would a classmate attack you, Anais?”
I play with a loose piece of thread on the cover, unsure where to begin. It seems somewhere along the line, Jarrod caught feelings for me, and instead of talking to me about it in a healthy way, he let them develop into something more sinister.
“She’s mine,” he’d growled, as he charged at Evan with that knife. The memory makes me flinch.
Emotion tightens my throat, and I swallow it down. I need to explain everything. Taking a deep breath, I glance around, meeting the expectant faces of the people who love me. They’re looking for answers, and I need to tell the truth. Even if I hate reliving it.
Maybe if I’d told someone about the incident in the elevator none of this would’ve happened.
Maybe I wouldn’t be here, in this hospital bed with a knife wound in my thigh.
Anxiety claws at my skin, thick and unsettling.
The guilt is suffocating. This is all my fault. I could’ve prevented this. I could’ve –
All the anxiety falls away when familiar hands cup my face, settling me.
I meet Evan’s eyes, soft and soothing, allowing them to ground me.
His lips quirk up into a half smile as he rubs pacifying strokes across my cheeks, lower, until his thumb rests on the pulse point in my neck.
His way of checking my panic level. He smirks.
Bastard knows exactly how to calm me when I spin out.
“Inhale. Exhale. I’ve got you, baby. You’re safe,” he murmurs, not an ounce of embarrassment considering we have an audience. Not that I would expect Evan Maxwell to ever feel that way. He’s never been one to care about what anyone else thinks.
I suck in a breath before slowly releasing it, my gaze shifting over his shoulder to my brother who looks… perplexed, as he watches this all play out. I shoot him a weak smile which he returns with a frown.
“Good girl,” Evan mutters, bringing my eyes back to his as he strokes my pulse point and hands me another cup of water.
My body relaxes. My mind slows. A heavy cloud of exhaustion settles over me. Honestly, I want to sleep. But I can’t. Not yet.
I need to tell my parents everything.
Handing the cup back to Evan, I get comfortable and start from the beginning.
I tell them about the elevator incident.
My father in particular is furious that I kept that quiet, but I soldier on, ignoring his disappointment.
I tell them about the odd feeling of being watched.
Of someone following me. The unsettling feeling of someone having been in my apartment.
And lastly, the strange encounter during my run.
By the time I’m done, my dad, brother and Evan all look ready to lecture me on the importance of safety. But fortunately for me, they sense my fatigue, and all quietly agree to discuss it with me another day. I feel like a damn child.
Instead of focusing on the what if’s, I settle back onto my pillow, the soft hum of my family and friends’ chatter making me relax. It’s enough to send me to sleep.
And with Evan’s hand wrapped protectively around mine, I do just that.
After spending two days in the hospital, including giving my statement to the police, I’m finally discharged.
But instead of going home, I’m going to Evan’s penthouse.
Much to my parents’ annoyance, he insisted I move in with him to recover.
And honestly, I didn’t argue. I wanted to go home with him.
Evan never left my side the entire time I was at the hospital, not even to get a change of clothes. Once it became clear that he wouldn’t be going anywhere without me, Elena stopped by his penthouse and packed him a small bag of clothes and essentials to bring by the hospital.
Now I’m here in his arms, being carried bridal style through his apartment and to his bedroom, as my mother trails behind us. Judging by the tight set of Evan’s jaw, the frequent eye rolls, and mumbling curses under his breath, I can tell he is growing increasingly exasperated with her.
My man does not like being told what to do.
Evan places me gently on his bed, while Mom fluffs my pillows and hovers, trying to help me get settled.
“I’ve got it,” Evan grates out through clenched teeth.
Mom narrows her eyes at him. “She’s my daughter.”
“And she’s my girlfriend.” He shoots back.
And like a silly little girl, butterflies take flight in my stomach with that one word.
Girlfriend.
Who would’ve thought I, Anais Lauder, would be Evan Maxwell’s girlfriend?
Shaking my head, I get back to the pointless competition happening between them.
“Enough,” I growl, making them both freeze.
“I’m not a damn invalid, so stop treating me like one.
I am more than capable of moving my body to a comfortable position, so just back off and give me some space. Both of you.” I glare between them.
Mom sighs, her expression full of contrition. She straightens. “Would you like some tea? I can make tea.”
“I don’t have tea,” Evan says unapologetically. And God damn him, there’s not a hint of shame or remorse on his face for the way he is acting.
“I’ll go to the store.” Mom hisses back, glaring at him. Evan glares back, not backing down.
They have always had a good relationship, but right now they’re at logger heads over me. It’s ridiculous.
I shake my head, sighing. “I’m fine, Mom. Really.”
She smiles tightly, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Okay, well, I’ll leave you to it.” She leans down, wrapping me in a hug. “Call me if you need anything. Anything at all, honey, I’ll be here.”
“No, you won’t,” Evan mutters under his breath.
My gaze swings to him, eyes narrowing. He sighs.
“I will,” I murmur tiredly.
She releases me, stepping back. With one last glare in Evan’s direction, she turns on her heel and leaves.
“You didn’t have to be an asshole,” I say flatly.
“Your mother was being a pain.” He shoots back. “I am more than capable of looking after you.”
I search his face. It’s not like Evan to be so combative, especially toward my mom. So why is he acting this way?
That’s when it hits me.
Oh my God, Evan is jealous… of my mom.
A smirk spreads across my face. “You know you don’t have to be jealous. She’s my mom.”
“You’re mine to take care of.” He throws back dismissively, as if that settles everything.
A laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it. Evan glares, but I ignore the caveman. “You’ve got issues.”
He shrugs. “I’m aware. But guess what?” It’s a rhetorical question so I don’t respond. “It changes nothing.”
Chuckling, I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him in for a gentle kiss.
“I love you,” I whisper.
His eyes spark with satisfaction. “And I love you, Brat.”