Chapter 36
I stand outside the venue where the benefit is being held and try to suck my tears back into my body. I’ve been crying all day, so I’m pretty sure that without the help of all the concealer I slapped on I would look like I’ve been punched in both eyes. Apparently, whoever made up the phrase time heals all wounds meant a lot of time, because with every hour that has passed today, my wounds have only grown deeper. My heart hurts, and I wonder if it’s possible for an organ to physically split down the middle just from emotional turmoil.
It’s silly, but . . . I really thought Jake would end up being the one.
Too bad he just ended up being the one to sleep with someone else when I made him mad.
Even still, it doesn’t make sense to me. The picture the woman painted when she opened that door this morning doesn’t line up with anything Jake has been telling me since we started talking/kissing/seeing each other. But maybe he was lying. Maybe he really is into casual sex. He just didn’t want it with me.
Great, more tears.
“Nope. Uh-uh. No more tears from those pretty green eyes,” says Jo, rushing up beside me to hand me a tissue. “You look too pretty to waste your night thinking about that frog leg for one more second!”
I spent the whole day today at Joanna’s house, lamenting everything that happened over the last twenty-four hours. Her advice was that we try out a new Pinterest recipe she found, where you boil lemon and various items that belong to an ex-boyfriend and then pour the “juice” into a spray bottle and go spritz that person’s house to bring them bad luck. Or maybe it was to keep the flu away . . . I can’t remember because I was too busy ugly-crying into a pillow while she explained it.
“I know, I’m trying to quit, but I can’t. This is the worst night to have to host a fundraiser.”
“Or it is the best night to host a fundraiser. Because now you get to look gorgeous and keep yourself busy all night. And who knows, maybe you’ll find someone new here tonight too.”
“I don’t want anyone new.”
“You’re right. Too soon. But I’m just saying . . . I think I saw a Calvin Klein model walk in earlier, and if Gary didn’t make such good chili, I think he might be in trouble.”
Gary chooses that moment to walk by us. He gives Jo a little pat on her rear and then winks at me. “Chili is just an innuendo.”
I cringe. “Yeah. I figured.”
“I’m going on in. Y’all coming in soon?”
“Right behind you, honey,” says Jo with adorably pink cheeks. I thought I had finally found a man who would make my cheeks rosy like Jo’s even after years and years of marriage. Nope. And now the waterworks are happening again.
You are a strong, independent woman, Evie. You don’t need a man to be happy. Time to move on.
Jo gives me one more pitying look. “Okay, okay, let’s get you inside so everyone can see your handsome date.”
Charlie is ridiculously cute in his bow tie. I bet Jake would have looked horrible in a bow tie. But when I walk into the venue and look around the warm, glitzing room, I spot Jake standing by a cocktail table, one hand in the pocket of his black suit pants and the other holding a glass of something bubbly—and man, am I disappointed to see that he looks freaking amazing in a bow tie.
“What is he doing here?” I whisper angrily at Jo, who follows my gaze to Jake.
Her eyes widen, and she looks back at me. “I don’t know, but you can’t tear him apart here. There are lots of people watching us right now, and if we both go all crazy ex-girlfriend on him, there’s no way we will get any sponsors.”
I sigh, knowing she’s right. “Fine. I’ll deal with him and then get him to leave.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to do it?”
“No. I can handle him.”
I think Joanna notices the way my eyes are trailing down his body in that fine-looking suit, and maybe a smidge of appreciation shows on my face, because now she’s stifling a grin and humming a mm-hmm. “You just go deal with him, then. Make sure you lock the bathroom door before you do, though.”
I turn my saucer eyes at her. “Joanna!”
She just laughs. “But for real, Evie. Hold your ground no matter how good that man looks. If he treated you badly, he doesn’t deserve you.” I nod and she walks away to go mingle with the many guests already gathered.
I steel myself and then turn to look at Jake again. He’s on the opposite side of the crowded room, but then he sets down his glass and moves slowly through the center of the venue toward me. My heart races, and I have to remind myself that I now hate him. I do. I hate him. I don’t want a man who’s not going to cherish me—who’s going to sleep with other women to make himself feel good when we’ve had a fight. No, I don’t like this man anymore.
I don’t like his dimples when he smiles.
I don’t like his tousled hair.
I don’t like the way his muscles fill out that suit.
Okay, I like all of those things, but those are just physical attributes. And muscles aren’t forever, my friends.
I decide that Jake is not going to have all of the upper hand here, so I lift the front hem of my floor-length evening gown and begin to meet him in the middle with Charlie at my side. Jake’s eyes scan over me as we approach each other, and I can see that he likes the way my black satin gown is clinging to my curves. He hasn’t even seen the plunging back yet.
Eat your heart out, Jacob Broaden.
We stop right in front of each other in the center of the room, but Jake doesn’t make a move to touch me. Smart. He can probably read the murderous scowl on my face and knows I’ll bite if he does.
“You look”—his eyes rush over me again—“gorgeous.”
His flattery is not going to work on me. I cut right to the chase. “Why are you here? I told you we’re done.”
“I’m your date.”
“You most certainly are not my date. Not anymore. Not after . . . last night.” Those last two words come out in a whisper because I know my voice will shake if I try to say it at my normal volume.
Jake’s shoulders sink a little. “Evie. I’ve been trying to call you all day. I’m so sorry. Can we go somewhere and talk?”
I shake my head. I don’t want to hear anything he has to say. You slept with another woman last night. I saw her with my own eyes. That told me everything I needed to know. “I’m busy tonight, and I need to focus on the event.”
His lips press together, and he nods slowly. “Of course. I understand. Maybe after?”
I look away from him toward the tables where vendors are set up. A few couples are starting to slow dance near us, and everyone else is beginning to mill around the room and place their bids on various vendors’ items and services. We have a live string quartet playing in the corner, a cocktail bar where all proceeds go directly to Southern Service Paws, and later in the night there will be a sit-down dinner. All in all, everything is going well, and I’m hopeful that it will be a success.
“I won’t have time,” I say, giving Jake my best cold shoulder. “If you’ll excuse me, I see a few people I need to speak to.”
I brush by him as I walk away, and I wish so badly that my whole body didn’t hum from this small connection of our bodies. I want to lean into him. I want to lift up on my toes and press warm kisses up his neck all the way to his mouth. But I don’t . . . because I am done with Jake.
For the next hour, I try to pretend that Jake doesn’t exist. I laugh too loudly with guests, I check in on all the vendors and am pleased to see that every clipboard is nearly full with bids, and I field about a thousand questions about our company and Charlie, who has been dutifully standing at my side all night.
I’m exhausted from keeping up this fake smile, and I just need a minute to myself to let my mask fall off. I look down at Charlie, and I can tell that he is exhausted too, so I do something that I very rarely do and hand off his leash to Joanna, who is sitting at a table with Gary and a few other guests. I’m going to let him have a five-minute break to lay at Joanna’s feet while I get some air, and then he and I will face the rest of the night together.
I open the main doors and let the fresh air wrap around me and fill my lungs. I wish it were cooler, but it’s the middle of July, and even after sunset it’s still a balmy eighty degrees out here. I move toward the side of the building and cross my arms, staring at nothing in particular.
My thoughts wander to Jake. He’s been hanging around, which means he might try to talk to me again. I hate that I’ll have to tell him not to attempt to contact me anymore. But I mean business—I’m not playing around with my heart. I’m not sure I’d ever be able to fully trust him again. And yes, I know that, technically, we were both keeping it casual, but what Jake did was just sleazy. He had told me he wasn’t going to sleep with anyone else while we were seeing each other, and I like to be able to take people at their word.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when a warm hand suddenly lands on my lower back. I turn, thinking I’ll meet Jake’s eyes, when instead I’m faced with Tyler’s annoying smirk.
“Ugh,” I say, pulling away from him. “What are you doing here? I thought I made myself clear that you were not invited tonight.”
“I know not to take your temper seriously.” He starts advancing toward me until he has me backed up against the wall of the building. His hands move to rest on my hips, and I try to push him away, but he doesn’t budge.
“Get your hands off me, Tyler!” I say, feeling more annoyed than frightened.
“Just give me one chance to show you what you’re missing.” He’s dipping his head down while I’m still trying to squirm out of his grasp and away from his lethal-potency cologne.
But I’m so tired of this. I’m tired of feeling like my voice isn’t heard. Like my opinion means nothing to my family or Tyler and his family. It’s time to make them listen. I don’t wait for him to magically become an upstanding man and make the right decision on his own. I kick my knee up right between his legs, hitting him as hard as I can in the crotch.
He grunts in pain, falling two steps backward while holding his junk. “Dammit, Evie. You didn’t have to kick me in the balls!”
It’s now that I notice Jake rounding the side of the building and spotting Tyler doubled over and moving away from me. He immediately puts two and two together and shoves Tyler hard to the ground—so hard I’m sure Tyler’s tailbone is going to be bruised along with his other parts. “Apparently she did, jackass, or she wouldn’t have needed to kick you like that.” I guess he came outside in time to hear what I said.
I storm up beside Jake and hover over Tyler. “Listen to me. Don’t you ever try to kiss me like that again. And this is the last time you will ever try to pursue me. I’ve made it perfectly clear that I don’t want you anywhere near me, and from now on you will respect my decision or I will take out a restraining order against you. Am I clear?”
Usually, this is where Tyler would say something sarcastic in reply, but I think the kick to his balls has momentarily stunned him because he nods and silently struggles to his feet. He doesn’t apologize—predictably—and I don’t make him because I’m so done with this man I just want him gone. For good.
As Tyler skulks away to his fancy BMW parked by the curb, Jake looks like he’s about to call him back and force an apology, but I put my hand to his chest and tell him to leave it be.
Jake lets out a breath as Tyler peels off, then he turns his head and pierces me with his gaze. “Are you okay?” His voice is so tender it nearly melts me right here on the sidewalk. “Did he hurt you?”
I shake my head and finally let the tears roll down my cheeks. “No. But you did.”
He looks like I physically stabbed him. “What can I say to make this better, Evie? I’m so sorry for everything I said outside your parents’ house. I let your family get in my head for a minute, and I acted like a selfish jackass to you. I’m so sor—”
“This isn’t about what happened at my parents’ house, Jake!”
His head kicks back, and his brows dip together. “I don’t understand, then.”
My mouth falls open, and I let out a sad mock laugh. “Did she not tell you I came by?”
Jake blinks a few times. “Evie, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Came by where?”
“Your house, Jake!” I hurl my words at him as hard as possible. It feels good. “I saw her. The beautiful brunette with amazing boobs, standing in your doorway in her underwear! I saw her, Jake! How could you turn around and sleep with someone right after dropping me off at my house? I thought we had something special, but—”
“No! Evie . . .” He shakes his head vehemently. “That’s . . . that’s not at all what happened. I didn’t sleep with her. In fact, I slept at my parents’ house last night.”
What in the freaking hell did that man just say?
“You . . . didn’t sleep with the woman at your house?”
Jake’s face cracks into a tentative smile, and he shakes his head slowly. He opens his mouth to explain but is cut off by the sound of his phone ringing in his pocket.
“I’ve got to answer this; it’s my mom. But I’ll explain everything in a minute. Don’t go anywhere, okay?”
I nod and wrap my arms around myself because the past twenty-four hours have felt like a roller coaster, and I’m not sure I’m off the ride yet.
“Mom? Everything okay?” He pauses, and I watch as a heavy expression settles over his face. He stays perfectly frozen.
Something in me knows. “Is it Sam? Is she okay?”
He nods, and I didn’t realize that I had walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his middle, but apparently I did because his hand is wrapping around my shoulder. He mumbles a few replies to his mom before he says he’s on his way and hangs up.
“Sam had a seizure,” he says, squeezing me like he needs my support to stay standing. “But she’s okay. Apparently, she went upstairs to get her PJs on, then Daisy rushed back downstairs and started alerting my mom. Sam did fall, but it was on the carpet, and Daisy rolled her on her side just like she and Sam practiced. She stayed with Sam and hasn’t left her side since the seizure ended.” I see Jake’s eyes welling with tears, and I hold him tighter. “Daisy made sure she was safe.”
I smile. “Good. That’s so good, Jake.”
He nods and his jaws flex. “I need to get home to Sam, though.”
“Right, of course.” I let go of him and look back toward the venue. “Let me just go get Charlie, and we can leave.”
“We? You’re going to come with me?”
I freeze, hoping that wasn’t presumptuous of me to invite myself along. “Oh, I’m sorry, you probably just want it to be family—”
“No.” He cuts me off and gently takes my hand, raises it to his mouth, and lays a soft, slow kiss just under my palm. “I want you to come with me. But I know you have the fundraiser going on here and probably need to stay. Also I haven’t fully filled you in on what you saw this morning.”
I smile. “First, you and Sam are most important to me. Joanna can handle the fundraiser just fine without me. And second, you can explain it on the way to your house.”
A slow smile spreads across Jake’s mouth, and then, before I have time to breathe, he tugs me closer to him and captures my mouth with his. His hands are on my jaw, then sliding down my neck and shoulders and bare back to press me up closer to him. His lips shift gears back and forth from tender to firm to demanding, and I’m just trying to keep up. The kiss doesn’t last long enough, but it certainly does enough damage that I touch my fingers to my swollen lips when we part. I blink, feeling drugged, then start walking. Jake turns me around so I’m actually headed in the right direction.
“Right. This way. Okay, so I’ll just be right back.”