11. Evie
Evie
Google Search:
Why can’t I stop flirting with my brother’s best friend?
Answer:
Studies show that when someone is “off-limits,” it can create tension and a sense of longing. Make sure you know the difference between flirting with someone because of the allure that you can’t have them, and developing feelings beyond a friendship.
“Did he just wink at you?” Cindy gasps. “Oh my god, are you fucking your brother’s best friend?”
The wine that was in my mouth explodes, spraying all over the kitchen island, and I’m immensely grateful no food was set on it or that anyone was sitting on the stools.
Way to make a fucking entrance, V, I think to myself as two girls walk through the door, their eyes widening at the mess I’ve made.
“I’m so sorry!” Turning to Cindy, I whack her shoulder. “You’re trouble!”
Cindy just smirks. “Nothing’s changed, then.” With a flourish, she flicks her hair back over her shoulder before turning that smirk to the two girls who just stepped inside. “Girls, this is Ellington’s sister, Evie, and in my opinion, the better Ellington.”
The woman with vibrant red hair steps forward, a smile stretching across her freckle-covered cheeks as she opens her arms and goes in for a quick hug. “Hi! I’m Layla. I nanny for Kieran.”
“And his dick,” Cindy coughs into her fist.
The woman with brown hair whacks Layla’s shoulder. “Stop introducing yourself as the damn nanny.” She rolls her eyes before smiling my way. “I’m Bella, Grayson’s girlfriend, and Layla over here is my best friend and Kieran’s girlfriend.”
Layla glowers at Bella but it holds no malice. “It’s hard to wrap my head around!”
“Do I want to know?” I ask cautiously with a chuckle.
Cindy smirks at me conspiratorially. “Kieran fell head over heels in love with Layla for well over two years, and Little Miss Sunshine here didn’t even give him the time of day until she started nannying for his little girl.”
Bella sighs, love shining in her brown eyes. “Emmy is the cutest little girl you’ll ever meet. She’s a little shy but will warm up to you in no time.”
“We need a nickname for you. The two E names are going to get confusing real quick.”
“Just don’t call her Dove,” Matteo drawls as he strides inside, Kieran Ashford hot on his heels. “I have that one claimed.”
I scoff. “I think you forget I begged you not to call me that.”
“Haven’t heard you ask, though.”
“Would you actually stop if I asked?”
Matteo pauses in the kitchen, the drawer open in front of him forgotten as he pretends to think before saying, “No.”
I turn to the girls. “This is exactly what I’m saying!”
“Nice of you to start showing your face again,” Kieran says to me before wrapping his arms around Layla and planting a kiss on her cheek. The sudden blush that crawls across her skin almost matches the color of her hair.
Bless her heart, she’s smitten.
And from the way Kieran can’t take his eyes, or hands, off her, so is he.
“Looks like I missed a lot,” I reply with a coy smile. “You look good all loved up, Ashford.”
Kieran flashes me one of his famous grins. “I do, don’t I? Have you met my little girl?”
“The one being chased by the golden?”
Bella chuckles. “That’s my and Grayson’s dog, Bambi. Where one is, the other is close behind.”
“Practically stuck to each other like glue,” Cindy explains beside me. “Now, is there a reason you men are in here bombarding our girl time?”
“Food’s ready,” Matteo declares gruffly.
The way he says it, you’d think we were about to extract teeth from him.
Rounding the kitchen island, I clap him on the shoulder as I pass him. “Don’t get too excited, Valenti, you’ll pop a blood vessel.”
Kieran’s snort rings out behind me as Cindy links her arm through mine, leading me down the patio steps. “Girls at the left end!” she calls over her shoulder. “We have lots to catch up on. That includes your precious Layla, Kieran,” she adds.
“Stop trying to steal my woman, Cin!”
“She’s too gorgeous not to try.”
Heading toward the table filled with food that the guys will probably consume within seconds, I’m about to grab a plate when one is handed to me, the contents almost toppling over the sides.
“Eat,” Matteo grunts out before leaving.
Scoffing, I look down at the plate he made for me. “So fucking demanding,” I mutter under my breath. About to turn on my heel, I catch the way Cindy is staring at me out of the corner of her eye. “What?”
“Nothing,” she says slowly. “Just…interesting, is all.”
“Here, baby.” Cindy, finally looking away, shifts to O’Connor, who holds out a plate almost as full as mine.
“Hey, O’Connor.”
“Shit, Evie, is that you?” As soon as Cindy takes the food from him, he’s wrapping me in a bear hug, his frame towering over mine, though he’s careful not to knock my plate I hold out to the side. “It’s been a while! We all missed you. How have you been?”
Pulling back, he wraps a protective arm around Cindy’s waist, and I can’t help but note how she all but melts into him. They move around each other like water—languid, fluid, and so in tune it’s obvious they’ve been together for years.
I wonder why they aren’t married yet.
“Better now,” I say with a smile.
“Good, I’m glad. I know Caleb has missed you like crazy.”
A pang of guilt unfurls low in my belly, the little seed planting, taking root, and blossoming until I stomp on it and wave off O’Connor’s words. “He’s okay. He’s preoccupied with you lot.”
“We’re family, of course, but it’s not the same. You know he brings you up nearly every practice and family dinner?”
So much for stomping on my guilt.
My smile slowly falls and I see the moment they spot how disheartened I am by the revelation. Cindy rises on her toes, kissing O’Connor on the cheek and silencing whatever he was about to say next. “Us girls need to catch up. We’re going to be down on the other end, okay?”
“Of course.” O’Connor moves to grab a plate of his own, worry on his face as he quickly whispers to me, “Sorry, V. Didn’t mean any harm by it.”
I squeeze his forearm, trying to reassure him. I’m the one who should feel guilty for avoiding my brother for almost a year.
“It’s okay, I promise. I missed him, too.”
Linking her arm through mine, Cindy leads us down to the other end of the table, where Bella and Layla are already sitting, chatting away much quieter than the men.
Cindy is apologizing for O’Connor and how he didn’t mean to make me feel bad but I’m only half listening. I’m on fire, a trail being burned from the top of my head, all the way down my spine to my lower back.
Craning my neck, I look over my shoulder, finding who lit the match.
Matteo is leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed, his muscles corded and straining at the seams, as his gaze seers me to the spot. He doesn’t smile, or wink, or wave. He does nothing but watch until I’m forced to take a seat.
Swallowing thickly, I try to shake the intense energy off me, but I can still feel him even across the table.
“My god, does he ever take his eyes off you?”
Attempting to play innocent, I hum in question, keeping my own eyes on my food lest these ladies see everything.
Cindy’s head suddenly kicks back with laughter. “Fuck, I love watching everyone squirm as they try to deny something isn’t happening.”
“Nothing is happening,” I’m quick to say.
“If you say so,” she all but sings.
Layla leans forward, her hands wringing in her lap as she lowers her voice. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how come you’re staying with him? I overheard Kieran ask how it was going.”
Three sets of eyes land on me.
Jesus, I feel like I’m in the hot seat. I’d make a joke about it but I can tell Layla already was a little hesitant to ask.
To give my hands something to do, I start to cut up the sausages Matteo gave me.
I’m surprised I’m nervous. This is the first time I’ve had to explain what happened since Matteo found me smashing their cars.
“I’m staying in Caleb and Valenti’s guest room for now.
” Taking a deep breath, I rush forward, the words pouring from me like I’m running from the truth of it.
“I found my boyfriend screwing my best friend in my bed. Couldn’t really stay after that. ”
The gasps that come from the girls have me steeling my spine for the questions I know are about to bombard me.
Cindy gapes at me. “Oh no he fucking didn’t.” Then, as if the words just processed, she blinks furiously. “Wait, you’re not talking about Felicity, are you?”
My lips thin. “The one and only.”
“You’re fucking joking.” Turning to the girls, Cindy explains for me, “Felicity and Evie met in college and are the best of friends. Or were, I should say.” She sits back in her chair as if the wind was knocked from her. “I can’t believe she did that to you.”
“You and me both,” I grumble before taking a bite of my food.
“I hope you mean ex-boyfriend.”
“And ex-best friend,” Layla tacks on for Bella.
“Absolutely.” My lip twitches. “Valenti found me smashing their cars to pieces.”
Bella leans forward, lifting her hand. I can’t help but snort as I lean forward and high five her. “You go, girl. I’d do the same.”
“Look, I don’t usually love violence—”
Bella cackles at Cindy. “You scream like a cheerleader when there’s fights on the ice.”
Cindy rolls her eyes dramatically. “That’s on the ice…but I hope Matteo knocked some sense into them.”
I think back to the look of murder on his face as he stepped out of the elevator covered in blood. “If Carter and Felicity hadn’t texted me afterward, I would have thought he had killed them.”
Bella smiles as she leans back in her chair. “Good for him. It probably felt great. He’s always hated Carter.”
“Everyone hated Carter,” I deadpan.
That should have been the reason I left him; everyone around me could see through his bullshit. Unfortunately, I had blinders on. At least they’re off now and I see him for who he truly is.
“Wait.” Layla holds up her hand, baffled. “They texted you afterward? Saying what? Sorry I slept with your best friend? Sorry I screwed your boyfriend?” Her nose scrunches up, like she just sucked on a lemon.