Chapter 5
Chapter Five
T he dim lights of the bar flickered and brightened slightly. Evan smiled, happy the manager accommodated them during their Deaf Night Out. If it was too dark, it was hard to see what his friends were signing.
He and Mercedes had taken the train into Boston and met Blake and Carli here. Blake was getting them all drinks while Evan saved them a table. This place had been sponsoring DNO for years and usually allowed them to push a bunch of tables together so they could all hang out in the same area.
Tonight, so far, there were at least a dozen Deaf friends and acquaintances here.
Evan scoped out the room and noted Adam walking in with Brian and the cute Asian girl who was a very outspoken Deaf Pride advocate.
He had a feeling she wasn’t aware that Brian was hearing.
When big brother came along, he used ASL the whole night, even when speaking with another hearing person.
The thought amused him, wondering what this woman—he couldn’t remember her name—would do if she ever found out.
Brian always seemed amused by her as well.
With a drink in each hand, Blake and Carli returned.
Blake’s mouth moved, and Evan was pretty sure he’d said, “Here you go.” With the drinks, he hadn’t been able to sign. He was making such a great effort to learn his future wife’s language, Evan had to give him lots of points.
Is one of those for me? Adam signed as he approached the tables.
No, get your own drink. Evan pulled his draft closer, knowing his ex-roommate had a habit of drinking anything he could find. Why had he ever moved in with the guy?
Adam turned toward Brian, directing him to grab him a beer when he went to the bar. Always mooching off someone. Evan had covered groceries more times than he could count because Adam was often short money until payday.
“Should we order some appetizers?” Mercedes signed. “I love the sweet and sour meatballs they have here.”
Evan nodded and glanced at the printed list on the table. “How about some loaded potato skins and wings, too?”
Carli grinned and bobbed her fist up and down in a “yes.”
Over the next hour, they all snacked and drank and chatted. Adam had cornered him once he’d munched down his share of the food.
How are the new living arrangements? I’ve been told your roommate is a clean freak.
She likes the place tidy. Can’t say it’s a bad thing. Evan had to admit living with Mercedes was far better than his old situation.
Adam downed the rest of his beer and frowned. I’m so sick of living with my parents. They treat me like a four-year-old and have all these stupid rules. I didn’t like them years ago, and I don’t like them now. Not to mention, they got rid of my old bed, and the couch is as lumpy as a pile of rocks.
Sorry to hear that. It wasn’t a big surprise to Evan. His former roommate complained non-stop at times about his folks.
Have you seen any decent apartments for rent nearby? I’ve been scouring the sites but nothing in my price range. Unless you want to go in together again. Just us boys, huh?
Glancing across the table to where Mercedes signed with several newcomers, Evan shook his head. I’m set where I am. She gets out of work before I do and usually has a hot meal on the table that’s ready as soon as I get out of the shower.
Adam threw a leer toward Mercedes. She’s not taking a shower with you? I’d think you’d take advantage of that situation.
We don’t have that kind of relationship. He kept his face neutral, even though he’d love to have that kind of relationship with his roommate. Those weren’t the kind of details he’d ever share with Adam.
I don’t know what you’re waiting for. She’s so hot. I’ve always had an eye for her. I’d be pushing to share her bed as often as she’d let me.
Evan stiffened. I don’t push women to do anything they don’t want to. I have a bit more class than that.
Fine, Adam signed. If you’re not heading in that direction, I may give her a try myself.
Evan wanted to tell his friend to back off and leave Mercedes alone, but it wasn’t his call. Instead, he shrugged. He hoped Mercedes was smart enough to read through the bull Adam dished out if he approached her. He’d always gotten the impression she wasn’t a big fan of his ex-roommate.
His sister, Deanna, wandered over and asked him about a project their dad wanted to do to the family homestead.
Evan, as well as the other three siblings, had been pulled into helping in some capacity.
As they chatted, he kept watch over the beautiful woman with the golden highlighted curls.
Mercedes was so incredibly beautiful, it was no wonder everyone wanted to talk to her. Especially the men in the crowd.
Not all the men. Obviously, Blake only had eyes for Carli, though he worked hard to communicate with everyone.
The man’s signing was improving very fast. Brian seemed to be occupied with the woman whose name he needed to learn.
Maybe Sue. He’d have to ask his brother later.
Adam had been totally blown off. In the nicest way possible, as he’d expected.
Mercedes had gushed over Adam’s proposition and thanked him for asking her but turned him down and immediately picked up the conversation she’d been having with the ASL instructor at the community college.
Was the man aware that she was hearing? He hadn’t seen her disclose that fact with anyone, and Evan had been keeping his eye on her for most of the night.
Maybe he shouldn’t. She was a big girl after all, but he didn’t want anyone taking advantage of her.
He loved that she fit in so well with this crowd.
She never put anyone down for their lack of hearing, their jobs, or their education.
She treated everyone as equals and was never snobby when hanging with the group.
Yeah, he loved it, because it made him think maybe he had a chance with her. If she could accept and fit into his world, they might be good together.
Who was he kidding? She lived in a world of books, and he rarely opened one.
They didn’t have a whole lot in common in that avenue.
So he continued to stare while several men flirted and tried to pick her up.
The good thing about using sign language was you could pretty much pick up what was going on in other conversations.
His take was Mercedes was pleasant to everyone, the flirty men included, but she never encouraged any of them to go any further.
That had him breathing a sigh of relief.
When the night wound down, Mercedes returned to his side and smiled at him. “Are you ready to go home?”
He nodded. “Did you have a fun night? You look like you met some new friends.”
“I did. Lots of new people with interesting lives. I’m so glad you suggested I come along. I’d been to a few with Carli, but I’m feeling much more comfortable with the language now.”
Evan laughed. “What are you talking about? You’ve been fluent in ASL for years. I know Deaf people who don’t sign as well as you do.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip. “I guess I have a habit of immersing myself in whatever I’m learning and making sure I master it.”
He waved to his family and friends as they headed for the door. “I’d say you achieved your mission.”
And since she was going home with him instead of any of the other men who’d put the moves on her, he’d say he achieved his.
Mercedes finished wiping off the counter, nearly ready to get supper on the table.
It was too hot to have anything cooked, so she’d put together some wraps with a broccoli salad.
The front door opened and Evan’s boots clomped down the hallway.
Instead of going straight into his room, they detoured to the kitchen.
He tossed his phone on the table, grabbed the liter of Mountain Dew from the fridge, and took a long swig.
A loud sigh escaped as soon as he finished.
After putting the bottle back, he signed, Shower, then headed in that direction.
Poor guy. His thick jeans must have been sweltering in this heat. With his job, he didn’t have a choice.
She wet a paper towel and scrubbed the kitchen table, picking up Evan’s phone to wipe underneath it. Right as she placed the device down, it vibrated. Out of habit, she glanced down at the screen. A text from someone named Keisha. —I need you and your special skills—
What special skills did Evan have, and why was Keisha texting him?
When he’d moved in, he’d said he didn’t have a girlfriend.
Not that it mattered to her; she just hadn’t wanted ladies wandering in and out.
She liked the fact he wasn’t a player, though she’d heard from Carli he dated plenty.
Nothing in the three weeks since he’d lived here. That she knew of.
When she heard him leave the bathroom, she grabbed his phone and went into the hall. Oh, boy. Maybe she should have waited. She’d caught him outside the bathroom in only a pair of cargo shorts, his hair damp and mussed. No shirt and no shoes.
It took her a second to catch her breath, then she pointed to his phone. “I was cleaning the table and this buzzed. Didn’t know if it was important.”
He tipped his chin at her and took it, swiped the screen, then gave a low chuckle. He shoved the phone in his back pocket and glanced up at her. “Thanks.”
“Do you need to go out?” she asked. “I only made wraps and salad for supper, so it can wait if you do.”
He looked confused. “No. Home for the night. I appreciate the meal, even if it’s only sandwiches. See, I could have made those, and they might even have been edible.”
His casual attitude and statement that he wasn’t leaving made her feel better. Why? Because she was jealous of Keisha needing him? No, he was a friend. Nothing more. Then why did she want to continue talking to him here with no shirt on?
She took a step closer and knew immediately it was a mistake.
He smelled far too good. Whatever body wash he used was lethal.
Or maybe it was the athletic figure of the man in front of her.
Light brown hair swirled around his pectorals and then arrowed down past his navel.
She had to lift her eyes before he caught her staring.
She’d seen him occasionally with no shirt at the beach, but it had been a few years ago.
Working on the construction crew had helped him fill out quite nicely.
“Thanks for letting me tag along at the Deaf Night Out a few days ago. It was fun.”
“Glad you enjoyed it. Looked like you made new friends.”
“Quite a few new people and then some who I’d met before. Like Adam.” She hid the frown that threatened to pop on her face. “How close are you to him? I know you were roommates, but…”
A frown also appeared on his face. “We lived together because it was convenient and he’d gotten a rent-controlled apartment. Until he almost burned the place down and got us evicted. Did I ever thank you for helping me get an extra couple weeks to pack my stuff?”
She threw him an impish grin. “You did. As well as thanking me for moving in here. Are you still thankful, or have I driven you crazy with all my rules and cleaning schedules?”
“You cook me dinner almost every night. The least I can do is pick up after myself.” He glanced into the bathroom and grimaced, then rushed to pick up his used towel off the floor. After hanging it up, he stepped into the hall again. “Sorry. I’ll do better.”
His gleaming chest distracted her, so she tried for another topic. “Do you have any more games this weekend?”
He nodded. “Usually every Saturday throughout the end of September. Did you get your cheerleader outfit and pompoms yet?”
“Still looking for the right color. I don’t want to accidentally cheer for the wrong team.”
“As long as the right team is mine, we won’t have a problem. Are you coming to the game this weekend?”
“I’d like to. I was impressed with your baseball prowess at the last one. Are you going to hit another home run this time?”
He laughed. “I always plan to hit one, but whether that happens or not isn’t always up to me. Depends on who’s pitching, the way the sun is shining in my eyes, or the way the wind blows.”
“So many excuses. I thought it was merely skill. Guess I learn something new every day.”
What she really wanted to learn was what his skin felt like under her fingers. The temptation to touch him was getting stronger by the second. She gave in but only for a moment. Tapping him lightly on his chest, she said, “Go put some clothes on. This isn’t a strip club.”
His face lit up, and he wiggled his hips. “Do you think I’d be a good stripper? I’d be collecting those dollar bills all over the place.” He tugged the front of his shorts out a bit and mimicked tucking money inside.
She allowed herself the pleasure of his skin once again. This time she placed both hands on his chest and gave a tiny shove. “At least you won’t hear if anyone calls out anything obscene.”
As he walked toward his room, he swayed his hips back and forth, his arms in the air. She had to close her mouth before she drooled all over the floor.