CHAPTER 28
Eve
I wake with a startle . Someone's coming.
They're above me . It's dark and I can hear footsteps and low murmurs.
How many this time? I still and listen. Two.
Two sets of footsteps. One is dragging and the other is heavier.
That's him . He's bringing someone smaller.
I slink back into the recess of the wall and wait.
I can see everything from here. Keys jingle.
They're at the door at the top of the stairs.
It opens and light pours through as they descend the wooden steps.
Two feet. Four feet. The first set is small. Maybe my size. Those legs. It's a girl. He brought a girl. She's close to my age, but she's bigger than me. Maybe she's older. Maybe I'm small. I don't know. He begins speaking to her. That voice. My-
"Shiiiiiit."
I forgot to text them when I got home. Clicking on our group text, I quickly type out,
Me: It's me. The asshole from last night who forgot to text when she got home. I am, in fact, alive for the time being. Either of you plan to change that today?
Vaughn: Oh, girl. You owe me a bucket of banana Laffy Taffy because not only did I save your ass last night, but I saved the front door of Eden House. Eli was gunning for bear when you didn't text and then wouldn't return our calls or texts.
Me: I want to start by saying thank you and follow that up with how the hell did you do it?
Vaughn: I tracked your phone and saw that you had made it there.
Vaughn: Eli still wanted to go kick the door down to be sure, but I convinced him that he would likely cause you a stroke if he pulled a Jason Voorhies and kicked the door down while you were sleeping.
Me: You are my diamond in the rough, V. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Vaughn: Yeah, well, I'm still mad at you. I was worried as hell until I remembered I could track you.
Me: Would breakfast and coffees from Magnolia's put me back in your good graces?
Vaughn: I don't make promises before noon on Sundays, but coffee and breakfast certainly wouldn't hurt your case.
Me: Done. I'll bring all the favorites.
...................
Eli is scowling at me when I walk into the kitchen with the provisions in hand.
I don my best 'I'm sorry and it will never happen again' face while holding up a coffee and his favorite bacon and egg sandwich.
He looks at the haul and shakes his head slowly, so I raise my other hand, which is holding the clear jar of origami stars. He softens a little. He's intrigued.
"You could've been hurt, kidnapped, who knows what. You never should've asked us to stay inside. We could've waited with you."
"It will never happen again. I promise. I've learned my lesson, trust me."
Eli narrows his eyes in suspicion.
"And exactly what in the hell do you mean by that?"
"We can talk about it later. I'm fine. I made it home and now we can hang out and catch up. I missed you, BB."
He stares at me silently for a moment longer before that big smile consumes his face and he grabs me up in a hug.
"I missed you too, Evie Bear."
We finish breakfast and catch up with what has gone on for the three of us the past couple of months. Eli can't seem to wrap his head around the idea of me and Adam. Apparently, I'm the only person in all of Austin who didn't know who the legendary Adam Davenport was.
"I don't like him." Eli gruffs out.
Kissing him on the cheek, I tell him, "You haven't met him yet."
"You can't really think that I'll like this guy once I have a chance to meet him."
"I don't. Just making an observation."
Vaughn laughs from the kitchen.
The three of us pile up on the couch. Eli grabs V and places her in his lap, as he always does, and it feels so much like home.
I love being here with two of the best people I've ever met.
Eli joined the service as soon as he turned 18 so he could serve his country and protect those who couldn't protect themselves.
I've seen him stick up for the underdog several times in the short time since we met, and Vaughn has told me countless stories of his bravery and his unwillingness to stand back and watch bad things happen, no matter the cost to himself.
They say opposites attract, and that holds true for Eli and Vaughn.
While Eli does stand up for the little guy, he isn't the Big Bad Wolf.
Eli is a teddy bear. Vaughn, on the other hand, is flame and fury.
If she gets fired up, just point her in the right direction, and she's like a Roman Candle.
A gorgeous, curvy weapon of mass destruction.
She takes shit off of no one. They balance each other out, and together, they're exactly what I need.
They're my best friends. We don't keep things from each other, and I know I have to tell them what happened last night.
Truthfully, I'm proud of myself. I went to a bar last night with zero protection and didn't even take my medication until.
..well until it was too late. But I did calm myself down once I got outside using my grounding techniques.
Then, I faced down an attacker and I didn't just not panic.
I thrived. I took that wannabe Jack the Ripper to the ground. I owned his ass.
Okay, deep breath. It's go time .
"So, about last night...I ran into a small situation after I left the party."
Eli's eyes narrow as V turns her head slowly back toward me.
"What constitutes a 'small situation', Evie?" Eli growls out.
"Just remember, I'm here. I'm okay. Barely a scratch on me."
"Barely?!?" Eli leaps up from the couch, sliding Vaughn to the side and grabbing my face. He inspects my face, then my arms, where he notices the scrapes on my elbows.
"What the FUCK, Eve?!? What else?!?"
He lifts my shirt like it's not weird that he can see my bra.
"Eli, she's okay. It's okay." Vaughn comes to his side and puts a calming hand on his chest.
"I have a little sidewalk rash here and there. Nothing serious."
"Who? Where is this walking fucking corpse?"
"Jail. He's in jail. Just let me explain. I handled it, BB. I handled it and I'm really proud of myself."
Eli's gaze darts to mine and softens.
"We're proud of you too, Evie. Mad as hell but proud of you too."
I proceed to tell them everything, starting from why I went into the bathroom all the way to leaving the police station.
Eli struggles to compose himself the entire time I recount the events of the night.
The funny thing is that Vaughn would be having the same reaction if she wasn't so focused on keeping Eli calm.
She's the actual hot head of the two. When I finish explaining everything to them, Vaughn's the first to speak.
"Oh, Eve. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let you leave alone."
"I wish you guys could see this the way I do.
I didn't panic. I didn't need help. I saved myself.
I took a situation that had some real dire potential and turned it into a survival.
Not only that but other women may be saved because of how I handled things last night.
I don't wish it had gone any differently.
I have a new perspective on life today a new faith in myself. "
Eli's elbows rest on his knees and his head is in his hands.
"You're amazing, Evie Bear. We've always known it. We could tell you were something special the day we met you. As much as this hurts, I'm glad that you finally see in yourself what we've always seen in you."
I drop to my knees on the floor in front of him and we all hug each other like it's the last chance we'll ever get to do it.
Eli and I spend the rest of the night much the same as we always do, trying to figure out how Vaughn is so good at cheating in Uno.
It's almost like her superpower is hands that produce the draw four card.
We laugh, we eat, we play cards, and we watch every cheesy show that Eli has been denied for the last couple of months.
By the time we all decide to turn in for the evening, my face is sore from smiling and my voice is hoarse from laughing.
Adam will be home Tuesday night. I flip-flop from telling myself that the time apart is good for us and obsessing about whether or not there are any beautiful, self-assured staff members at that retreat.
Despite my racing thoughts, I'm able to fall asleep before midnight, so hopefully, I can wake up rested.
.....................................
Keys jingle. They're at the door at the top of the stairs.
It opens and light pours through as they descend the steps.
Two feet. Four feet. The first set is smaller.
Maybe my size. Those legs. It's a girl. He brought a girl.
She's close to my age. She's bigger than me.
So, maybe she's older. Maybe I'm small. I don't know. He begins speaking to her.
"It's time. It's down there. The Slayer. You'll have to be quick and cunning. Remember, only one of you lives."