Chapter 20
Evie
When I wake up, it feels like I’ve been sleeping for days instead of a few hours.
I slept so deeply. But when I wake up, I feel so much better.
My headache is more of a dull ache now, not the intense pain it was earlier.
I glance around the room, looking for Sam but feel relieved when I see she’s not here.
I grab my phone from next to my pillow and check it, pausing when I see I have a message from Zane.
My heart speeds up a little as I swipe to read it.
Zane- hey, Evie, please let me know when you’re awake
I check the time and realize he sent it almost right after I came up to my room. I can’t believe it’s almost five now. There’s no way I’m going to sleep tonight, but that works because I have a lot of studying to do before the week starts tomorrow. I keep it super simple when I text Zane back.
Me- I just woke up
His response is almost instantaneous.
Zane- how are you feeling?
Me- much better
Zane- good. Are you hungry?
I don’t know how to respond to that, but I decide to just be honest.
Me- depends
Zane- on what?
Me- on what the food is
Zane- how about your favorite?
He texts a picture, and I stare at the picture of orange chicken and rice and chow Mein. My mouth literally starts watering; I’m so hungry.
Me- are you messing with me?
Zane- why don’t you come down and see?
I can’t help my smile as I slip on my shoes.
I absently wonder if I should do my hair, but my love of orange chicken and my growling stomach win out.
I throw my hair back up into a messy bun, grab my phone, and head out.
I hold open the door for a girl coming in and then head out into the sun.
When I don’t see Zane, I look down at my phone.
“Evie.” I turn and see Jace walking towards me.
My stomach drops; I’m not ready to see him yet.
I feel my body tensing as he approaches.
“I am so sorry, Gorgeous.” He leans towards me, like he’s going to.
..I don’t know. Kiss me? Yeah, not going to happen.
I take a step back. "Will you ever forgive me for being such a jerk? I can’t believe how I acted.
I know it’s no excuse, but I had a really bad phone call right when you were in the bathroom and it just..
.I don’t know.” He runs his hand over his head.
“It just made me kind of lose my mind for a little bit.”
“What was the call?” I ask tentatively.
His eyes meet mine, and I can see the sorrow there. “It was my dad. My mom has cancer.”
“Oh, my goodness. I’m so sorry, Jace.”
“Yeah, me too. But we’ll get through it somehow.
Anyway, I know I was an absolute idiot, and you didn’t deserve any of it.
I want to make it up to you. Go out with me this Saturday.
” He takes a step towards me, and I can’t help it.
I take a step back, away from him. When he reaches out for me, I take another step back, right into something hard.
My head whips around, and I see Zane standing like a wall behind me. His eyes meet mine briefly and then stare at Jace over my head. I don’t move from my position. I feel oddly safe at the moment. But when I look back at Jace, he gives Zane a cruel smirk. “Blackwood.”
“Witman,” Zane returns, not moving from behind me.
“Did you need something, or are you just butting into a conversation that has nothing to do with you?” Jace's voice is nothing like how it was just seconds ago.
“I’m just checking on my friend who was left at a restaurant last night after her date bailed on her.” Zane’s words hold a level of animosity that honestly surprises me. He’s been so kind to me. In spite of the obvious tension right now, I want to smile at Zane calling me his friend.
Jace scoffs. “She was fine. I was going to take her home, but your buddy had already grabbed her to take her home. He moved in pretty fast, I’d say,” he says, crossing his arms.
Jace’s words surprise me. He was coming back for me?
“Anyway, Evie’s not the kind of girl to dump a guy just because he messes up one time. She’s forgiving and kind. I don’t deserve her; that’s for sure.” His eyes meet mine. “I really am sorry. Let me make it up to you by going on a date Saturday.”
I swallow. “I already told my suitemate I’d go to the game with her.”
He nods, unsurprised. “Well, at least grab dinner with me and Sam.”
“Sam?” I ask in surprise.
“Yeah, she’s worried about you. She’s grabbing dinner for us now.”
“Oh.” He reaches out for me, and I stay still. I am still very conscious of Zane’s body right behind mine. He’s so tall, that my head would lay against his shoulder, I think. He’s close enough that I can feel his body tense, but he makes no move to stop Jace.
“You’re not going to give up on me, right?
You’re going to give me another chance?” His eyes are so soft and warm, and I feel like maybe I was too hard on him.
But at the same time, I’m not exactly ready to just forgive him and move on.
Maybe that’s wrong of me, but I just can’t yet.
He looks down at his phone. “That’s Sam; she’s waiting for us. ”
I blow out a frustrated breath. I came down here to see Zane, not Jace.
I wasn’t ready to see Jace yet, but maybe this is for the best. After last night, I’m just not ready to be in a relationship with him.
Maybe someday, but not right now. But I don’t feel like telling him that in front of Zane is the right move.
I wouldn’t want a guy to dump me in front of other people, so that’s the only reason I nod.
“Okay.” His eyes look so relieved. When he reaches out to touch my face, I flinch back, just the slightest bit; but it puts my head against Zane’s chest. He moves the slightest bit closer, and I don’t want to move.
But I can’t stay here all night, plastered against Zane’s chest. I lift my head and look Jace in the eye. “Where do you want me to meet you?”
“We can walk over together.”
I take a deep breath and turn to face Zane.
His eyes are still on Jace behind me, but when I reach out and gently touch his arm, his eyes snap down to mine.
I freeze at the intensity there, and I suddenly can’t remember what it was I wanted to say.
The hard lines of his face soften. “Are you sure?” he asks softly.
No, but I have to go with him. Out loud I say, “Thank you for helping me earlier.” His eyes search mine, and he says nothing. I don’t know what else to say, so I take a step back, ready to go with Jace.
“Wait. I have something for you.” Zane jogs over to a picnic table nearby.
When he comes back, he’s carrying a white Styrofoam box I recognize and a big pink bag—not like a gift bag.
No, it’s an actual bag that you’d use for the beach or a day out.
I take the bag and the box. I can already smell the orange chicken, and my stomach growls loudly.
“What is this?” I ask, lifting the pink bag.
His eyes meet mine. “Just something you needed. It’s not a big deal.” I’m pretty sure it is because it’s kind of heavy, but I don’t argue.
“Thanks, Zane,” I say softly. A strange urge to hug him comes over me. It’s so strong, I almost move on it. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be wrapped up in those strong arms, against that hard chest. I blink as tears almost fill my eyes.
I take a step back. I must be hormonal. I don’t trust myself to not do something stupid like wrap my arms around him, so I don’t make eye contact with him.
But before I can get away, he reaches out and touches my arm.
I fight the instinct to lean into his touch.
I don’t understand how I can be repulsed by one man’s touch and nearly crave another man’s touch, one I barely know.
And yet, everything about Zane screams safety and protection.
After last night, it’s just all too much.
I blink back tears, feeling so alone right now.
I make the mistake of looking up at him.
I watch as his eyes widen in concern, and it nearly undoes me.
I take another step back, dislodging his hand from my arm.
“Thank you.” I can only whisper the words.
And then without another word, I turn away from him, feeling like I’m doing the completely wrong thing.
Honestly, it hurts me to think that I might be hurting Zane.
I’m definitely not choosing Jace over him, not that Zane is even asking for anything with me.
All I know is I need to end things with Jace, whether there’s anything between Zane and me.
“Be sure to eat,” Zane calls out behind me, and I nod so he knows I heard him.
“Where are we going?” I ask Jace, and I can hear the despair in my voice. If he notices, he doesn’t acknowledge it.
“We’re meeting up with Sam outside the coffee shop. She got tacos for us, but it looks like she might have wasted money on dinner for you.”
I refuse to let his words bother me; I don’t owe him anything.
I walk beside him silently as we walk to the shop.
I can’t help but look over my shoulder. My eyes meet Zane’s for a moment before I turn away.
He’s still standing where I left him. Part of me wonders if I can hurry and talk to Jace and then get back to him.
I look up at Jace and decide to just rip the band aid off.
I don’t want to humiliate him in front of Sam either.
“Jace.” He glances down at me. “I don’t want—”
“Shh,” he says, interrupting me.
“What?” I ask in confusion.
“I know what you’re trying to do, and I’m not going to let you.”
I stop walking and stare up at him. “You’re not going to let me?”
“You’re trying to break up with me, and I’m not going to let you.
” His eyes become earnest. “I messed up, Evie. I acknowledge that, but I’m not going to let you throw this away just because I made a mistake.
Don't give up on us so fast. Is that how little you value relationships? You run the first time we have a fight?”
His words shock me into silence. Is that what I’m doing?
“Come on, Evie. Fight for us.”
He takes my silence for agreement because he starts walking again, and I’m forced to hurry to catch up with him.
We reach the table where Sam is sitting before I’m ready.
“Hey, Lovebirds.” I swallow and try not to visibly react.
“Are you hungry?” I pull out a chair and sit across from her, feeling numb.
Jace sits next to me, and I fight the urge to lean away from him when his leg touches mine.
“What’s that?” she asks, nodding at my box.
Jace grunts. “Just Blackwood butting in where he’s not invited.”
Sam narrows her eyes at me. “Is he messing with you?”
I blink in confusion. “Zane?” A strangled laugh comes out, but this is anything but funny. They both stare at me, and I resist the urge to sigh. “No, Zane isn’t messing with me.”