Chapter 42
Anais
Ihave officially lost my damn mind. It’s the only explanation for why I showed up here.
But the events that brought me to my brother’s apartment, crashing their stupid boys’ night, were the final straw. My anger snapped the second I saw tagged pictures on social media by some random girls. I was out of my door before I even realized what I was doing.
Evan fucking dismissed me in his office like I was nothing.
Sure, I acted like nothing was different, as if he didn’t walk away from me at the Rothmans’ party, but I wanted him to acknowledge things had changed between us.
The fucking coward is scared of his feelings, and now he’s pushing me away.
I’m not going to let him do this. Not anymore.
Screw my brother. Screw Evan. I am done being his dirty little secret.
“What the fuck, Anais?” My brother is the first to speak, but I don’t look at him.
I keep my gaze trained on the man breaking my heart.
Evan cocks his head, his jaw clenched, as he leans back in that stupid leather chair as if he is getting ready for a show. Fine. If he wants a performance. He’ll fucking get one.
“What the fuck is going on?” Harrison demands, “If someone doesn’t start talking, right the fuck now…”
Evan finally looks away and my heart squeezes in my chest. I follow his line of sight, watching my brother’s suspicious gaze bounce between us.
“Nothing’s going on.” Evan drawls nonchalantly. My fists clench. God give me strength. I’m going to fucking kill him. “Anais is just being her usual bratty self because things didn’t go her way.”
“Anais,” my brother prompts, wanting confirmation.
My whole body deflates. With every second that passes, it becomes clear Evan isn’t going to choose me. He’s made that painfully clear. His loyalty and friendship to my brother mean more to him than I do. I scoff silently. I don’t know why I expected anything different.
Finally, my eyes meet Harrison’s. I ignore the other guys and the wide-eyed half-dressed women lingering. It’s because of one of them putting pictures on social media that I’m here.
So much for fucking boys’ night.
“Evan just pissed me off is all.” I say robotically, glancing at the asshole.
There’s a flicker of relief in his eyes, knowing I’m going along with this farce.
I look back to my brother. “He embarrassed me at work. I wanted an apology. But I realize now, I won’t get one.
” I step toward my brother, placing a hand on his bicep and squeezing gently. “I’m sorry I ruined your night.”
Harrison’s eyes soften, but I see the suspicion in his eyes as his gaze shifts to someone behind me – no doubt Evan.
A tense moment passes, and I swallow down my anxiety.
When Harrison’s gaze comes back to me, I exhale.
Harrison smiles, pulling his phone from his pocket.
“Come on, I’ll have Henry take you home. ”
All the fight drains out of me, leaving a puddle of heartbreak at my feet.
When we started this arrangement, I thought I could make Evan love me.
I thought I could change him. I was wrong.
Turns out, I am exactly who Evan thought me to be.
A delusional girl chasing after a boy who never wanted her. Not really.
The realization, though a slap to the face, is a humbling experience. One I never want to repeat.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my throat tight with emotion.
Harrison nods curtly, wrapping an arm around my waist as if he knows I need the support. As he leads me to the door, I stop, looking up at him. He frowns, confused. I force a smile, then glance over my shoulder, meeting Evan’s gaze.
“Oh, and by the way.” He stares at me, as I stare back. “I quit.”
If I wasn’t watching so closely, I would’ve missed the flash of what can only be described as devastation in his eyes.
He quickly blinks it away, that same infuriating mask of indifference locking into place.
I fucking hate it. These last couple of weeks, I have seen a side of Evan Maxwell most people could only dream of.
But as if we never happened, the cold, cruel man returns.
The one who took my virginity and my heart and smashed it into tiny little fragmented pieces that I’ll never be able to glue back together.
“Come on,” my brother mutters, leading me out his door and to the elevator. He hits the button, then turns to face me. “What the hell was that, Anais?”
“I already told you.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes narrow. “I don’t buy it. You wouldn’t show up here like a madwoman just because that asshole offended you at work.” He shakes his head, blowing out a breath. “Did something happen between you two?”
My heart stalls in my chest. It sounds more like an accusation than a question. Still, I deny it. What’s the point of causing a rift between my brother and his best friend, when this thing between us is over. “No.”
He scans my face, searching for any sign of a lie. But if there’s one thing being around Evan has taught me, it’s how to shut down my emotions so people can’t see what I’m really feeling.
“Okay,” he finally responds just as the elevator doors slide open.
Normally, I’d panic about getting in. But right now, all I feel is numb. Stepping inside, I flash him a forced smile. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Slipping his hands into his pockets, he nods. “Sure, sis.”
The doors close, hiding me from Harrison’s inquisitive stare.
I slump back against the mirrored wall, and it’s only then I let the first tear fall.
After Henry drops me at my apartment, I text Lana, begging her to come over.
She replies instantly.
Lana: I’m on my way!
Curled up on the couch, wrapped up like a burrito in a blanket, I finally allow myself to break.
I embrace the pain, letting it stab every part of my body as I fall into it.
I grieve the love story I thought I was living.
A girl and her boss, her brother’s best friend.
The forbidden little sister. It’s cliché.
But I always did like things with a side of truism.
I thought I could change Evan. And maybe I live in a fantasy world, but I know what I felt, know what I saw on his face our last couple of times together.
And I know Evan felt it too. I will die on that hill.
There’s no doubt in my mind, Evan cares for me.
But when it came down to it, he chose my brother over me.
Sure, Harrison would be angry, but once he had time to process his best friend and his sister being together, I know he would have come around.
I’m sure Evan knew that, too. He just didn’t want to fight for me.
A knock on my door startles me from my meltdown. I climb off the couch, pad to the door and pull it open. Lana’s smile drops the moment she sees my face. She steps forward, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.
“Oh, Nais,” she whispers.
“It’s over,” I choke out.
She pulls back to look at me, then grabs my hand and kicks the door shut behind us. Leading me to the living room, she eyes my heartbreak set up, then pulls us both down onto the couch.
“Tell me everything,” she insists.
So, I do. For the next thirty minutes, I pour it all out from start to finish, every messy, painful, humiliating detail.
Lana listens to me vent, never interrupting, never judging.
Just sits there offering silent support.
When I finally finish, my mouth is dry. My best friend moves off the couch, disappearing into the kitchen and returns with two bottles of water.
She hands me one. Screwing off the cap, I take a big gulp, wetting my dry, raw, throat.
“Why him, Nais?” Lana asks softly, breaking the silence, “I mean, you could have any man you want. So why him?”
“I love him,” I say simply and without hesitation.
She sighs, “I know you do. But sometimes love isn’t enough. What you had …” she trails off, chewing her lip as if debating what to say next. “Well, it wasn’t a relationship. It was a fucking secret. And you, my best friend, are nobody’s secret.”
Her words sting. Because, no matter how much I wish differently, they’re true. I was a secret. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m hopelessly, pathetically, in love with Evan Maxwell.
“I know,” I choke out through the lump in my throat.
“So, I’ll ask again. Why him?”
I stare at her, mulling over the question. It doesn’t take long. Really there is only one simple answer. I swallow, preparing myself to say something that might sound stupid, but no matter what, it’s true.
“Have you ever heard of the red string theory?” I whisper.
Lana’s brows jump to her hairline, and she shakes her head. “Red string theory?” she repeats.
My smile is sad. “Yeah. According to an ancient legend, it’s a belief that we’re all connected by an invisible thread.
An invisible red string ties us to people we’re destined to meet.
That string, it may stretch, knot, or disappear, but it never breaks.
It connects soulmates, twin flames, karmic partners, long before you meet in this world.
” I whisper wistfully. “You might feel it as instant recognition. A strange pull. A love that doesn’t make logical sense, but it feels like home.
” I swallow. “And Evan, despite everything he’s done, he is my home.
My soulmate. My red string. I know it. Feel it. ”
Lana stares at me as if I’ve lost my damn mind, and maybe I have. “So, these…” she trails off, eyeing me carefully. “You think there’s a red string tying you to Evan?”
I nod. “Yeah. But not just him. You.” I smile and despite the heavy conversation, Lana grins.
“It’s not always romantic, it’s about soul contracts.
Some strings teach. Some trigger. Some stay forever.
But they all shape you.” I pause, as tears burn the backs of my eyes.
“I thought the string between Evan and me was forever.” Emotion tightens my throat.
I swallow. “But maybe, he was sent to teach me.” The sob breaks free at that thought.
Lana pulls me into her arms, whispering words of comfort into my ear and I cling to her like a lifeline. I couldn’t be more grateful that my friend is here. But even with her hug, her solace, I know I will never recover from Evan Maxwell.
“Sounds to me like you need to cut that damn string,” Lana murmurs, grinning.
I pull back to look at her, wiping the tears from my eyes. “I don’t think I have any scissors,” I sniffle.
My best friend grins, mimicking scissors with her fingers. “I do. And there’s only one way to cut a string like that.” She waggles her brows, snipping the air. “Snip. Snip.”
Despite everything, I snort a laugh. “I love you Nana, but honestly…” I inhale a shuddering breath. “I don’t think it’s a string that can ever be severed.”