7. Alaric
ALARIC
Asense of déjà vu possesses me.
It’s unnerving.
As I sit at my desk, trying in earnest to focus on the HR training on screen, my attention drifts out the window to the woman who’s monopolized every functional cell in my brain since I pulled up my driveway this morning.
A pang of regret ricocheted through me when I heard her car start a few minutes into my meeting.
It dampened a little, though, a few minutes later when her car hadn’t moved.
It’s still where she left it this morning.
I’ve kept watch, stealing glances out the window every chance I can.
I even turned off my camera for several minutes so I could creep through my own house and look out a guest bedroom window with the hope of figuring out what she’s doing out there.
The answer, in short, is nothing.
Evangeline is still in her idle car. It’s running, and from here it sounds like it’s in good working order. Yet the vehicle hasn’t moved an inch.
It’s been nearly an hour, and once again she’s commanding my driveway the way she’s been dominating every inch of my mind since we met a few hours ago.
I’m fascinated by her. I’m also wildly attracted to her, though I’m loath to admit that even to myself.
She’s my son’s ex-girlfriend.
More significantly, she’s been deeply hurt by him.
Every interaction I share with this woman must be framed around those facts.
I need to forget the animation that laces her voice when she’s excited and the tiny indent of a dimple that appears on one cheek when she fights back a smile.
I’ll pay no mind to the seemingly luscious curve of her hips and full breasts hidden beneath her T-shirt and flouncy shorts.
None of that matters in light of what she’s endured.
Most of which I don’t truly know or understand. It’s maddening, the way she lied and downplayed the situation when I pushed for details. She doesn’t owe me anything, but damn, it’s clear Luca did a real fucking number on her.
I still can’t fathom why. He makes literal millions. To strap this girl with unnecessary debt is shameful.
I will be having words with my son.
I will also find a way to make this right by Evangeline.
She didn’t go for the job offer, which, in retrospect, may be for the best. It was uncharacteristically rash of me to throw a suggestion like that out there. I suppose I could blame it on how distracted I’ve been over the last few hours.
“Anything to add, Ric?”
Leslie’s callout jolts me out of my thoughts. Schooling my expression, I slip back into the role of team principal, unmute, and confirm that I’m all set.
Then, just like this morning, I anxiously sit back and wait, willing the meeting’s participants to log off quickly so I can excuse myself and check on the woman still in my driveway.