Page 64 of No One Else
I glance up, his expression somewhere between hurt and anger.
“When did you see him?” he asks tightly.
“Saturday,” I sigh, knowing that whatever I say, it’ll sound bad. “And before you get started,” I hold a hand out in an attempt to calm him, “it wasn’t planned and I have no intention of talking to him again.”
He sits back down, fingers flexing and hangs his head down low for a second, releasing a breath. “What happened?”
“I was with Suncoast Serves planning that charity gala I told you about. We’re partnering with Kappa Delta Phi again, with the sorority and their brother fraternity. And guess who decides he suddenly likes volunteering?” I smirk sarcastically, dropping the card in the trash can. “He said he wants to get back together. Actually, he claimed we’ve just been on a break this whole time.”
I roll my eyes, but Evan doesn’t think any part of it is funny, sitting there stone-faced at me. I clear my throat hastily. “Anyway, I obviously told him no. And I haven’t seen you before today to tell you about it.”
“I have this thing called a phone,” he says dryly.
“What is there to even say?” I pace the small area behind the desk, suddenly cramped. “He came up to me, we talked for like two minutes, and then I walked away and avoided him. You can ask Angela. I stayed glued to her the rest of the time.” I drop back down in my chair, laying my hand on his arm. “I didn’t want to worry you. It doesn’t mean anything.”
His usually warm eyes are sharp with focus. “So why is he sending you stuff?”
I throw my hands up in the air. “I don’t know. He has a hard time taking no for an answer. He gets it from his dad.” I take his hands in mine, trying to impart my seriousness. “But my answer is no. Here.” I jump up again, grabbing the vase of flowers - holy shit, this thing is heavy - and march into Trisha’s office.
“What’s this?” she asks, looking surprised. Not that I can really see her around the gigantic display, but she sounds surprised at least.
“We all wanted to thank you for being such a wonderful manager,” I tell her as graciously as I can, my stomach still on edge from Evan’s initial look of betrayal at Carter’s note. What in the world was he thinking sending that? Did he actually believe it would change my mind?
“Well, this is too much,” she says happily, sticking her nose in the flowers the same as I did. “Thank you.”
“Of course. I have to get back out to the desk.” I close her door and return to Evan, his face clearer now.
“What did you do with them?”
“Gave them to Trisha. Spread the word to all the staff that they’re for her for being a great manager.”
He nods, jamming his hands in his pockets, looking down at the ground.
I step in closer, forcing him to look at me. “I don’t want his flowers or him. Okay?”
“I know.”
“So we’re good?”
He nods again, giving me a reluctant smile. I return it as he kisses me, telling me he has to head home and make dinner. I walk him out the doors, abandoning the desk for a second to give him a more thorough kiss, needing to know we’re truly okay. He meets me with equal enthusiasm, the two of us getting worked up for a minute before I pull away, his eyes alight with heat.
“Have a good night,” I whisper.
“I’ll be dreaming of you.” He trails a finger down my cheek, making me sway toward him once more until I remember I really do have to get back to work.
“Bye.” I lean in, giving him a quick peck, sending him on his way.
When I turn around, though, the smile drops from my face.
I’m so mad at Carter I could spit. Spit all over his stupid face and khakis and loafers and hair gel and anything else of his I can spit on too.
At my desk I pull out my phone, bringing up my texts. I deleted Carter’s contact info a while ago, but I still have his number memorized, no matter how hard my brain tries to forget it. I type out a text, telling him I’m not interested and cram it back in my pocket. I don’t know how much clearer I can be. I thought I’d been straightforward enough in person, but apparently not.
He’s not the type to give up right away, though. We’re too much alike in that regard.
I keep waiting for the rest of my shift for my pocket to vibrate with his response, but it never does. Maybe he’s realized he needs to back off.
This is something he can’t get his way on.
