“Sorry, carry on.” He feigns seriousness.
“And now, we’re stuck in this house with all this … this …”
“Tension?” Evan supplies.
“Sexual tension Evan!” I throw my hands in the air.
“Welcome to my world Amelia, nice of you to finally catch up.” He chuckles.
“No Evan. This is a new normal for us now. We know how to bicker extremely well. I know how to sexually tease you from the safety of knowing that you would never actually touch me—”
“Boy were you off on that one,” he mumbles.
I nudged his arm. “I’m being serious here! We don’t know how to be around each other after last night.”
“You don’t, but I do,” Evan offers. “Nothing really changes. You know where I stand, and I know where you stand. I want you and you need time. And while I wait for you, I’m more than happy to supply as many earth shattering kisses as you require.” He leans in and places a chaste kiss on my lips.
God his lips are intoxicating. Maybe that’s why an idea pops in my head instantly.
“Actually, I think I have a better idea,” I say, biting my bottom lip.
“I’m listening.” Evan uses his thumb to pull my bottom lip out from under my teeth, and I almost lose my train of thought.
Here goes nothing.
“So, I’ve been thinking.” I take a deep breath. “I still don’t want to be in a relationship.”
“Geez, that was anticlimactic.” Evan snickers, so I cover his mouth with my hand, and I can feel his smile growing underneath.
“Like I was saying. I don’t want to be in a relationship because I’m still too weak to handle the judgment that comes along with dating.”
Evan tries to mumble something under my hand, but I continue.
“My family always has an opinion on everything. They talk about me if I’m in a committed relationship, and they talk even more if I’m single. There’s no winning. And to add the cherry on top, with Sebastián, I realized that I was the type of girlfriend who just morphed into her partner. Emulating their personality.” I take a deep breath. “But I will no longer be that person. Ever. I’m not going to be the girlfriend who fakes being into your hobbies just so I seem more compatible. I’m not going to morph myself into looking the part and changing my sense of style just to compliment my new partner. And … I’m not faking orgasms anymore.”
That gets me an eyebrow arch from Evan. He doesn’t have to say what I know he’s thinking. Men love to promise that they’re the best you’ll ever have in bed.
“So even though I know all these things that I need to change about who I am in a relationship, it’s still too soon for us to start dating. Because I know myself, and I’m still too sensitive to let the world in on my relationships or how I’m feeling.”
Evan pushes my hand down gently. “Amelia, I—” I move my hand back up to cover his mouth and he rolls his eyes dramatically.
“There’s a ‘but’ to this spiel Evan.” That seems to perk him up again, so I lower my hand away from his mouth and let it settle on my thigh.
I take a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
“ButI also know that things have changed between us this weekend. And I’m no longer in the business of holding back mywantsfor myshoulds. So, I’m prepared to make you a one-time offer.”
“Evan crosses his arms over his chest and eyes me suspiciously. “Go on.”
“For the remainder of this weekend, you and I can date.”
“But you just said—”
“Not fake date like that rom com I was telling you about earlier. More like ‘trial run’ date, no strings attached kinda thing.”
“You can’t be serious.” Evan gets up and walks towards the kitchen.
“Look, the way I see it, we can both benefit from this arrangement,” I say as I hang over the back of the couch, facing Evan.
