As Evan gets closer, he gives me the most seductive look on the planet. Is this man insane?! Is he trying to get us caught, or worse, killed by my brother? I shoot him a glare and he eases up.
“Happy birthday Little Miss Amelia.” He pulls me in for a hug. “I’ll give you your present later tonight in my bed,” he whispers in my ear.
I push him off a little harder than I expect, which causes a few of the onlookers to laugh.
“And just when we thought that these two were finally getting along.” Abby chuckles.
Well, at least we’re not under suspicion.
I want to stay glued to Evan’s side, but I know that’s not an option tonight. Unless I want to announce to my entire family that we’re in love and watch a bar brawl break out between Antonio and Evan.
Nope, not today.
Although this does make me realize that our days of hiding out in Evan’s apartment are numbered. I don’t want to have side conversations with other people just because they are standing the furthest from Evan. What’s the point of following my heart and living a more authentic life if I only allow myself to have that behind closed doors?
All of a sudden, I feel myself standing a bit taller. A decision firmly made in my mind. Not tonight, but any day now, Evan and I will tell everyone that we’re dating. We’ll obviously have to tell Antonio first, since he’ll be the one to take it the hardest, but who cares. He’s not a man child, he can get over his best friend dating his little sister. But maybe I’ll tell him when my dad is in the same room, just to be safe.
With this new plan in my mind, I break free from the small crowd and walk towards the small circle of people Evan is talking to. I plan on standing right next to him, maybe just to test the waters to see how it feels. God I’m such a chicken shit.
Just as I’m closing in on Evan, I see him pull his phone out of his jean pockets. The nameLClighting up the screen. Before he notices me, he steps away from the group, and walks out of the pub to take the call.
Who the fuck is this LC bitch?
I’m talking to Lucy when a few minutes later, Evan walks back inside. His face already tells me I’m not gonna like what he has to say.
He nods towards the bar, and I make an excuse about needing to ask for a different cocktail, since my current one isn’t strong enough. I’m about to test that theory.
We make it to the bar at the same time, and leave some appropriate distance between one another while I order another drink.
Evan runs his hand over his face. “I hate to do this but …”
“You’ve got to be kidding me, Evan,” I whisper while looking straight ahead.
“I know, I’m sorry. But I need to handle this work thing. It’s probably going to take a while, but I’ll meet you back at my place. I promise to make this up to you.”
I feel my anger reach a boiling point. “A work thing huh? Funny. I’ve never heard you mention an LC.”
I can see him tense up in my peripheral vision. “Are you looking through my phone?” he whisper-shouts, and I feel the crazy Latina in me dying to make an appearance.
His phone beeps with a notification.
“Why Evan, should I be? Seems like we have a pattern of her calling and you running off. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Fine. Then who is she? What is the work emergency? If it’s not a big deal, why do I feel like you’re keeping a secret from me.”
He stays silent. Fuck.
“Wow, you’re awfully quiet for an innocent man.”
His phone beeps with another notification.
“Amelia, it’s not what you think …”
Those words instantly throw me back to the moment when Sebastián said those same words to me. The moment when I caught him cheating.
I think I’m going to puke.
