“You didn’t have to wasteanytime or money, Father,” Eva said, without turning to look at him. “I came here by choice.”
“You ran away like a wayward child, is what you did.” Her father stalked over, pushing through the guards, eyeing me with distaste and disgust. “You’re not…friends…with this—thisbarbarian, are you?”
“Yes, I ran away like a wayward child…except I’m anadult, in case you’ve forgotten,” Eva bit out, her voice betraying her anger.
“We’re not discussing this any further, Evangeline. The family vacation is already ruined. You are returning home immediately, and as for your future at Yale? Well…that remains to be seen.”
Eva ignored him. “I’m sorry this is happening like this,” she said to me.
I ignored the blood dripping off my chin. “Eva, babe. You gotta make your own way in the world. This bullshit?” I jerked my chin at her father. “You don’t have to stand for it. You said it, sweetheart—you’re not a kid. You don’t have to go just because he says so.”
She smiled at me sadly. “I always knew I’d be going back, Baxter. I just wanted to get away from it all for a little bit. Experience a little bit of life away from”—she waved a hand at the world behind us, broadly, vaguely—“away from all of their expectations.”
I sighed. “Well, I hope you experienced what you came looking for.”
Her smile was quick, hinting at a hidden leer. “Oh, I certainly found what I…came…looking for, and then some.”
“She’s got jokes after all,” I said, with a sad smile.
“It always had an expiration date, Baxter.”
“I know. But it just don’t seem like you’re the one choosing when or how. It seems like you’re letting them choose for you.”
“My life isn’t here. I don’t belong in this world.” Her eyes, man. They were…reluctant and hesitant and confused, like she wasn’t sure she was doing the right thing. “I wish I did.”
“Enough, Evangeline.” Her father again, stepping between us.
“Back off, pops,” I snarled. “The woman’s talking tome.”
“Not anymore she’s not,” he said, unperturbed. “Evangeline. Get in the limo,now.”
“Goodbye, Baxter.”
“Bye, Eva.”
“Thank you.” She turned away, waving at me. “For everything.”
A wave? I got a fuckin’ wave? Fuck that.
I slid my wrist and forearm under my nose, wiping away the blood, and stepped around her father, grabbed her by the waist and hauled her around. Jerked her up against me and palmed her juicy ass with possessive hands.
“A wave, princess? You think I’m gonna be satisfied with awavegoodbye?” I squeezed with both hands. “I donotmotherfuckin’ think so.”
“I wish we had time for a…propergoodbye,” she murmured, subtly pressing back into my touch.
“Me, too,” I said, as I lifted a hand to brush my thumb across her delicate cheekbone.
She wiped at my upper lip with her palm, and then leaned in to kiss me, gently, softly, slowly.
I felt something cold touch my temple.
“Back away…now,” a cold voice snapped, one of the bodyguards.
I lifted my hands, backing away. I twisted in place, and the barrel of the pistol touched the center of my forehead above my eyes. “You put that gun to my head, boy, you better be prepared to pull the fucking trigger.” I met the eyes of the hired man, and saw someone who looked plenty willing to call my bluff.
Eva stepped up, pushing the bodyguard and his gun away. “Enough. Enough.” She touched the side of my face, and I saw she had blood on her hands where she’d wiped it off me. “I’m going, Baxter. I have to go.”
“All right, princess.” I lifted my hands palms facing out. “You ever want to get away again, you know where to find me.”
