I’d been shocked when the newspapers reported that Evan and Valentina were no longer living together. Evan had been too embarrassed about it for me to ask many questions. Still, I’d been surprised when he said that he was looking after Stella, but relieved for him.
Stella was always his pride and joy, the subject of a high proportion of conversations, and the star of the photo albums on his phone.
But Valentina is in New York City. That’s not far from Boston. How often does Stella see her? Does she think that they might get back together again?
Something churns in my stomach, but I know I have no right to feel any jealousy.
I have no right to feel anything at all.
I’m relieved when Stella turns off the lights in the room, and I focus on the film. It reminds me not to accidentally linger on Evan’s face or his broad chest.
A young Lindsay Lohan appears on the screen. Evan is right. This isn’t a movie I would have chosen in a thousand years.
But watching it isn’t unpleasant. It’s fun. I find myself laughing along with Stella. Even Evan looks less miserable as the movie goes on. His face becomes more relaxed, and I’m not surprised when he starts to blink at greater and greater frequency.
“Why don’t you lie down?” I suggest.
“I might fall asleep.”
“Wouldn’t be a tragedy.”
Stella watches us.
Evan puts his legs up on the couch, and Stella sits on his legs.
Soon, he drifts into sleep completely.
When the credits roll, Evan is fully out.
I turn off the film. “That was nice.”
Stella eyes her father.
“What do you want to do now?” I ask.
“You want to do something with me?” For some reason, she looks surprised.
“Of course.”
She grins. “We can play dress up!”
I blink.
Somehow, I wasn’t expecting that. I was expecting to read to her again. Or watch another movie. Or maybe do some cooking, though honestly, even I’m not that hungry. I might have gone overboard with breakfast, just like Jasmine and Isaiah said.
“I haven’t played dress up in a long time,” I admit.
She shoots me a sorrowful gaze. “That’s terrible.”
“You’ll have to tell me what to do.”
“I can do that.”
In the next moment, Stella bounds from Evan’s legs and bolts out of the room. I throw a blanket over Evan, make sure his phone is nearby once he wakes up, then follow Stella.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Evan
