“He’s not always grumpy.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“He didn’t used to be grumpy.”
“He really likes you, huh?”
I squirm. “I think so. I like him.”
My cheeks burn, and my gaze bounces around the room.
“You never told me you liked men, Evan.”
“I didn’t think it was important,” I mumble.
She pulls back.
“I liked you too,” I say. “I like women. I do.”
She assesses me. “It’s fine if you don’t.”
Shame floods me, and I remember all those times I tried and wasn’t good enough for her. I would slide into bed, and everything would be awkward.
“I-I know,” I stammer. “I wasn’t trying to trick you or anything.”
“We were young,” she says softly.
I nod eagerly.
A door clicks.
I swivel my head toward the window.
Vinnie marches toward his car. He’s wearing the clothes he arrived in, even though they’re dirty. I guess that’s why he went upstairs. He wasn’t waiting for me. He was leaving.
“I should go after him,” I say.
“And make the story even more interesting for the paparazzi?”
“But—”
“Are you sure he wants that?”
My shoulders slump. I’m not sure. And to be honest—I’m not sure I want that either.
“I’m sorry, hun.” Valentina squeezes my thigh, but nothing can calm my racing heart.
VINNIE
I enter the locker room warily. Evan isn’t here yet, which is...great.
Finn looks up from his phone and flashes a wide smile. “Dude. How was nursing? Looked pretty romantic.”
“That picture was taken out of context. I was just helping Evan to the bench.”
“I didn’t think it looked romantic, Vinnie,” Luke tells me. “Not a single rose anywhere.”
“Yeah.” Finn slides his gaze away, already bored.
