“I was invited,” Cameron said. “But you’re right, it wasn’t a chance encounter. Neither was this morning. You’re welcome, by the way.”
“You took an oath to use your veterinary skills for the betterment of society,” Evie reminded him. “That’s what this morning was about.”
“Ev, let’s just go,” Bryson said, taking her by the wrist and giving her a gentle tug.
“It only took you eight years to finally scrape up my sloppy seconds, huh, partner?” Cameron asked.
“Excuse me—” Evie said.
“I knew you wanted to fuck her since we were back at LSU. At least you finally got your chance.”
That son of a bitch! Evie’s hand balled into a fist of its own accord.
“You’re just pissed that I won,” Bryson said.
Evie jerked her head back and looked up at him, but Bryson’s gaze was focused solely on Cameron. The piercing hatred in his eyes was unlike anything she’d seen in him.
“You won what I no longer wanted,” Cameron said.
“No,” Bryson sneered. He took a step closer. “I won everything, Cam. I have a more successful career than you have. I have more accolades than you have. And I have Evie. The only thing I don’t have is your daddy’s money, and I don’t need that because I have my own.
“I know it’s hard to imagine a scholarship kid from the bayou coming out on top, but that’s what happened. Do a comparison in any category, and I win them all.”
Cameron’s pale ivory skin had turned red. He didn’t speak, just spun around and walked away, not even bothering to see if the woman he was with had followed him.
Evie stared until he turned the corner, then looked up at Bryson, who was still glowering in Cameron’s direction. He finally looked at her.
“I don’t know how you stayed with that asshole for so long, Ev. Let’s get back to the dogs.”
Evie nodded, folded her arms across her chest, and continued on to her car.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Is there a reason you’re so quiet?” Bryson asked from behind the wheel as they waited for the light to change at Napoleon and South Claiborne Avenues.
Evie shook her head, not bothering to look up from her phone. She knew if she tried to speak, her voice would shake with the violent fury she was working with all her might to suppress.
“Forget about what Cameron said,” Bryson continued. “That guy has always been an asshole and he’ll continue to be one. It’s probably in his DNA.”
Evie nodded. The rage still wouldn’t let her say a single word.
The moment he pulled up to the curb in front of her house, she hopped out of the Jeep and went inside. She went straight for the dogs, guiding them both to the backyard. She heard the door leading to the backyard open a few minutes later, but didn’t turn.
Bryson came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. Evie flinched before she could stop herself.
She felt Bryson grow still.
“Ev?” he said, his voice a mix of confusion and concern. “Are you okay?”
“No.” She shook off his hands and took a couple of steps, putting distance between them. Evie pulled in a deep breath, then turned to face him.
“What did you mean by ‘you won’?” Evie asked.
He frowned. “What?”
“You told Cameron that you won everything, including me.” She tilted her head to the side and stared up at him. “Is that what this has been about all this time, Bryson? Has this been some twisted game of one-upmanship you’ve been playing to get back at your old rival?”
Hurt flashed across his face. “Is that what you think?”
