I wrapped my arms around Paige’s waist as she cradled the baby in her arms. I bent over to rest my head on her shoulder. We laughed as his eyes opened wide, almost as if he recognized us. My godson would never remember what an awesome father he had, and it pissed me off.
So many people would be devastated: Ellie, John, Marie, Paige—the list seemed almost endless. The good really did die young, and it made absolutely no fucking sense. For the second time in my life, I wished I could spit in God’s face.
Eighteen
Paige
“I’msorry I’m such a drag lately. You must be bored out of your mind.” I snuggled into Evan’s side as we lounged on my couch. I fought the urge to fall asleep. For the past few weeks, I’d had about enough energy to make a nightlight flicker.
“Daisy, stop it. I’m not bored.” Evan pulled me closer and rubbed my back. I lay my head on his hard but very cozy chest. “I’m never bored with you—but I am a little worried. You’ve been sick on and off for a while now.” Evan furrowed his brow as he gazed down on me.
After weeks of fighting the same awful cold, I’d come down with the worst case of bronchitis. I felt better for a couple of weeks, but then relapsed into walking pneumonia right before Halloween. Three weeks later, my cough didn’t want to leave, and it was easy to get out of breath. I felt as though I’d aged ten years in a matter of weeks.
“The doctor said it hit me hard and might take a long time to go away. I don’t know how you can’t be bored since I’m going out of my mind. I hate not having energy.” I was so tired I hardly went to the gym anymore, and my throat was on fire constantly. I supposed my constant hacking irritated the hell out of it.
“Maybe you need more antibiotics. Why don’t you get a second opinion? See what another doctor says.”
I shook my head. “I’m fine. I just need more rest and for my hot boyfriend to keep buying me Wendy’s Frostys.” I lifted my head to give him a peck on the lips.
“I’ll buy you whatever you want, but I want you to get better. You could go see my doctor. Please, Daisy.” Evan kissed my forehead and leaned his chin on my temple. “Forme.”
“I’ll see, babe.” I ran my finger along the stubble on his jaw. “Stop being such a worry wart.” I kissed his neck as I rubbed his chest. “Feel like getting a movie tonight?”
“Torturing me with another musical?” Evan picked up my hand from his chest and laced our fingers together.
“You didn’t likeGrease?” My head snapped up as my mouth dropped in horror. “I don’t think I can be with anyone who doesn’t like that movie.”
“I don’t hateGrease, calm down. It just gets dumb after a while. All of a sudden everyone breaks into song, it gets annoying. Although it was adorable how excited you got when Rizzo sang with the blonde wig.” I nudged his shoulder and he chuckled.
“How aboutAcross the Universe? I get singing, you get Beatles songs, it’s a win-win.” I sat up and wrapped my arms around Evan’s neck. He shook his head at me.
“If you want Beatles songs, I can sing to you.” He gave me a sideways glance while I squinted my eyes at him. “What? I can sing. Beatles songs were my lullabies as a kid. Remember when I was in the choir when Jack and I were in St. Raymond’s? I’ve still got a good set of pipes, if I do say so myself.”
“You were in the choir? Oh my god.” I shot up from laying down and put my hands over my mouth. “I’ve been screwing a choir boy all these months? Talk about a complete waste of good role playing material.”
Evan sat up and put his elbows on his knees. “Did you know anything about me other than my name when we were kids?”
“I guess not. Sorry.” I shrugged and pouted. A smirk tickled the side of his mouth as he moved closer and sucked, then nibbled on my bottom lip.
“You’re lucky you’re so cute.” He kissed the tip of my nose and I giggled as I pushed him away.
“Okay, then sing for me.” Evan raised his eyebrows in reply.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes. Dazzle me.” I crossed my legs under me and sat up straight. “C’mon, Ringo. Let me have it.”
“All right, if that’s what you want.” Evan scooted over to me and wrapped his arm around my waist. He moved my hair to the side and planted a slow wet kiss right behind my ear before he sang the beginning verse ofAll My Loving.
The boy couldsing. I was stunned by the velvet timbre in Evan’s voice. It wrapped around me and traveled right through me. It was smooth and hot at the same time, sexy and gravelly but somehow so sweet. I leaned into his chest and shut my eyes.
When he finished, my face was still buried in his chest with my hands clutching his broad shoulders. I let out the breath I’d barely realized I was holding. I felt his voice all the way to my toes.
“Well?” Evan pulled back and lifted my chin to meet his gaze.
“I think you melted my panties off.” He burst out laughing, but I wasn’t kidding. Even though I wasn’t quite one-hundred percent, there was a hot ache between my legs that made me want to straddle this man who was too sensual for his own damn good.
The ringing phone snapped me out of my trance. I leaned over Evan to grab the receiver off my end table and he gave me a loud smack on my ass. I yelped as I answered the call.
