They want to know why I’m here and I stand, helpless, doing nothing but wracking my brain for what to say.
Time ticks by and finally Carter breaks the silence, “Listen, Cole—”
I hold up my hand, stopping him mid-sentence.
Evangeline slips in between the two of us, protecting who, though, I don’t know.
“Not here, you guys. We’re not doing this again,” she says, with her back to me. “Cole.” She turns, placing her hand on my chest and with the slightest of ease, pushes me back, away from her door.
“Wait,” I demand, standing my ground.
Carter glares at me while Evangeline takes a gasp of breath in, shaking her head almost in disbelief. Her eyes tell no lie. She wants him, and he’s officially won her back.
The realization finally hits me. I don’t have any place here. For years I’ve listened to Carter whine about how much he needed this girl in his life. I, of all people, shouldn’t be the one trying to prevent them from finally being together.
It’s time. There’s nothing more I can do but throw in the towel. He’s won, and now I must be the man I wish to be and respectfully bow out while I can still hold my head high.
“Can we talk? Both of you?” I ask, looking at Carter.
After glancing at each other, they both shrug but keep silent.
“God, this sucks,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck before taking a deep breath. Being the bigger man is much harder than I ever thought it would be. I sigh, shaking my head before looking back up. “Fuck it. I’ve been thinking a lot, and I know what the right thing to do here is.”
Evangeline and Carter both look at each other again in question.
“Evangeline,” I say, staring directly into her eyes and reaching out to hold her fingers, trying to show her I’m tip-toeing around here and not trying to overtake the situation. Thankfully she understands my gesture and allows me to hold her this way.
“You’re something special, you know that?”
She nervously bites her inner lip but doesn’t pull her hand away.
“I should have known it was you after all I’ve heard these past years because I fell for you just the way this schmuck did.”
I hear Carter huff, but I try to continue, having to clear the pain from my throat I felt sneak its way up when I admit I fell for her.
“I can’t compete here. You two have more history and unfinished business than I’ll ever be able to stand up to. So even though my heart breaks to do this”—I pause, clearing my throat again and looking away for a brief moment—“it will break more when you give me a chance only to realize later that he’s the one you’re meant to be with.”
“Cole.” Evangeline squeezes my hand, holding on to more than just my fingers.
“I won’t be the one to come between love. What you guys have is something people dream about and to find each other again, the way you did…” I shake my head in disbelief. “That’s fate and who am I to come between fate. So, Carter, you better be the man she deserves and don’t fuck it up this time.”
He smirks as he looks over at Evangeline. “You know I won’t.”
“Yes, unfortunately, I do.” I turn my attention back to her. “Honestly, I should hate you for all you put him through and how I had to listen to him bitch for so many years,” I taunt, trying to break the pain in my heart with humor. “But seriously, I wish you both the best.”
With that, I lean over to Evangeline, kiss her on her cheek, and Carter comes closer as he reaches out to shake my hand. He mouthsthank youto me, and I nod before walking away.
