But she grabs the bottom of my shirt, not looking at me. And her voice is so quiet that it makes me want to get back in my car, drive the hour back, and punch that motherfucker in his goddamn face for that prank.
“Don’t go too far, okay?”
I eat my thoughts and nod. “I won’t. Promise.”
As her fingers drift away, I have an overwhelming urge to pull her back into my arms like I did on set, but I don’t think she’d let me anymore. So I walk back out, into the bedroom, hearing the door close softly behind me.
Fuck.I run my fingers through my hair as I look around the room, trying to think of what else I can do for her. There has to be something.
That’s when a thought strikes.
“Hey, I’ll be right back,” I call out, walking quickly out of the room to grab my laptop and something else I think she’ll appreciate.
I’m back in minutes, standing in front of the door, a little out of breath. Hopeful to make shit better for her, even though I know nothing ever makes what we feelbetter.
Except ...The thought hits me hard because that’s not totally true for me. I feel good when she’s around ... and I think about that night less.
Evie brings me ease.
I want to try and give that to her tonight.
“I’m back ... Are you all bubbled up? Can I come in?”
I hear her huff a half-hearted laugh. “Yes. I’m indecently decent.”
A chuckle accompanies my struggle to open the door. I can only use a few fingers because my laptop is in one hand, shot glasses are in the other, and a bottle of booze under my arm.
But I get it open, using my shoulder to push through, peeking my face around the door with a grin.
“Hi,” she breathes out, lifting a toe out of the bubbles to touch the faucet.
Her toenails are painted red. And I can’t describe what that’s doing to me right now because if I did, I’d be standing here with an erection.
Especially since there’s nothing but her head bobbing above a bathtub full of bubbles, those long braids all wrapped up on top of her head in a cute white bow.
“I come bearing gifts.” I smirk, coming out from behind the door, showing my left hand first. “For a movie while you soak.” She smiles, so I slide my right hand around the door, presenting the glasses. “For some chill because the night sucked.”
Her brows rise. “Shots?”
I nod, shrugging to draw her attention to the long-necked bottle tucked under my arm. “Limoncello ... We keep it classy.”
She lifts her arm, water and suds dripping off before taking both the yellow shot glasses, letting me turn around to set up my laptop on the counter. But she lets out a shaky breath, so I turn back around and reach for my glass.
“Let’s do these first?”
Evie licks her lips as I uncork the bottle and fill them. She hands me mine before our eyes connect. Goddamn, I will never stop thinking how pretty those eyes are. Her eyes are prettier than all my otherfriends’eyes.
Friend. That’s a dumb word.
She raises it like she’s giving me a cheers before knocking it back.
“Gettin’ right to it,” I tease before giving her the same nod of my glass, but before I can lift it to drink, she reaches out and steals it, gulpingitback too.
“What the—” I fake protest, watching her wipe the back of her wet hand over her mouth. “I take it you needed a double?”
“Something like that,” she breathes out, looking up at me. “Call it liquid courage.”
I’d like to call it fucking hot. But that’s not what she needs right now, so with that thought, I give her a wink and start to turn around to tend to the movie, but her voice halts my movement.
