We’re stuck here.
Evander said the storm might blow over by morning and Declan could collect us in his helicopter.But it sure doesn’t sound like the storm’s subsided.The wooden walls and roof are creaking under the assault.
Before I go throwing my leg around, it might be smart to walk myself through the most likely outcome.
1.I throw my leg over Evander’s thigh and beg him to have his way with me.
2.He looks at me like I’m an insane person and says he needs to go rake more snow off the roof for our safety.
3.While he’s gone, I pace back and forth, wishing I’d never let him know how I feel, wishing I could crawl into a hole and die.
4.He comes back in, sits me down, and patiently explains to me that he cares for me—but only as a friend—and that he can never reciprocate my feelings, because I’m just not his type.
And for the icing on my humiliation layer cake, we remain trapped in this creaky old shelter for as long as the storm lasts, which could be days, with nowhere to escape and nothing to do.We might try to avoid each other.Or we could play twenty questions.Or take lots of naps.
I think I’ve made my decision.
I’ll keep my legs where they are and skip the begging because the likely outcome sounds absolutely hideous.
“I know you’re awake, Phoebe.I can hear the gears grinding in your head.”
I slowly raise my eyes.His violet gaze is lowered to me, shadowed by a heavy fringe of black lashes.One corner of his mouth is curled into a lopsided smile.I’m so close that I can see the little crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes, the windburn on his cheeks, and the individual hairs of the sprouting beard on his chin, around his mouth, and over his upper lip.
I realize I’ve never been this close to Evander.Or seen him this unshaven.Or known what his hair looks like in the wild.
Even in the hospital, he insisted that his brothers bring his little pot of texturizing hair wax to the post-op floor.Along with his razor, shaving cream, and a hand mirror, so he could shave from his hospital bed.I think he may have even exfoliated as he was waiting to be discharged.
This man grooms.
It’s probably safer for the health and safety of the female population if he takes all those extra steps.Becausecheese and crackers!This messy, scruffy, uncivilized Evander is…
He’s just too much.
Women of all ages would get one look at him and slip in their own drool.He’d put half the population in danger if he walked around like this.
I think I’m experiencing heart palpitations.
“Yes, I’m awake.”
I notice he hasn’t relaxed his embrace.He’s not pushed me away or expressed horror at discovering that he’s spent the night with the neighbor girl.He’s still got his eyes lowered, focused on me.His lips twitch.
“How are you feeling today, Phoebe?”
I’m feeling right back where I started a moment ago, on the edge.I could grab his head, smash my lips to his, and rub myself all over him.
Instead, I pretend like everything’s great and push myself away from his chest.“I’m so awesome, thank you!”
I wiggle out of his arms and hop to a stand, only slightly dizzy.He jumps to his feet too, cradling my elbow in his hand.
“We need to find the source of your bleeding.”His words are no-nonsense and clipped.
I squeeze my eyes shut and open them again, steadying myself by resting a palm on his hard abdomen.I immediately remove my hand, because the feel of his six-pack is too much for me to process.
“Bleeding?What—”
“Look at the back of your thigh.”
I twist around to see that a streak of blood has soaked through my thermal leggings.
