Mercedes laughed so hard she fell into Evan.It always amazed her how rugged his body was.Which is why she needed to back off.
“Thanks for the idea.I appreciate you talking this through with me.”
Evan dusted his hands off and grinned.“I figure I’ll be driving you crazy soon enough.You don’t need two people doing it.”
Mercedes cocked her head.“You think you’ll annoy me more than her?”
He winked, causing her heart to race.“I always strive to be the best at everything I do.”
Chapter Three
The lights flicking off and on woke Evan from his slumber.Prying his eyes open, he saw Mercedes standing in the doorway, her face scrunched up.
What?was all he could sign in his half-awake phase.
“I’m sorry.I hate waking you up on your day off.”
Especially since he’d been out with friends last night and hadn’t gotten in until almost two.“Then why are you?”
“My parents just called.They’re on their way up for a visit.”
Glancing at his phone for the time, he groaned.It was barely nine.“Do I need to get out of here?”
“No.” Her gorgeous curls bounced around her shoulders as she shook her head.“I told them how you’d moved in, and they were hoping to visit with both of us.”
Evan flopped back on the bed and closed his eyes.“They’re an hour away.I can take five more minutes.”
The floor shook, and he pried one eye open again.“They left a half hour ago.You only have thirty minutes, if you’re lucky.Sorry.”
“Is there a reason they want to see me, too?”He’d met her parents when he was younger but hadn’t seen them in years.Her mom was gorgeous, obviously where Mercedes got her looks from.Her father was a college professor.Enough said.Doubtful he’d want to sit around and chat about highway construction.
“You’re my roommate now.They want to get to know you better.”
Evan rubbed his hands over his eyes and pushed into a sitting position.“You didn’t tell them we were dating like you did with Tasha, the gum chewer, did you?”
“God, no.They know you’ve always hung out here and are like a brother to me.I haven’t seen them in a while, and Mom wanted to get out for a drive.”
“So you’re simply an extension of Carli, huh?”He’d never let her know that was the last thing he saw her as.The crush he’d had on her as a kid had only gotten bigger and bigger the more he’d gotten to know her.Too bad she’d never look at a guy like him in a romantic way.
“Fine, I’m getting up.You might want to turn your back, unless you want an up close and personal with my anatomy.Pretty sure I dropped into bed commando last night.”He tentatively lifted the covers and nodded.“Yup.Like the day I was born.”
Mercedes rolled her eyes, did an about face, and shut the door.Evan chuckled and flopped back on his pillow.He knew he couldn’t stay long.
Five minutes later, he’d managed to drag on a pair of sweats to get to the bathroom and throw himself in the shower.Once clean, he attempted to tidy his room.Normally, he didn’t care what it looked like, but he didn’t want Mercedes embarrassed if her parents got a look—or heaven forbid, a whiff—of his disaster area.With his clothes in the hamper, his boots in the closet, and a liberal dose of air freshener, it was almost presentable.Almost.
In the kitchen, Mercedes hustled about wiping down surfaces.
“Can I get some caffeine, or am I destined to being a zombie all day?”
“You know where the Mountain Dew is.Make sure to wipe up any spills you make.”
He gave a smart salute.“Yes, sir.”
She threw the dish towel at him and stomped into the living room to fluff pillows.Really?Did she think her parents would up and leave if the pillows weren’t at the maximum puffiness?
Once he’d inhaled his soda and the caffeine had hit his bloodstream, he followed Mercedes to the living room.
“What can I do to stop you from freaking out?”
