You think you’re so much better than everyone else.You’re not.You’re just like the rest of your snobby friends.Maybe you can read big books, but that doesn’t make you a good person.
Her expression of hurt and bewilderment made him pause, but a glance toward her friend Wardell, who stood smirking at him, sparked more anger.Evan, why are you saying these things?You’re my boyfriend.
Is that why you’re with me?To show everyone what an altruistic person you are?I’m not a charity case, if that’s what you were doing.Making yourself feel better by helping the poor deaf guy.
Her lower lip trembled, but he looked away.I don’t need you.Not helping me or looking down on me.I’ll do just fine on my own, like I have before.
Tears glimmered in her eyes.He couldn’t be swayed by tears.He hurt too much right now.As he spun toward the door, her face crumpled.Another glance at Wardell had him marching out into the cool night air.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
What had just happened?Mercedes bit her lip to stop it from trembling.She’d never seen Evan like that.Oh, sure she’d seen him hammered before, and it was apparent he’d imbibed quite a bit tonight, but he’d never gone off on her like that.Never even done anything like that to his siblings, who teased him incessantly.
Playing back his words, she tried to decipher what they meant.Their relationship seemed to be going great, and suddenly he had a huge chip on his shoulder like she’d done something behind his back.
Charity case?Helping the Deaf guy?Yes, she’d been helping him understand and study hisLevel Twobook, but he was hardly a charity case.Where had he gotten that notion?
A hand on her shoulder had her spinning, hoping he’d come back and was going to tell her he only said those things because he was drunk.But it was Wardell.Not the person she wanted to see right now.He’d been hitting on her big time tonight, no matter how many times she told him she was in a committed relationship.
“Not now, Wardell.I’m not in the mood.”
“Why?”He sneered.“Now that the idiot is gone, we can finally have some fun.”
She spun toward him, heat rising inside.“He’s not an idiot.He’s a better person than you.Haven’t I told you no enough times tonight?”
He lifted one side of his mouth.“I figured you were trying to be true blue to the deaf guy.He’s gone.He’s holding you back.You can do better than him.Like me.Or anyone else, really.”
“You’re hardly a better person than Evan.”She was starting to get a bad feeling that Wardell had been partly to blame for Evan’s weird behavior.
Wardell rolled his eyes.“Right.He doesn’t even know how to talk or read.What would you call him other than idiot?”
This man had gone too far.“I’d call him my friend and the man I love.”Crap, Evan should have been the first person to hear her say that, but she had lost her chance earlier.“Did you have something to do with him leaving?”
Wardell actually laughed.“I hope so.He probably realized I was far more advanced than him.”
“What did you do?Or say to him?”God, she hoped it wasn’t too bad.
“I didn’t say anything to him.”The smug look on his face told a different story.
Ayanna popped up behind Wardell and grimaced.“He was talking about you teaching Evan how to read.Is that true?”
“Where the heck did you hear that?”
Wardell preened like a peacock.“Tasha said you’d been helping him with some reading.Like the guy’s in third grade or something.”
Where had Tasha found that information?With the way she constantly hovered over her shoulder, it would have been easy enough to peek at her computer screen or phone.She wanted to murder Tasha, but she’d have to deal with that later.
“I can’t believe you, Wardell.First, what business is it of yours what I do with my boyfriend?”Poking her finger into his chest, she didn’t let the man get a word in.“It isn’t.At all.”Her voice was low and dangerous.She poked again for good measure.“None of your damn business, so keep your nose and your comments to yourself.”
She turned away, then whirled back.She wasn’t finished.“Didn’t your mother ever teach you that, if you can’t say something nice, not to say anything?If she didn’t, then she did a piss poor job of raising you.Maybe you should heed that advice.”
He started to open his mouth, but she rounded on him again.“And last, do you get a kick out of putting down and insulting someone with a hearing loss?Are you planning to go to the nursing home next and push some seniors out of their wheelchairs?Sounds about on par with your behavior tonight.Now get the hell out of my sight, and don’t ever ask for any favors again at work.Don’t even talk to me when we’re there, unless it’s absolutely necessary.Do you understand?Because if you don’t, I might just have to let slip to Saundra about all the time you spend on the computer looking at dating sites.”
Mercedes stared at Wardell intently until he backed away and headed to the bar.It felt good to tell him off.Still, it wouldn’t erase what he’d done.
Ayanna sidled up next to her and patted her shoulder.“I’m sorry about your boyfriend.He seems like a good guy.I hope he’s not too mad.”
She glanced at Ayanna, who looked completely sympathetic.“He’s probably not my boyfriend any longer.”
