Tasha rolled her eyes, and Mercedes saw red.“Listen up.You are to mind your own business and stay out of mine.Keep your eyes off anything that has to do with me.Do you understand?”
“I don’t know why you’re getting so hot under the collar.”
Mercedes wanted to throttle her.“Maybe because when you told Wardell your gossip, he decided to make fun of Evan out in public in front of his friends and ours.You may have destroyed my relationship with him.”
At the predatory look in Tasha’s eyes, Mercedes took a step closer and got right in her face.“Don’t start thinking that’s a good thing.Evan would never go out with you.He hates gossip and people who participate in it, especially hateful gossip.If he knew you were the one who spread the nasty rumor that caused his embarrassment, he’d hold that grudge forever.”
Tasha glared at her.“And you’d make sure to tell him.”
“Without hesitation.You’d better watch yourself.You’re at the top of my list right now.And not the good list.”
Mercedes had pivoted away and avoided the woman the rest of the day.Now she just wanted to talk to Evan and apologize for what had happened.Unfortunately, she couldn’t undo it.She only hoped he would forgive her for allowing Tasha to see whatever it was she saw.The woman had never admitted where she’d gotten the information.
Even though she wanted to tell Evan how sorry she was, she was also still hurting from the terrible things he’d said to her.Her feelings for him were so strong that they’d stung fiercely.
The sound of the front door opening alerted her to his presence.As much as she wanted to run to him and work things out, she figured he’d be in a better mood after cleaning off the day’s dirt.His footsteps were somewhat softer today.She imagined he’d be tromping down the hallway like a giant.
As she waited on the couch in the living room, rehearsing what she wanted to say, she worried about what would happen.Thanksgiving was only a few days away.She didn’t want to go sit with her family if she and Evan couldn’t work this out.They’d be sympathetic, but they’d also want to talk about it too much.She certainly wouldn’t go to his family’s house, even though they’d invited her.Maybe she’d have to sit here by herself and cry.
It was already dark outside, and she watched the lights from cars roll down the street.A tiny cough had her glancing up.Evan stood in the doorway, hair still damp, only jeans and a t-shirt on.His hangdog expression let her know he wasn’t in a good mood, but he didn’t seem angry.
“I’m sorry for what I said Friday night.I didn’t mean any of it.I’d had too much to drink and just blurted out that stupid crap after being embarrassed.I do need you, and I won’t be fine on my own.”
Her heart fluttered back to life after being frozen for days.He was apologizing.She rushed over to him and slid into his embrace.It felt heavenly, and he held her like he wouldn’t let go.She eased back because she had things to say, too.
“I’m sorry for what happened.I swear I never told anyone about our sessions.Somehow Tasha saw something, on my computer or my phone, I don’t know, and decided to blab to everyone at work.Wardell was being his usual jerk self.”
Evan nodded.“I probably overreacted.It was hard seeing your snobby friends from work make fun of me.I was humiliated and lashed out.It doesn’t help that you’re too good for me and we both know it.Obviously, they all do, too.”
She poked him in the chest.“I know nothing of the sort.Why do you always say that?You’re a reverse snob.Do you know that?Have I ever treated you like you’re less than me?”
He stared at the floor.“Never.”
She stomped her foot to get his attention.“What you said to me really hurt.I thought I meant more to you than that.You made judgments without even asking me if I’d done what you accused me of.”
His face fell, and he closed his eyes for a few moments.“I had too much to drink, and it didn’t help that Adam was egging me on.”
Adam.Mercedes would be glad to never see him again.“So you’re blaming your behavior on alcohol.”
“I know there’s no excuse for what I did.I’m so sorry.I should never have said it.You have every right to push me away and be mad.”
She stood closer and glared at him.“Yes, I do.What I want to know is why do you think what we have isn’t worth putting an effort into?Am I not worth fighting for?”
She held her breath, waiting for an answer.
His eyes widened.“Of course you are.You’re incredible.Any man would be nuts not to fight for you.”
“Except you.”She stared right into his eyes, feeling tears come to her own.“Even though I’m totally and completely in love with you.”There.She’d finally said it.How would he react?
“You are?”His expression held surprise, but she couldn’t tell if he was happy or upset with her declaration.
She nodded.“Seriously?I told you I’d had a crush on you since we were kids.”
“A crush is not love.”
Was he saying that because he had a crush on her but didn’t love her?“I loved hanging out with Carli, but her hot older brother was also fun to be with.”
“Yeah, Brian can be good to hang out with.” His lips turned into a sly smile.
