“Is there any topic we can talk about?”
He pretends to think it over, but just as I’m about to scream in frustration, my phone rings.I push back from the table, grab my cell from the kitchen counter, and stare at his name on the screen.
“Don’t tell me.They called you for an emergency.”
“N-no.”
“So?Answer it.What are you waiting for?”
I hit the green button and lift the phone to my ear.
“Hey.”
That single word is all it takes for something in me to rise from the ashes.
“Hello,” I whisper.
“Are you at work?”
“No, I’m home,” I say, my voice dropping again as I glance back at Evan over my shoulder.
I could go to my room to talk, but that would be worse.Evan wouldn’t let me get away with it.Better to stay here and be as discreet as possible.
“You sound strange.”
“No, it’s just… I’m not… er… alone.”
“I see.”His voice turns harsh.
“No, what have you… It’s not what you think!”
Evan coughs.
Shit.
“I don’t think anything.”
“My son is here.”
His sigh of relief runs through my whole body.
Fuck.Is this really happening?
“I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You didn’t.”
“I just wanted…”
“Me too,” I say instinctively, cutting him off.
I want to spare him the embarrassment.He’s already made the call; I don’t want to leave all the work to him.
“I feel stupid.”From his tone, I can tell he’s smiling.In my mind, I can immediately picture his manipulative, arsehole grin.
“You’re not.”
“I told myself I’d call him — no, I’d text him — then… the urge to hear your voice took over.”
