Respectful reputation? Yeah, right.I snort and recover.
“What has that got to do with anything?”
Evan blows out a breath. “We come from totally different walks of life. You can be buddy-buddy with Jaxon, and Kayden because you’re all muscly, strong-willed leaders. But I’m at the bottom of the food chain.”
I stare at him for a long second. “So, because I’m an Alpha and bigger than you, that means we can’t be seen together…even if they think we’re friends?”
“Friends?” He laughs sourly. “No one wants to be friends with me, Caleb. I’m their outcast, and as hard as I try, I’m never going to fit in. I stick out like a sore thumb, even now.”
My jaw grits together. “That’s not true. I want to be your friend.”
Evan’s mouth parts. “You wanna be friends?”
Fuck no,I shout at myself.
“We’ll never bejustfriends,” I clarify deeply. “But I do want us to be best friends in our relationship. Nothing less.”
He blinks up at me, emotion streaking across his irises unexpectedly.
“And what you said is a lie,” I say sternly. “I know Ava, Kayleigh, and Lucy want to be your friend. Along with those guys you spent time with when you helped out with the integration of my pack. You might not think these people have time for you, but they do.”
He sucks in a sharp breath.
“And you’re not worthless, Evan. People have fought for you, but now, it’s finally time to fight for yourself.”
For a long moment, he’s silent, and then he nods. “You’re right,” he croaks.
“And it might be hard,” I say as I take a step forward. “But I’m going to be there for you every step, okay?”
Evan bites down on his bottom lip. “Okay.”
33
EVAN
As I sit by the windowsill in the living room, I write down every last thought from my head. I haven’t plucked up the courage to talk to someone yet; instead, I’ve been writing down my feelings in an attempt to sort them out in my head first.
Most of the notes are messy and out of order, but I scribble them down the second they come to mind. If I do end up talking to someone, at least I have the book to reference if my brain goes blank.
It’s a daunting thought of going to therapy and letting them dissect your mind. They’ll take one look at me and go—you’re unfixable, sorry.
“Hey.” Ava’s voice draws me away from my notebook.
I glance up to find her leaning against the doorframe. “Hey.”
“How are you holding up?”
As she gestures to my face, I release a silent grunt. I’ve been told to stay away from Sam and vice versa. All I wanted was to ignore the situation, but the bruises on my face say otherwise.
Caleb’s right, I do have friends here because they’d only ask if they care. I sigh. Maybe I’m a pessimistic asshole.
“Yeah,” I say as I swing my legs around and close my notebook. “I’m alright.”
“Sam’s been put in isolation.”
“Which explains why I haven’t seen him around.”
“Jax is honestly at wits' end with him. He’s getting a little too big for his boots.”
