And then Evander was there.
My Evy.
I didn’t even hear him. One second, he was outside on the back deck, and the next he was right there beside me, appearing out of what felt like thin air. His hand came up gently, taking the phone from me.
“Hey, sweetheart. Let me take it now.”
I didn’t argue. I couldn’t. My fingers loosened on instinct, and he slipped the phone from my hand.
He lifted it to his ear, the other hovering near my shoulder before slowly laying it on my upper arm, grounding me.
“I’ve got him. Thank you, dear.”
Evander stepped closer, and I easily went into his hold as he ended the call. The sound of the cell being set on the countertop registered somewhere, but it was overshadowed by the warmth of Evander’s arms wrapping around me.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s all okay.”
I gave up the fight against the tears, not sure why I tried to fight them to begin with. They fell in big streaks, soaking the front of Evander’s shirt as his hands rubbed up and down my back.
Chapter 35
Evander
Kasey folded into me the moment I stepped close, like it was second nature. One second, he was standing there, trembling, eyes too wide, and the next he was in my arms shaking hard enough that I felt it all the way through my chest.
I didn’t know what Adrian had told him. I didn’t know if the results were good, bad, or somewhere in between. I didn’t know anything except that Kasey was crying.
The results didn’t matter to me now. Not when I had the boy of my life in my arms. He was mine. And no DNA test was going to change that.
I wrapped my arms around him, and he pressed in closer, fingers clinging to my shirt like he needed something solid to hold onto.
So, I held him.
His breathing hitched against my collarbone, warm and uneven. I rested my chin lightly on the top of his head, letting him feel the weight of me, the steadiness.
“It’s okay. I got you.”
I’d always have him. I’d hold him up when life got to be too much. I’d hold his hand when he needed support. I’d give him space when he needed it.
I didn’t try to make him talk. Whatever Adrian had said, whatever truth had landed, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was Kasey.
Eventually, his breathing started to even out, still shaky but not breaking apart anymore. He didn’t lift his head. He stayed tucked against me like he wasn’t ready to let go.
He didn’t have to.
I tightened my arms around him just a little, enough to remind him that he was safe. Whatever the results were, we’d face it together.
“E-Evander…” His voice cracked on my name, thin and raw.
I lowered my head enough that he’d hear me without having to lift his own. “I’m right here.”
He tried again; a broken sound caught between a sob and a word. “I…I…”
“Easy,” I shushed, placing one hand at the nape of his neck, letting my fingers run through the ends of his hair. “You don’t have to rush. Just breathe.”
He shook his head against my chest. “I…need…to say…it.”
“Okay, hon-sweetheart.” I sighed. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
