“It concerns me because she said no and you didn’t listen, which means you’re the type of man who takes what he wants when he wants without permission.” Then his voice dropped lower, rougher. “I know men like you, men who think they’re owed something just because they showed up.”
Tate was about to speak, no doubt to argue, but he took one look at Evan’s expression and shut up. Instead, he muttered something under his breath and took off back into the restaurant, leaving the two of us alone.
I exhaled shakily and looked down at my hands to see they were shaking. I took a deep breath, steadying myself, or trying to, and then looked up to see Evan still standing there. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, just looked at me, the intensity in his gaze making my knees weak.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded, but my voice wavered. “How did you even know I was here?”
“I tried calling, but you didn’t answer your phone.”
I frowned. “So, you were checking up on me?”
“Couldn’t help it.”
“Why would you do that? You’ve been mad at me since?—”
“I overheard him having a conversation about your date in the locker room last night. I didn’t like what I heard. So, instead of saying something to you, I figured I’d call you tonight and make something up, but when you didn’t answer, I got worried. The thought of someone hurting you made me crazy.”
His admission hung in the air, heavy and intimate. I took a step toward him, my legs still shaking from earlier. I’d have handled Tate Parker. I didn’t need rescuing.
“So you came all the way here?”
“I came because there wasn’t a way I could talk myself out of it. I couldn’t stop myself, and I’m not mad at you. I was hurt that you felt you couldn’t just come to me and ask me what you wanted to know.”
His admission changed everything.
“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling slightly confused.
“He shouldn’t have touched you. Shouldn’t have…” Only he cut himself off before he continued, his hands still curled into fists at his side.
“I told him no,” I whispered.
“I know, I heard.”
“You were listening?”
Evan stepped in closer to me, enveloping me in the warmth that radiated off his body, calming me at the same time tension built in the space between us.
“I was making sure you were safe.”
“Evan…” I breathed.
He slowly reached out, probably hoping I’d pull away from him, only I didn’t. I needed to feel his touch to know I was safe. His fingers danced over my cheek, and I closed my eyes, noticing that his hand was actually trembling against my skin, as if touching me took every ounce of courage he had inside of him.
“You shouldn’t go out with guys like him,” he murmured.
Keeping my eyes closed, I focused on his touch, the only thing bringing me peace right now.
“Who should I go out with then?” I whispered.
When his hand stilled, I opened my eyes and looked at him. I actually thought he was going to say it. That he might finally admit what had been simmering between us for weeks. Iwatched as his lips parted and saw the word forming on his lips…but he dropped his hand and stepped back as if I’d burned him.
“Let’s go home,” he mumbled, slipping his hand into mine, leading me to his truck.
The drive back was silent, the air between us thick with everything that had been left unsaid. I sat there, my hands folded in my lap, pulse still racing and my skin still tingling where he’d touched me. He’d come. He’d known where I’d be, and he’d come because he actually cared.
Chapter 11
