I looked up to see Evan standing there, his jaw clenched as he looked at me.
“I need to speak with you,” he growled, his voice low.
“No problem, I was just about to excuse myself,” I said, smiling at Lucas, Matt, and Tate.
I was about to turn and walk away with Evan when I felt Lucas grab my hand. I turned back around to see what he was going to say when I heard Evan bark, “Now, Bianca.”
I held my finger up to Lucas, signaling to hold on to the thought, and followed Evan through the restaurant. He walked to the doors, opened them, and stepped outside. I felt the cold air brush my skin as I stepped out behind him. The moment the door shut behind me, Evan turned and looked at me, running his hand through his hair.
“What was that?” I questioned, crossing my arms in front of me, irritated at his actions.
“That was me, watching my replacement flirt with you.”
I blinked hard, not believing what I was hearing. “Evan…”
“Tomorrow I am having surgery that could very well end my career, and I am spending tonight watching the guy who is goingto take my spot. He was smiling at you like he now has all the time in the world.”
“You are being ridiculous. He is not taking your spot,” I said through clenched teeth.
“You don’t know that. The surgery could work, or it might not. I may come back, or I might become a washed-up hockey player. As I said before, each of those guys are young and healthy and pretty much everything I’m not.”
“Evan, stop,” I said, moving to take a step forward to comfort him, only he stepped back.
“I can’t. All I see is one of those guys in there taking my position, the team moving on, forgetting I was ever here. Then there is you…you sitting there smiling at him like…”
“What? Like I care about him? Like I want him?”
Evan nodded his head, then turned his eyes from mine.
“Evan, stop being so insecure. I have already told you I want you. I don’t want any of those guys in there.”
“Well, maybe you should.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes. Then I looked at him.
“I am choosing you, Evan. With or without your hockey career. Just you.”
“You say that now, but I know you don’t mean it.”
I walked around so I could face him and brought my hand to his jaw, forcing him to look at me. I swallowed hard as my stomach flipped.
“I don’t care if you never play another game. I don’t care if you retire tomorrow. I care about you, Evan. Not the player, not the career, but about you. I love you, and I say what I mean.”
He looked down into my eyes, his breath shallower.
“Stop allowing your fear of losing your career and what happened between your parents stop you from having this…from having us,” I whispered.
Evan studied me, and then he slipped his hand into mine. “Come with me,” he whispered.
“Where?” I frowned.
“Home. I can’t do this here. I need to really talk to you.”
I glanced back at the doors to the restaurant where the entire team was waiting, my father included, and with my pulse hammering in my ears, I followed Evan to his truck.
We drove the entire way home in silence, and when we finally reached the condo door, my hand shook as I slid the key into the lock. I placed my purse and jacket on the breakfast stool and heard Evan lock the door. I was about to turn around when I felt his hands on my arms, the heat from his body at my back.
“Surgery is tomorrow,” he murmured, his lips grazing my ear.
