My chest ached again as I thought about the suitcase that had once held all my worldly possessions. “Not necessarily.”
“You need to be comfortable, Reid, and these are the things that’ll make that happen. If anything, Ma and Pa will probably ask why you haven’t brought more.”
I shifted on my feet. “I doubt it.”
“You’ll see,” he said breezily, strolling for the door. “Bring that list, Reid, and anything else you might want. I can bring you back, of course, but we may as well load the car up.”
When we were done, I stood looking around the space I’d made my own. The sanctuary I’d created.
I fucking hated that my family had ruined it. Everything it had once represented—safety, security, happiness—all of that had been snatched away. Even if they did leave me alone for the rest of my life, I’d never get that back.
It represented something else now. A place I’d been afraid to leave. Where I’d hidden from my friends. Where I’d isolated myself. Where I’d let the darkness creep in.
Maybe going with Evan was a positive step. Because staying here wasn’t.
Hands touched my hips lightly. “Everything okay?”
I leaned into him before I could stop myself. What was I doing? What happened to drawing boundaries and not fucking with Evan’s head?
“Reid.” He came around my front to face me, not letting go. “Let me rephrase that. Are we okay?”
I tried not to meet his eyes. They were too warm. Too understanding. “What do ye mean?”
I swear, I told my feet to step back. To move out of his hold and put some goddamned space between us.
And I did take a step.
Towards him.
As for how my hands found their way to his shoulders? Who the fuck knew. Certainly not me. But they were there now and everything in me felt…calmer. Given how rarely that happened, I wasn’t about to question it.
“After what happened when we arrived, things felt a little…”
“Weird?” I finished with a sigh. “Yeah. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Think this is coming from both of us,” he murmured. “But instead of letting it fester, why don’t we talk about it?”
My nose wrinkled. “You mean, communicate like adults?”
“Revolutionary, I know. But you don’t grow up with parents like mine without picking up a tip or two on how to make a relationship work.”
“That’s just it though.” I sighed. “This isn’t meant to be a relationship, Ev, remember? I don’t want to be tied into clan life.”
Evan wasn’t perturbed. “Firstly, you don’t want to betied into the clan life you’veexperienced. The McCarthys are completely different, and your experience will be too.”
“You seem very confident about being able to win me over.”
“Well, I have Logan on my side.” His smirk deepened. “And my, what did you call it?‘Resplendent weapon’?”
I snorted, burying my burning face in his wide chest. “You’re never going to forget that, are you?”
“Definitely not.” His lips dusted over my temple and I shivered. “And I’m not above playing dirty when it comes to winning you over.”
I lifted my head. “Why are you so sure you want me?”
He chucked my chin lightly. “Like I said, I’ve had weeks to come to this decision. Months, really.”
“You’ve been wanting me from afar. It’s not the same.”
