The ride was no longer tense. Although Evelyn didn’t seem completely comfortable either, she was trying.
Underneath all the sadness, there was a beautiful spirit. I almost wish we had met under different circumstances. I didn’t let that line of thinking get too far. Even though I've taken emergency leave from work, I can't let my thoughts wander into dangerous territory. My attraction can't distract me from the real reason we're here. I was already crossing the line of what was considered professional, so I would have to get over this crush. No matter how much I enjoyed seeing her smile.
Chapter 9
Charles
Before the fire
The corner store was bustling with high school kids stopping for a snack before boarding the city bus. It had been more than two years since I was in this neighborhood, and some things hadn’t changed at all. I watched, looking at every passerby and their faces, hoping to see her.
Evelyn.
“Tony, my man. How are you?” I called out to the balding Italian man behind the counter.
If I remember correctly, Tony liked to talk. Once you got the man going, he never shut the fuck up. I was hoping that if I asked the right questions, he would sing like a canary.
Tony counted the change in his hand before handing it to the kid in front of him. “What are you doing here?” he said, slamming the register closed before turning around to organize the cigarettes on the shelf.
A tick wound its way up my jaw as I forced a polite smile. My mother used to say I could charm the pants off a snake with this smile. She wasn’t wrong. This smile got me out of more situations than I could count.
“Oh, Tone. Don’t give me too much shit.”
He shook his head, returning to his task. He was starting to piss me off.
I had a clean slate. As far as the people in this neighborhood knew, I was cleared by the police. Evelyn was confused and spiraling from a traumatic event.
The thought made me laugh to myself.Thoughts and prayers, Ev.
Since I touched down in our old neighborhood, I’d been welcomed by every old face. No one seemed to have the information I was looking for, though.
“Charlie, is that you?” a voice called from behind me.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. My fingers twitched at my sides.
Greg. Tony’s bird-brained brother.
Turning around, I flashed him a megawatt smile. “Greg. Buddy!” I said, bringing him into a brief hug; slapping his back like we were old pals.
Immediately, I wanted to burn the starched white button-down I was wearing to a crisp. Greg still sweats like a pig. We grew up with Greg. He was a few grades below us in school. The little shit used to follow me around, hoping I’d let the other guys know he was cool. It was pathetic.
“Bro, what’s it been? A year or two? It’s good to see you.” Greg raved, giving my shoulder a shake.
I swear, if he touches me again, he’s going to lose his hands.
“You too, bro. I had some time off from work, so I thought I’d visit my old stomping ground.”
Tony came from around the counter with a few boxes. Greg took one from him and began unloading it onto a shelf.
“I was hoping to catch up with Evelyn, but I heard she moved.”
“What do you want with her?” Tony said, at the same time, Greg chimed in, “Nah, she’s still over the bridge.”
Jackpot.
“No way!” I said with a chuckle. I was so sure she would have left, but she surprised me.
When I decided to come here, I thought I’d have to do some work to find her. If no one knew where she lived, then I would have to show up at her job. I preferred to get her alone. I felt this burning itch beneath my skin to find her, to touch her. The old man begged me to behave. Stay out of trouble. But what he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him.
