Saoirse seemed to consider the question. Becs held her breath as though that would help the woman come up with information that might help them find Decker.
When she finally spoke, Becs’s hope faded.
“He seemed preoccupied, and he was on his phone a lot. But no, he never mentioned anyone specifically. I honestly thought he was eager to go back home. As I said, he wasn’t being paid to watch me, so now that you mention it, I can see that it seems suspicious.”
If this could get any stranger, Becs would be surprised.
“Thank you for your time, Ms. Kavanagh,” Evan said, his tone polite, not a hint of the disappointment Becs was feeling.
“Here,” Saoirse said as she got to her feet. “Let me give you my phone number. If you have any questions, feel free to call me anytime. And if I hear from Deck, I’ll let you know.”
Saoirse and Evan exchanged phone numbers while Becs stood quietly closer to the door.
“Thank you,” Becs said when the other woman neared.
“My pleasure.”
Becs’s shoulders relaxed once they were in the elevator, but it lasted only a second. As soon as Evan looked her way, the scrutiny of his gaze had her tensing all over again.
“What?” Becs asked, feeling like a bug under a microscope.
“Nothing,” he grumbled before turning to face the doors as the elevator descended.
When they were finally out on the street, Becs drew in a deep breath. Her smile was involuntary. It was the city. There was something about this place that felt magical. She figured it had more to do with growing up in a small, rural town than anything. It wasn’t that she wanted to live in a big city, but visiting was certainly worthwhile.
“What’s the smile for?”
“This place,” she told him before thinking about it. “I’ve never been here before. I’m trying to enjoy what little I can. Have you ever been here?”
“A few times,” he answered, less frustration in his tone.
“I got to see Central Park,” she admitted. “A little of it, anyway.”
Evan looked at his phone. “Have you heard from Brantley?”
Well, apparently, they were done with small talk.
Becs pulled her phone from the pocket in her backpack and tapped the screen. “Not yet.”
“We should head back to the hotel. Regroup.”
“Sure.”
They walked in silence, and it didn’t take long for Becs to realize their conversation last night had taken them back to the place they were in before they shared that kiss. Evan was once again ignoring her, as though by pretending to see right through her, she wasn’t even there.
Becs considered apologizing, but she wasn’t sure what she would be apologizing for. No, she hadn’t always been a pessimist, but years of being let down by her ex-husband had put a sour taste in her mouth when it came to her expectations of other people. By not letting them in, Becs could usually avoid those moments when she would get her hopes up, only to have them crushed again.
She briefly wondered how Evan had breached those carefully constructed walls in the first place. It wasn’t like he was a particularly friendly guy. He avoided her like the plague and had since pretty much they first started working together. Becs had mistakenly believed they’d been building a friendship forged over their love of their kids. She’d been wrong there, too.
“When we get back to the hotel,” Evan said casually from beside her, “I’ll talk to Slade and Atticus. See if I can bunk with them tonight. I’m sure we can figure something out.”
“You don’t have to do that. There’s plenty of room. The couch folds out to a bed. I can—”
“It’s necessary,” he barked, cutting her off.
Becs felt her frustration; it began seeping into her bloodstream, heating her skin. There was a good chance her face was red because that was what happened when she got upset. She was a redhead, and her fair skin reflected every ounce of her emotions, whether she liked it or not.
“Whatever you need to do, Evan,” she said through gritted teeth. “Whatever you need to do.”
