“Depends.You want to drive?”
“Not really.”
“Then we’ll take mine.”
The forty-minute drive to the motel where Meredith Prescott was holed up was as uncomfortable as the conversation about who was driving.He tried to make small talk at first, but when it became as tedious as threading a needle with your eyes closed, he gave up.It wasn’t until they were pulling into the motel parking lot that Becs finally spoke up.
“I guess they didn’t spring for luxury accommodations.”
No, it didn’t appear they had.“Maybe Travis is a penny-pincher.”
“Not according to Atticus,” Becs said with a grin.“They’ve got a suite in a fancy hotel.”
Did they now?“You talked to Atticus?”
“I talk to him all the time,” she said absently.“We’re friends.”
Of course they were.Why wouldn’t they be?That was another thing that had changed since New York.After Becs had invited Atticus to check out the sights with her, they’d become tight.He told himself there was nothing to be jealous of since Atticus was gay, but sometimes his better angels simply didn’t listen to him.He was.Jealous.Not because he worried she’d fall in love with Atticus.He was jealous because Atticus got to see her smile, hear her laugh, talk about the things that were important to her.Evan wanted that back, but he was too much of a coward to admit it.
“You ready?”she asked, her hand on the door handle.
“Yeah,” he said reluctantly, wishing he could find a way to get their relationship back to the way it had been before he’d felt the pleasure of her kiss.Unfortunately, he’d spent hours and hours trying to come up with a way, but he never got very far.Whenever he thought about Becs, he thought about kissing her, about the way he wanted nothing more than to strip her clothes from her body and ravish every inch of her.
Not that he would let her know that.He preferred for her to go on being mad at him while he secretly pined for her.She was safer that way.
With a sigh, Evan got out of the car when Becs did.He followed her up the stairs to the first weathered door on the second floor.She knocked softly, then took one step back and a few to her right, keeping space between them while they waited for Meredith to answer.
The door opened, and Decker’s face appeared.He looked the same as usual.Like he’d been sucking lemons for the better part of his life.
“What do you want?”His gaze snapped back and forth between them.
“To talk to Meredith.”
He shoved the door open, letting it hit the wall.“Have at it.I’m done talkin’.”
“Where are you going?”Meredith called after him when he stepped outside.
“To get some air.Talk to them, Eddie.Let’s get this done so you can go home.”
Evan was watching Meredith, noting how she looked like he’d punched her in the stomach with those words.
He found their interaction interesting, to say the least.After how defensive Decker had been about his relationship with her, Evan would’ve put money on them still being together.
That did not appear to be the case.
“My name’s Rebecca, and this is Evan,” Becs introduced, keeping her voice soft, non-threatening.“We work for Brantley and Reese.Would you mind if we came in?”
“Of course.”Meredith gestured toward the small table and two chairs.“Please.Have a seat.”
Becs stepped around the table, taking the chair closest to the wall, leaving the one near the door for him.Evan shifted it around, then eased into it while Meredith perched on the edge of the bed, her attention lingering on the door as though Decker might come back through it.
“How are you doing?”Becs asked, sounding sincere.“This must be difficult for you.”
Meredith’s eyes skimmed Becs’s face, as though she was looking for her ulterior motive.“I’m fine.I’d be better if I wasn’t confined to this place.”
“Hopefully it won’t be for long,” Becs said.“Brantley and Reese just want to take the appropriate precautions to keep you safe.”
“So I hear.”
