Page 42 of All The Ways to Miss You

His expression’s annoyed. “You realize no one would ever put us together. I’m too young and sexy for you.”

“Take pity on me?” I give him a pathetic tug, and he pauses.

“I’ve never seen you like this.” He gives me the once-over. “You like this guy, huh?”

“No. I don’t. I mean . . . it’s complicated. It was a little white lie that started as a joke, and I didn’t think it would matter, but it suddenly does. He’s jealous of you, and that makes me happy. Am I a bad person now?” I frown.

“Yes, you are. It’s called manipulation.”

I drop my face in my hands. Lou’s right. From the start, I understood I could leverage Evan’s emotions. Like a demented child, I used his jealous nature to my advantage.

“Lucky for you, I’m the master of manipulation, and because I love you, I will take you under my wing as my protégé.” Lou places a hand on my shoulder.

At Lou’s offer, I take a deep breath and attempt to quell the competitive spirit tickling me from inside. All the hope I had last night wakes. It rises to the surface, because a tiny bit believes that with Lou’s help, I might turn this in my favor. Enough to see if a fake relationship would prompt Evan’s interest in me. That’s all I want. A chance.

A battle wages in my mind. I bite my fingernail. I already got what I wanted. We had a one-night stand. In a way, I won, but I don’t want to win another chance with Evan by manipulation. If anything were to happen, I’d want it to be real.

“I appreciate the offer, but no.”

“Are you sure? I’m not so sure you’re sure.”

“Walk me to work like any other day. Okay? If anyone ever asks if we dated, you can blow them off. I won’t mention it again.”

Lou’s gaze intensifies. “Fine.”

He gives me a kiss on the cheek and drapes an arm around my shoulder as if all is forgiven. We stroll south, toward work.

“Tell me about him. I’ve never seen you this rattled.”

“It’s complicated. That wasn’t a lie.”

“So, what’s his name? He was hot-ta-ta.” Lou hisses the words in a sizzling sound.

I sigh. He’ll find out from Aggie anyway. “Evan Wade.”

“As in the bossman’s younger brother?” He gasps.

I nod.

“You know how to pick them.”

My heart sinks, and I’m not even sure if I want to hear what Lou knows. Being the office receptionist puts him in a position to collect secrets. He’s Grand Central Station for office gossip. And like a true pro, he’s airing Evan’s dirty laundry before I even ask for details.

“I heard he worked at the office years ago. Very brilliant. He and Linden were set to run the business when Mama Wade stepped down, but Evan fell off the face of the earth over some girl. Bad breakup or something. He was such a mess that he went on an Eat, Pray, Love world tour to heal his broken heart. It’s sad.”

“Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Yeah, no. Sorry. Good luck breaking down those walls. Boyfriend’s damaged.”

My mind reels with the new info as Lou and I cross traffic-jammed intersections and dodge oncoming pedestrians. Evan told me the truth. There was someone special in his life. Not that this should be a revelation. It’s merely confirmation that it was one someone.

A guy like Evan should have had fifty girlfriends by now, if not married. Whoever this woman was, she was important, and after all this time, he isn’t over her.

In confirming Evan’s past with Lou, any remaining optimism slips from my grasp, drains through my body and onto the ground, seeping into the shadows. My steps slow.

“It was before my time,” Lou says with a dismissive wave. “I admit I don’t know all the details, but I could find out if you want.”

“No,” I mumble.