Lauren nodded, face set. “You know, I love you so much more than I ever loved him. Without question.”
I snorted. “Thanks.”
“But has it occurred to you that you wouldn’t be this upset if you didn’t still love him at least a little bit?”
“I don’t like you making sense at this hour of the morning. Stop it.”
She took a step back, giving me a smile. “You were always there talking sense at me when I needed it. So I’m not going to stop nagging you just because you don’t like what you’re hearing. Deal with it.”
“I love you, Lauren.”
“I know, you Thomas kids are crazy for me. Why just last night, your brother did this thing …”
I fled from the sound of her evil laughter.
*
Work was fine. Two guys came in to ask me to a frat party that was coming up. I’d never received such invites pre-David. I therefore declined them post-David. If I was indeed post-David. Who knew? Various people tried for autographs or information and I sold them coffee and cake instead. We closed up close to dusk.
All day I’d been on edge, wondering if he’d put in an appearance. Tomorrow was today, but I hadn’t seen any sign of him. Maybe he’d changed his mind. Mine changed from one minute to the next. My promise to him not to decide yet was safe and sound.
We were just locking up when Ruby jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow. Probably a bit harder than she meant to because I’m pretty sure I sustained a kidney injury.
“He’s really here,” she hissed, nodding at David who did indeed lurk nearby, waiting. He was here, just like he’d said he’d be. Nervous excitement bubbled up inside of me. With a ball cap on and the beard, he blended well. Especially with the haircut. My heart sobbed a little at the loss of his long dark hair. But I’d never admit to it. Amanda had told Ruby about his reappearance last night. Given the lack of paparazzi and screaming fans in the vicinity, it must still be a secret from the rest of the city.
I stared at him, unsure how to feel. Last night at the club had been surreal. Here and now, this was me living my normal life. Seeing him in it, I didn’t know how I felt. Discombobulated was a good word.
“Did you want to meet him?” I asked.
“No, I’m reserving judgment. I think actually meeting him might render me partial. He’s very attractive, isn’t he?” Ruby gave him a slow look over, lingering on his jeans-clad leg longer than necessary. She had a thing for men’s thighs. Soccer players sent her into a frenzy. Odd for a poet, but then I’d found no one ever really fit a certain type. Everyone had their quirks.
Ruby continued looking him over like he was meat at market. “Maybe don’t divorce him.”
“You sound very impartial. See you later.”
Her hand hooked my arm. “Wait. If you stay with him will you still work for me?”
“Yes. I’ll even try to be on time more often. Night, Ruby.”
He stood on the sidewalk, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans. Seeing him felt similar to standing at a cliff’s edge. The little voice in the back of my head whispered damn the consequences, you know you can probably fly. If you can’t, imagine the thrill of the fall. Reason, on the other hand, screamed bloody murder at me.
At what point exactly could you decide you were going insane?
“Evelyn.”
Everything stopped. If he ever figured out what it did to me when he said my name like that, I was done for. God, I’d missed him. It’d been like having a piece of me missing. But now that he was back, I didn’t know how we fit together anymore. I didn’t even know if we could.
“Hi,” I said.
“You look tired,” he said, mouth turning downward. “I mean, you look good, of course. But …”
“It’s fine.” I studied the sidewalk, took a deep breath. “It was a busy day.”
“So this is where you work?”
“Yeah.”
Ruby’s café sat quiet and empty. Fairy lights twinkled in the windows alongside a host of pamphlets taped to the glass advertising this and that. Street lights flickered on around us.
“Looks nice. Listen, we don’t have to talk right now,” he said. “I just wanna walk you home.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s not like it’s a chore. Let me walk you home, Ev. Please.”
I nodded and after a moment started a hesitant stride down the city street. David fell into step beside me. What to talk about? Every topic seemed loaded. An open pit full of sharp stakes lay waiting around every corner. He kept shooting me wary sidelong glances. Opening his mouth and then shutting it. Apparently the situation sucked for both of us. I couldn’t bring myself to talk about LA. Last night seemed safer territory. Wait. No, it wasn’t. Bringing up alley sex was never going to pass for smart.