Page 105 of The Wrong Side Of Us

“How did you get this?” I asked once again, feeling concerned she’d seen Jessica by herself.

Evie shrugged, moving away from my touch. “I told you I could handle myself. I’m going to shower. It’s nice to see you, Deb.”

“Same, dear. I’ll probably be gone by the time you’re done, so have a good evening.”

Evie excused herself, leaving me once again shocked. What exactly had she done?

My mom found the situation amusing, but I couldn’t find anything humorous about it. I held the paperwork up, seeing where Jessica signed and the small envelope on top of it.

“You be careful with whatever that note says,” my mom advised from behind me.

Clearing my throat, I nodded, saying goodbye to her.

As soon as she left, I scanned through the documents, still unsure about what to do or how the fuck Evie had managed to pull something like this off.

I took a deep breath and walked toward the bedroom, opening the envelope on top. Hesitantly, I began reading what it said.

I’m very sorry for the trouble I’ve caused. You were always there for me, and I fucked it up. Maybe one day we’ll be able to be friends, but for now, Evie is right…you deserve to keep the gallery. Take care.

All the best,

Jesse

There was a check behind the note, one Evie had written. I recognized her handwriting immediately.

Evie did something I hadn’t even dared thinking of doing and put herself at risk in the process. The way Jessica was acting wasn’t normal, and I didn’t know if she was capable of hurting Evelyn. I set down the paperwork on the dresser and shoved the check in my pocket just as the water in the shower shut off.

She came out briefly afterwards with a bathrobe wrapped around her body and began to dry her hair with a towel. She was quiet, not saying a word even as she walked towards the dresser, her gaze falling on the note that Jessica had put in the envelope.

“You didn’t tell me that you were going to try to buy Jessica’s part of the gallery.”

“If I would have told you, you wouldn’t have let me.” She shrugged. “Had to do what I had to do.”

I stood up, placing the check in front of her. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, not expecting to see me with the check in my hands.

“I guess she has at least some sense of dignity.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

Evie rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry if the woman that decided to be naked in front of you had some sense of last-minute self-respect, Nathan. Why don’t you give her the check yourself, so she can give her special thank you?”

“This isn’t about that, Evelyn.”

“It is.” Her face contorted in anger, Evie took the check and threw it on the floor. “I don’t give a damn if she keeps the money, if she stays or she goes, Nathan. She’s done enough to hurt us, and I for one will not allow it. I’m done letting people step all over me like I’m a doormat, and that includes you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that if you want to go and take care of her, you can do just that,” Evie seethed.

I shook my head. “Christ, Evie. You don’t understand,” I said, taking a deep breath. “You were gone all day, and I was worried.” She bit her lip, gaze downcast as she paid close attention to what I said. “I understand that it’s not your fault she didn’t take the money, but Jesse hasn’t been acting like herself, and if she would have done something…you’re my future wife. I need you to be okay.”

Her eyes fluttered closed when my hand touched the softness of her skin, her breath hitching.

“You are not a doormat,” I murmured, “and I will never treat you as such. I respect your decisions, but it doesn’t mean I’ll always agree, just like you won’t agree with mine.”

She nodded. “I did something else you won’t agree with that we might as well get out of the way now too.”

I chuckled, thinking she was going to say something meaningless. “What else did you do, Evie?”

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