Page 96 of The Wrong Side Of Us

She pulled away from me, tilting her head to the side curiously. “It’s getting late. Where do you want to go?”

I grinned at her. I wouldn’t tell her the place, yet I knew she’d love it and serve as a distraction.

“Don’t worry about that.” I brushed her hair to the side as she smiled, biting her lip. “What do you say we go out on an adventure tonight, baby?”

She flushed, and her eyes took on the sparkle they always had. “Let’s go.”

***

Her expression said it all. For the first time in days, Evelyn’s face showed nothing but pure joy. Her lips parted, an awestruck gasp leaving them as we got on Staten Island Ferry. We were lucky enough that it was night time, so it wasn’t crowded, and she could enjoy the view.

I stood next to her at the edge, taking in the view of the city lights, a view I hadn’t seen since I was just a kid, before we moved to Pennsylvania.

“I can’t believe in the time I have been here, I’ve never visited the ferry.” She interlocked her fingers with mine, her eyes never abandoning the view.

“You’re missing out. When I was a kid, my parents would bring me to the ferry every weekend. Sometimes we would get on several times in one night, but it was always fun.”

Evie smiled back at me. “Do you want to do that with our kids?”

“I don’t see why not.”

She rested her head on my shoulder, and my arm draped around her waist. She finally relaxed, the thoughts in her head disappearing as quickly as they’d shown up.

“I used to bring Cheetos on board, throw them at the seagulls, and wait for them to catch them.” I chuckled, thinking back fondly at the memory I made with my parents. I was thankful that I’d had the opportunity to do such things, enjoy my childhood.

“Did they follow you?”

“Oh yeah,” I snorted. “I fucking ran one time because I thought they were all planning my kidnapping.”

Evie laughed, shoving me to the side with her body. “You’re so silly.”

“Babe, I’m serious. They love their Cheetos. They were the drug; I was their dealer. I stopped giving them Cheetos. It was obvious they were going to go against me.”

Rolling her eyes, Evie surrounded my neck with her arms, her already crazy hair floating around with the gentle night breeze. Other times she would have complained that it was a mess; now she didn’t seem to care.

“I’m glad the seagulls didn’t steal you away,” she teased with a raised brow. “Then who would have helped me relax right now?”

I shrugged, going along with her playfulness. “You never know. They may recognize me.”

Evie snorted, then busted into full-blown laughter, her eyes crinkling with the action. Once her laughter died down, she remained smiling and then looked over to the ocean surrounding us as the ferry passed the Statue of Liberty.

“You always know what I need.”

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it? It should avoid us many problems once we’re married.”

She snorted again, looking up at me with a loving expression. Yes, I’d wanted her to relax, but more than anything, I had wanted to see her happy. Everything that happened had been so stressful for her; Derek’s situation still affected her deeply. Not to mention the impending conversation I needed to have with Jessica that still loomed over us like a rain-filled cloud. Evie needed to get her mind off of all that. She should be able to enjoy her pregnancy without so many things going on.

“Happy wife, happy life.” She winked.

“Words to live by.” I captured her lips with mine. She sighed, as if all was right when we were together, and kissed me back, not caring if anyone was watching.

Losing myself in her became my hobby, and I didn’t care to be found. Her lips parted slightly, and I tasted her, eliciting a small whimper from her. My grip tightened around her waist as the kiss turned from gentle to hungry in a matter of a few seconds.

“I think we should go back home,” she breathed against my lips. Her eyes fluttered open, hazy with lust and need. “I haven’t welcomed you like I should have for a man who has just left jail.”

She had a way of looking so fucking innocent and yet so tempting at the same time.

“What do you say?” she asked, swallowing.

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