Page 106 of For Eva

It didn’t escape me that he turned his own head toward me as he said those words.

“Okay,Sexist Man Aliverunner-up.” I pulled my scarf over my mouth to stifle my giggles. “Sorry, I said I might have to mention it one more time.”

“Whatever. Admit you stole the last crab rangoon, woman.”

Woman.A soft chuckle slipped through my lips, and my body tingled at the word, a bittersweet reminder of the past.Chill out, woman. Calm down, woman.It was nice to hear him say it sober.

“Never.”

“All right, that’s it. I’m not taking you home till you ’fess up.”

He pretended he was going to turn onto a side street before straightening the wheel and continuing on.

I threw my hands over my face and laughed. “Are you really gonna kidnap a mother with two defenseless children at home?”

He sighed and shook his head. “I guess you’re right. Can’t do that to the kids. How are they, by the way?”

My heart fluttered.

He wants to know about my kids.

“I think they’re doing okay,” I said. “They were happy to spend time with their dad, even if it was just a few days.”

“Do they not see him often?”

I sucked in a breath. “He’s got a new girlfriend. Actually, not so new, really. She’s the woman he left me for, and she’s pregnant, so he’s…preoccupied.”

“Jesus, Eva. Seriously?”

“Yeah. It’s been interesting to navigate.”

“Do you have the boys most of the time, then?”

I nodded. “I do. Which is fine because they’re my world, you know? But it’s not fair to them that Aaron’s so focused on his new life. They need their dad.”

“Can I say that he sounds like a complete asshole without offending you?”

“You can because he is.” A remorseful laugh rose from deep inside me. “I dunno, maybe he’ll see the error of his ways and step up. He was a good father while we were together, but things just…changed.”

“Well, you’re a great mother, and your kids are lucky to have you,” he said. “But I’m not surprised. You always kept us in line. I think Keith would still hire you in a heartbeat.”

I directed him to turn at the next stop sign, where he’d find my house ahead on the right. “I’ve thought about going back to work. But trying to figure out the logistics with the kids and everything…sometimes it seems like it’s too much.”

“I get that, but don’t let it stop you. You’ve got so much to offer, Eva. You made Counting Backward happen.” He pulled into my driveway and cut the engine. “I know it didn’t turn out the way we all imagined it would, but I wouldn’t be where I am without you.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but something in the way he looked at me made me believe him. Even if just a little bit. His face was softened by the warm glow from the lamppost outside the car, and I wondered how he’d managed to grow even more handsome than he’d been when we were young.

“I wish I didn’t have to go back to LA,” he said.

“I wish you didn’t, either.”

The words spilled out of my mouth before I had a chance to think about what they meant. I just knew I hadn’t felt like anything but a divorced mother of two until I’d met Eric’s gaze at the coffee shop. It was at that moment I finally felt likeEvaagain. And though I didn’t want that feeling to end, I had no idea what to do but let him go.

“I, uh…I better get inside to make sure the kids aren’t starting fires or killing each other. But it was good to see you, Eric.” Myhand trembled on the door handle. “And you have my phone numbers and email now, so we’ll stay in—”

“Wait, I’ll walk you to the door,” he interrupted, and my body tingled.

“Oh. Okay. But you don’t have to. I’m fine, really.”

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