Page 56 of Twisted Little Thing

"Oh, Nicky," he sighs. "I am so sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am. Please don't listen to those hens. What do they know? We both know you are a lot more than a waitress."

Am I, though? The women's statement could only hurt me so much because it touched a sore spot. It fueled my insecurities.

"I’m not so sure about that ," I murmur.

"To me you are," he assures. "A lot more. Can you trust me on that?"

"Trust you?" I repeat. "You know, Evan, that is a lot to ask, after all that's happened..."

I can see Yuka out of the corner of my eyes, enthusiastically shaking her head. And, of course, she is right. Trust him? What kind of idiot would I be to trust him?

"Can I see you?" He asks.

I let out a sigh, silently shaking my head. "I don't know..."

He pauses for a moment. I can hear him breathing at the other end.

I have no idea whether he is waiting for me to say anything, or if he is just trying to think of something to say that might convince me to see him, forgive him even.

Regardless of what it might be, I decide that it is his turn to speak, so I remain silent.

"I want to see you," he says. "I need to see you."

It is the way he is saying it. That unyielding tone of his voice.

"I don't know if that is such a good idea," I respond in a small voice.

Yuka nods in approval.

"I know this must have been scary for you," he says. "But I can promise you that it won't happen again. I will protect you."

"Protect me?"

I exchange a quick look with Yuka. She was a big help when I got home from work, and I really appreciate her support – but right now, I wish she wasn’t around. I want to talk to Evan alone. I want to be the person I usually am when I am with him.

On the other hand, this may not be who I need to be right now.

"I talked to my publicist at length about this, and he advised me to keep it down for a few days and not be seen with you, or even contact you," Evan continues.

I roll my eyes.

"But," he adds, "much to his disappointment, I don't always listen to him. I want to see you. And I will make sure that you will be safe with me from now on."

"From now on," I repeat. "How come that thought never occurred to you before?"

He sighs.

"You're right to be angry, and you're right to be suspicious," he says. "But is this really how you would want to end things?"

I gulp. His words hurt. Hearing him say that I might end things hurts enough for me to understand that this is not what I want.

I don't want this to end.

It has only been a short time. Just a handful of encounters – but they were so unlike any other. He is unlike any other man I ever dated.

If anything, I want more of him. It is rare for me to feel this way for someone. And Evan is the first man who has made me feel this way within such a short time, likely ever. He is right, there is something between us, something special. And I want to explore that.

But I know Yuka would object. She is observing me intently, staring at me like a strict mother whose child is about to disobey an order.

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