Page 72 of From Us, Forever

She shook her head. “But I didn’t…”

“Shush.” I placed a soft finger on her pouty lips. “I know you felt bad you couldn’t get them anything nice, so I purchased a small cabin up in Aspen, and before you say anything, he was kind enough to help you pay off your hospital bills, Evelyn and I’m grateful for that, but no one else takes care of my girl,I do. So go and give him this because what’s mine is yours and you don’t have to owe anyone anything.”

Surprisingly without arguing, she nodded, mumbling a thanks as she smiled. I waited by the side as I watched her walk up to them. They talked for a few minutes before she handed them the envelope.

Will’s eyes met mine, and I nodded with a small smile. I was grateful he was there for her when no one else was, but it was my responsibility from now on.

After chatting for a few, we retired earlier for the night.

Despite my protests, Evelyn wanted to shower separately because she felt like she was getting her period. I have seen every version of that woman, yet she still gets shy with me.

Thirty minutes later, she came out with the steam floating behind her, dressed in one of my soft T-shirts that came up to her knees. “All done,” she announced, smiling softly.

“Love you.” I scratched her hair, stealing a kiss as I padded to the bathroom.

Washing away the day, I sighed heavily, thinking about all the mess in the outside world that was waiting to ruin our mood. I had to tell Evelyn about the photograph tomorrow, and I had no idea how she would take it. I knew she was in a better place now, and I knew she wasn’t going to spiral, but there was no telling how that shit would affect her.

By the time I left the shower, I barely had any tension stitching my muscles, but the air in the room said otherwise.

My brows knotted as my gaze fell on Evelyn, staring holes at me, stiff with her arms folded and a thin line across her lips.

If I had read the room correctly, I would have said that she was mad at me, but I had no clue why.

“What’s wrong?”

“You tell me what’s wrong,” she gritted through her teeth, throwing my phone at me, and it landed at my feet.

Frowning, I picked it up from the floor and saw a notification from Cece waiting for me. “You went through my phone?” I accused.

That fired her up, and her usual soft browns blazed with rage. “Oh, you think I went through your phone. It just popped up. Tell me, Jay, why the fuck is White texting you, ‘hope you take care of it by the end of this week’?” she screamed.

I huffed out a breath. I didn’t want to have this conversation today. Fucking Cece. “It’s not what you think.”

“Then tell me.”

I thumbed through the phone till I found the wretched pictures. “Look, before I show you this, it isn’t what you think, and I’ll explain everything, okay?”

“Fine.” She held out her hand. I hesitated but gave it to her anyway, and instead of getting teary and sad like I expected her to, she went batshit crazy.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Jay?” she shouted so loud that it echoed through my ears. In a moment, she was in my face. “Is this real?”

“Yes, but listen, okay?” I ran a hand through my hair. “It happened years ago. I didn’t tell you I went out with her because I knew how much it would hurt you and how much you didn’t like her. I saw no good in telling you anything. I went out like two times with her. I don’t even fucking rememberthathappening until she sent it to me, but I swear to you that nothing else happened. With her or anyone else.”

With each passing second, the silence screamed louder, and Evelyn’s jaw clenched while she peered at me with narrowed eyes.

“Just like you swore you would never lie to me,” she said in a cold tone.

“I didn’t lie. I said we weren’t together, and we never were. I said I wasn’t innocent, and I wasn’t, but I didn’t fuck anyone.”

“So now, what? You’re twisting the semantics with your words, Jay? From what I see, it’s clear that something happened. You’re fuckinglaughingwith her. So tell me, Jay, did you fuck her too after your sweet date?” she shouted.

My jaw ticked. “Nothing happened, Evelyn. And no, I didn’t fuck her or anyone. It doesn’t matter how many times I say it, it won’t change,” I firmed.

“You don’t even remember the kiss happening, Jay.” She waved a frantic finger at me. “Then how the hell would you remember if anything else happened?”

I leaned lower, and I glared. “I would know if I fucked anyone, Evelyn.” My voice rose at her ridiculous question.

“Fine, but then what would you say about hiding this from me?”

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