Page 12 of The Man of the House

I blink several times, wondering if I conjured him in my head, and I’m now seeing him everywhere. But no. It’s him. In the flesh.

My Evan.

My breath catches in my throat as the shock morphs into something warmer.

“Hi there,” he says. His voice is low and steady but heavy with emotion.

“Evan?”

His neck flexes as he searches my features. “I can’t let you go, Elena. I can’t. I’d die without you.” He swipes a finger across my wet cheeks. “I see you’re hurting too. Please don’t do this to us.”

I think about how my life has changed in just a few days. How I never felt as happy as I was when I was with him. How the world has more color because of him.

Will I let people like Mrs. Roberts take that away from me? People who don’t know us? People who only take one look and judge? People who will take every opportunity to gossip instead of help?

Society and its neat little box of expectations are driving me up a wall. I’ve always been the good girl. Go to college, work, lead a stable life, avoid scandals.

The old me and my old life. Was it living? Or was I simply existing?

I never wanted to fall in love with my stepdad—it wasn’t in my plans, obviously—but it happened. Evan was right. Mom was never the hateful, vindictive type. She would have been happy for us.

Mrs. Roberts was wrong. Mom didn’t have poor taste in men. On the contrary, Dad was an amazing guy. The type of father who always showed up. Who was there when I fell on my bike and scraped my knee. Who would wait outside school if I had to come home late, just so I wouldn’t walk alone.

Just because Dad didn’t make as much money as Mom did. Just because he came from a middle-class family. Just because he didn’t understand the need to constantly show off.

Dad was amazing, and so is Evan.

At the end of the day, Evan and I did nothing wrong. We just happened to fall for each other. We are not hurting anyone. We’re just two people trying to live our lives.

Just like that, the emptiness begins to fade and is replaced by lightness. Warmth seeps through my bones as I stare at the man who makes me feel like life is truly beautiful and truly worth living.

With a shaking hand, I touch his cheek and whisper, “Let’s run away, then.”

Evan’s handsome face splits into a grin. “I thought you’d never ask. I love you, Elena.”

I smile through the tears and sniff. “I love you, too, Evan.”

EPILOGUE

EVAN

The past year was a whirlwind of big changes, moves, and lots of laughter and love.

I bought a two-bedroom apartment near Elena’s office, and she moved in with me. We both decided to sell her childhood home since Elena no longer had any desire to go back there after that incident with Mrs. Roberts.

As we packed, we found two letters addressed to both of us. The papers were in one of Gina’s jewelry boxes.

Ethan,

Elena can be cold and aloof, but when she loves, she loves hard. Any man she falls in love with is lucky because she’s the type who will only ever love one in her lifetime.

This is neither a demand nor a request, but I witnessed you being too hard on yourself, so I hope you will give your heart a chance—a chance at loving Elena.

In my mind, you both are perfect for each other. I hope you feel the same way too.

Elena,

By the time you read this letter, I assume you’ve met Ethan. He’s the nicest, sweetest, and kindest man I’ve ever met, aside from your father, of course.

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