Page 51 of No One Else

“So you and Evan,” Alexis says in a flirty tone, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “We had a pool going of how long it would take you two to hook up after we heard you were single.”

My jaw drops. “What?”

“Yeah, and I lost,” says the other girl, Hannah. “You two were supposed to start all this a month ago. What took you so long?”

“Um-”

“You know,” continues Alexis, “I thought you and Evan were dating for the longest time when I first started. I didn’t realize you were just friends till like three months later.”

Some semblance of my wits comes back to me. “Why would you think that?”

“Oh God, he was so obviously into you.”

“But in a sweet way,” Hannah interjects.

My head’s spinning trying to keep up with the two of them. All I can focus on is the first thing Alexis said.

“There was a pool? Was everyone in on it?” I start to sweat again, imagining bets going on behind our backs. Wait, did Evan know too?

“Oh, no. It was just us two and Gina. She won by the way. I mean, we only bet twenty bucks each. It’s not like it was big money.”

My heart slows some at her reassurance.

“Anyway, we’re really happy for you and Evan. You make a cute couple.”

“Thanks,” I tell them graciously, wanting to be done with this conversation already.

I’m relieved that no one at work has an issue with us being together, but it’s also a little weird. I’ve worked with these people for a year and a half, and I’ve never heard a word about it before. Sure, I’d been in a relationship most of that time, and I wasn’t super close with any of them. Carter always discouraged me from going to any of the after-work get togethers they had. I can see now that was part of his controlling behavior, but at the time I thought he had my best interests at heart.

With the level of enthusiasm Evan and I received earlier from our kiss, it seems more like an open secret that everyone thought we should date. How could I have missed all that?

Then again, how could I have missed seeing Evan this whole time? Really seeing him. I wasn’t quite sure how it would be transitioning from being friends to going on a date yesterday when he asked me out, but it hadn’t been weird at all. Just like our normal friend stuff, but with the added layer of us both knowing we’re attracted to one another, an edge that hadn’t existed before. In a good way, though. A swooping stomach kind of way, filled with anticipation and promise. And he had definitely delivered with that kiss outside my room last night. And again out on the gym floor.

How would it be when we were finally alone? My belly goes swoopy again, just imagining it.

***

WHEN WE WALK IN THEfront door, Pete immediately greets me, carefully getting up out of his recliner to come over and give me a hug. “You came back,” he says cheerfully. “Must not have scared you off too bad the first time around.”

His voice is teasing and from anyone else I’d take it as a joke, but I wonder if he’s thinking of the last time Evan brought a girl home.

“Never,” I tell him, matching his tone but also wanting to convey the seriousness with which I mean it too.

“I invited Natalie over for dinner and then we’re going to work on our project,” Evan says, glancing at the bills he collected from the mailbox on our way in. He frowns at one of them in particular, then sets it aside, his face clearing as he meets my eyes.

“Can I help you make dinner?”

“Yeah-”

“You’re a guest,” Pete interrupts. “Guests don’t make the food.”

“She made soup last week,” he points out.

“Extenuating circumstances. Now come take a load off, Natalie, and tell me if my boy treated you right on your date last night.”

He turns around to shuffle back to his seat and I catch Evan’s eye, his brows raised. I make a shooing motion to let him know I’ll be fine. He steps over and gives me a quick kiss on the top of my head, disappearing into the kitchen. The domestic sounds of dinner being made - pots clanging, the fridge opening and shutting, the burble of water boiling - makes me nostalgic for home.

I can’t wait to bring him up with me to Jacksonville. Mom and Dad are going to love Evan.

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