Page 69 of No One Else

My phone buzzes in my back pocket and I pull it out.

Evan:Just parking now. I’ll be inside to pick you up in a sec.

“Evan will be here soon to get me. Are you okay finishing this up?”

“Yeah, no problem. So,” she grins, “is this the same Evan from the kissing booth?”

“Yes.” A smile overtakes my face, so big it makes my cheeks twinge. I can’t help it. He’s been so understanding about the Carter thing, especially after the jewelry delivery. “We started dating about a week after that.”

“He’s a good catch,” she nods. “And hottttt,” she draws out, pretending to fan herself.

“Oh God, isn’t he? We were friends first for a long time, and I swear, I don’t know how I didn’t notice it before.”

“Hard to miss. Well, I’m happy for you.” She squeezes my arm. “I’ll take these over to the storage closet,” she says, grabbing an armful of supplies. “See you next meeting.”

“See you.” I grab my purse, ready to head over to the exit to meet Evan, but when I turn back around, it’s not my current boyfriend in front of me. It’s my ex.

Crap. I was doing so good avoiding him. He must have been waiting until Angela left my side.

He holds his palms up, like he’s afraid I might turn feral any second. “I apologize if I came on a little too strong with the gifts. I just wanted to show you how serious I am.”

I nod stiffly, not wanting to get into it right now. I need him to leave before... Evan gets here. I catch sight of him striding over, his face fixed in a menacing scowl. Great.

“Carter,” he says roughly, his jaw set so hard I’m afraid he might break his teeth.

His eyes soften a fraction when he looks over at me, a slight smile curving his lips. “Hey,” he whispers, cupping the back of my neck and pulling me in for a kiss. What I expected to be a quick peck is practically a full-on makeout session, though, with tongue and everything. I’m not really in the mood for it right now, especially in front of my Suncoast Serves group.

I go along with it, not encouraging anything further but taking Evan’s lead. We need to show a united front to Carter and I don’t want to make a scene in front of everyone by rejecting him. Well, not an additional scene because a number of people are staring at us as Evan finally breaks away, probably wondering if we’re going to strip right here in the middle of the ballroom and get it on next.

He smirks at Carter, not even looking at me anymore, and leads me outside toward his Bronco. I wait till we’re inside before I turn to him, riled up.

“What was that in there?”

“What was what?” he asks calmly, buckling his seatbelt.

“You! Laying your claim on me or whatever it was. Do you need to pee on me next to mark your territory?”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“It sure seemed like it to me. And everyone else in there.”

His jaw tightens, hands gripping the steering wheel. “He’s the type of guy who wants something just because he can’t have it. And he can’t have you.”

I open my mouth to ask what in the hell he means by that, but he beats me to the punch. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he sighs wearily, rubbing his forehead. “I know you’re not something to have. Obviously.”

“That was embarrassing for me in there,” I point out, needing to get it off my chest. “You did that in front of my group. People were looking. Carter wasn’t even doing anything to provoke you.”

“Just him talking to you is provocation enough. I don’t like him. I had to watch you two date-”

“Don’t try to throw that in my face. We weren’t together then and I had no idea you liked me. You can’t hold that against me.”

He blows out a breath, shame written all over his face. “I don’t want him around you,” he insists stubbornly.

“Evan,” I say in a low voice, getting his attention. “I’m not dealing with another controlling boyfriend. Telling me who he wants me to hang out with, what I should do.”

He goes still, shock radiating off him. “You think I’m a controlling asshole?”

“Normally, no. You’re patient and sweet and kind. That’s why I don’t get where this is coming from. Petty retaliation will only rile him up more. I know how he thinks.”

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