Page 71 of Still The One

‘Good, good,’ I say. ‘Now again.’ This time I do it with her. ‘Feeling better?’

‘No,’ she says, her eyes snapping open.

‘OK, well, how about you give me your keys then?’

‘Why?’

‘Because you’re not driving me anywhere.’

‘And why not?’ Her voice is sharp, punctuated by the anger that has yet to die down despite the breathing exercises.

‘Because you’ve been drinking, and since I was tasked to keep an eye on your drink, I taste-tested it for poison or roofies and nearly choked to death.’ I glance around at where we are. It’s a mix of bars, restaurants and closed boutique shops. ‘Let’s go for a walk and cool down.’

For a second she only stares at me, then she slaps her keys into my still open hand and starts to blow past me in some sort of speed walk, but I grab her hand and gently pull her back. ‘We’re not racing, just going on a casual stroll, like we do lately, Evie. I’m injured, remember?’

As the fire in her eyes gradually dims, she nods silently, slowing her pace and walking alongside me on the cracked sidewalk, her hand firmly clasping mine. Her breathing is heavy as we walk. So, we continue silently until it seems she’s settled a bit as we reach a small neighborhood park with only a weathered swing set as its play equipment. Eve heads toward the swings, and I follow, sitting on a nearby bench while she settles in the middle swing of the three.

‘I can’t believe he had the audacity to approach me,’ she mutters between each push off the ground. ‘And then had the balls to say he misses me?’ Her voice rises with each word. ‘How can you miss someone you destroyed?’ She swings higher and higher, her skirt billowing with each movement, but she seems unconcerned – her mind is elsewhere. ‘Gawd…’ she groans. ‘Why did I tell him I’m happily married?’

‘I’m guessing because you wanted to hurt him back. Not even knowing the story, and based solely on a side of you I’ve never witnessed before, it seems like he deserves it. Besides, it’s not that much of a lie,’ I say, watching as the moon casts a soft glow on her face. How is she pretty in all lighting?

‘Both happily and married were total lies.’

I laugh under my breath, so as to not piss her off. ‘Well, technically. But I’m not unhappy tonight. For you I am, but being out with you was the highlight of my year. Because of that, I bet we probably did look happy on the dance floor, and we have been married.’

For five years now. That’s a marriage milestone, yet she has no idea.You have to tell her sometime, Foster.Maybe not when she’s tipsy and ready to kill a man in public, though.

Eve scoffs, her voice dripping with disdain. ‘Pfft. It’s all so stupid. Love is stupid.’

‘I couldn’t agree more,’ I reply, my tone matching hers.

My heart sinks as I realize the gravity of the situation. Cayden broke her heart, and it makes me wonder if this was how hurt she was when we split. Was I just another throat-punchable boy in her life? Is that why she never talked to me about it and only left a note? Did I do the same kind of damage to her that losing her did to me? I can’t even think about that right now, it’s too painful.

26

EVE CASSIDY

‘Do you think less of me?’ I ask, looking up at Foster as the swing slowly comes to a stop.

‘Less?Haillno,’ he responds, accent front and center, with a chuckle. ‘Am I scared? A little. But I’m impressed as fuck too. From the angle I witnessed it, I don’t doubt you just taught him a lesson he’ll never forget.’

‘Good.’ I let out a sigh of relief. At least someone’s on my side.

‘That was Cayden, huh?’ Foster asks, already knowing the answer.

‘Yeah.’ The word tastes bitter.

Tonight was the first time I’ve seen Cayden since we broke up a year ago. And the sight of him brought back all the pain and anger that had been simmering inside me.

‘He cheated and told me after I’d made a speech at our engagement party – which was me spewing some nonsense about him being such a great man and the love that changed everything for me.’ I glance over at Foster, who’s listening intently. ‘Great man he was not. That one hurt pretty good, and humiliation has never stung the way it did that day. So, I knewI’d be pissed when I saw him,’ I admit, ‘but not to the point of physically hurting the guy.’

‘He’s an asshole.Ishould have hit that tool,’ he says, clenching his one good fist.

‘No,’ I say quickly, shutting the whole thing down. There’s been plenty of violence for me tonight. ‘He’s not worth it in your condition.’

‘For the record,’ Foster says, ‘he did deserve what you gave him.’ His tone is as serious as I’ve ever heard.

‘A bruised voice box?’ I ask, finally laughing about it.

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