Page 44 of Our Lips Are Sealed
“Careful, he might take you up on that offer.”
“God, I hope so,” Jamison moaned, completely unashamed. “Isn’t that pathetic? But yeah, I would totally let him do whatever he wanted to me.”
“I’ve never seen you like this over a guy.”
Jamison sipped at her drink. “Other than the fact that he’s handsome, there’s just something about him that gets me all crazy,” she said. “Maybe it’s his eyes. They’re so intense.”
Evie made a face. “Gross, he has lizard eyes.”
“What?”
“His eye color is so dark that it almost matches his pupils,” Evie said. “You know, like a lizard.”
“Liam is not a lizard!”
“Hey, why are you upset?” Evie flicked her tongue. “Being part reptilian might come in handy.”
They were still laughing their heads off when Cohen appeared in the Maison’s doorway. The band struck the first chords of their opening number as he approached, and the crowd thickened, causing him to push his way through.
Evie stood, teetering on her toes to see if Samuel was with him.
He wasn’t.
Cohen maneuvered around the crush of people, his gaze trained on Jamison the entire time. Evie hoped her sister gave him hell before letting him into her bed because, judging by how he was looking at her, that was precisely where the two of them would end up tonight.
“He’s outside,” Cohen yelled over the music when he reached them. “But before you go, I need to apologize.”
Evie shoved him aside, not caring to hear what he had to say. Knowing Samuel was this close caused a near visceral pull from deep within her. A cord strung tight, urging her to find the other end.
But Cohen grabbed her arm before she could get away. “Please let me say it, or he might kill me.”
“Hurry up, lizard boy.”
Frowning at his new nickname, Cohen finally broke from staring at Jamison to look at her. “It was my idea not to tell you about the developments out of Miami or about the stuffed animal. I’m sorry if you felt they betrayed you, but you should know none of them agreed with me, and only did it because I said it was the best way to protect you.”
Evie pulled at her arm. “Great, thanks.”
He let her go, and she fought through the cramped club, weaving in and out of partygoers entering for the set.
At the exit, a flood of people rushed through the door, and in her haste to get past them, Evie tripped, floundering out onto the sidewalk. Thankfully, she caught herself before meeting the pavement face first and turned to see Samuel leaning on the side of the Maison, arms crossed and away from the crowd.
The anger rolling off him was a near tangible thing, and she charged closer, immediately going on the defensive thanks to the wine. “You lied to me.”
Dark eyes flashed. “And you ran from me.”
“Did Annabeth explain why?”
“Yeah, and it’s bullshit.” He pushed off the wall, taking a step towards her. “Do you have any idea how much danger you’re in? Or what could have happened to you two here? New Orleans isn’t a place to play fuck around and find out.”
Her chin lifted, proud of how far she’d come today all on her own, even though she agreed with him.
“You don’t have to protect me all the time, Samuel.”
They stood glaring at each other on the sidewalk, neither willing to budge. Evie hated it, knowing their future would always hold moments like this. Ben had been right. They were both too strong-willed and stubborn for compromise.
But Samuel surprised her, giving in first.
“The hell I don’t.” His anger splintered, breaking into a million pieces there on the sidewalk. “If anything, that’s my sole fucking purpose in this life.”
