Page 118 of Wine & Whiskey
Best friends dating best friends. Their corny but cute joke so long ago. It seemed wonderful at the time. They were the perfect foursome. Until her mother’s dislike of Evan got in the way. At the time, she was convinced her mother’s attempts to drive them apart were just part of her irrational need to protect her from a broken heart.
Now, her certainty wanes. Nick builds her up, makes her feel confident and self-assured. After spending time again with Evan, his love feels controlling and overbearing, as if she can’t think for herself. How did she not see it before?
He helps her into the car and walks to the other side. She leans back against the seat and closes her eyes. Too many emotions run through her head and heart to talk anymore.
* * *
The limo circleseach floor of the parking garage as they search for Evan’s dark blue BMW sedan. Nick spots Shae before the car. She never looks up from the ground as Evan talks in her ear. Beautiful as always, yet more defeated than he’s ever seen her. An inferno blazes in his gut. He fucking did this to her.
He climbs out of the car and strides behind them. Once Evan moves to the driver’s side, he pulls open the passenger door and squats down to see her face. She doesn’t react to the sound, never opening her red-rimmed eyes. Pain grips his heart as he whispers to her, “Are you okay?”
Her eyes fly open at his voice. She covers her mouth with her hand and blinks back tears, slaying him as to whether they are from sadness or fear. “What are you doing here?”
“I was worried about you. You left the house without security. It’s not like you to trick people. Why did you do it?”
“I had an appointment.” She drops her head, her shaky voice laced with guilt. “It was last minute, and I needed to get going.”
It takes everything he has not to reach out and pull her to him. To erase everything he did to destroy her and prove he loves her. “I know I’ve hurt you, but please don’t keep me from protecting you.”
“The only protection she needs is from you.” Evan’s voice echoes in the hollow space, his body tense standing in front of Nick. “Leave her alone. She’s happy with me.”
She yanks off her seatbelt and scrambles out of the car as he slowly rises, his fingers curling into fists. Every nerve in his body pulses with need from her delicate hand squeezing his forearm. His unwillingness to lose her touch is the only thing keeping this motherfucker alive.
“Nick, please calm down.” She raises her other hand to Evan. “Give me a minute, please. I’m fine. I just want to talk to him.”
Evan looks from her to Nick before walking behind the car. Max leans against the limo and the rest of the security team mills around as cars drive past them, slowing down to gawk at the unexpected show unfolding between the concrete pillars.
She takes a deep, labored breath. “I’m sorry I scared you. It won’t happen again. But you need to leave. I don’t want this turning into a fight for everyone to watch.”
Her blue eyes burn with sadness as she stares into his. He must correct his mistake. “Don’t marry him. I know what I said, but I was wrong. He can’t be your husband.”
Her head tilts as she frowns. “How did you know he asked me?”
“He told my guys not to worry about protecting his…” Bile burns in his throat as he chokes out the word. “…fiancée.”
Her face relaxes in relief before it flushes, maybe at the realization of the trouble Evan instigated. “He said that?”
“You didn’t know?”
“No, but I’ll deal with that later.” Her hand falls away, and she looks down, rolling her skirt between her fingers. “You really should go. Like you told me, it’s over, and we both need to move on.”
She barely whispers, yet his ears pound like she’s screaming. “I don’t know if I can.”
Her shoulders sink as she shakes her head. “What do you want from me? You’ve made your decision. You don’t want me, so what difference does it make to you what I do?”
“Never think that. Just because I can’t be with you doesn’t mean I don’t want you.”
“It’s the same thing, isn’t it?”
“Don’t you understand?” He drives his hand through his hair, his voice dropping to a whisper too. “I don’t have any choice. I’m scared I could hurt you.”
“I’m not. I trust you, and I wish you could trust me.”
Her love makes him a better man, but even her sweetness can’t erase the evil written into his genes. “I can’t change who I am.”
“You’re letting the ghost of your father ruin us. You aren’t him. I don’t know what to say or do to convince you.”
He drops his head, shame engulfing him. “I don’t think you can.”
