Page 14 of Falling for You
Dabbing a little cold water on her neck, she stepped into the hallway and glanced into his empty bedroom. The linens were navy blue, the walls covered in pictures of family and friends. For a moment, she imagined Evan making the bed in girly pink linens, a sweet gesture for his niece whom he obviously treasured. CeCe had never seen him in a fatherly sense before, and she had to admit it caused her stomach to flip in a not-so-unpleasant manner.
“Everything all right?” Evan asked behind her, reaching out with a glass of water.
CeCe took the water and sipped greedily while she collected her thoughts. Her poker face was hardly legendary. “Yes, thanks for this. I’ll need to sober up before I head home.”
Evan frowned, but he didn’t talk her out of it either. He hitched a thumb over his shoulder toward the living room. “The next movie started. It’s a short one. Want to watch it with some popcorn?”
CeCe should say no, but the offer was too sweet, and she wasn’t ready to go home to her empty place. “Maybe just the first fight scenes?” she suggested.
Evan turned and walked back to the living room, his head shaking. “No one can resist Bruce Lee in this one. You’ll see one scene and want to watch them all.”
True to his word, CeCe had been captivated by the entire film, never looking away. She rested her head on a stack of pillows and munched on popcorn for over an hour before the credits rolled, when she realized she was covered in crumbs and half asleep.
“You win. That was amazing.” CeCe dusted some crumbs off her chest and reached for her now-empty water glass. Before she could ask, Evan jumped to his feet and returned with a full glass and a couple of beers in his hands.
“At the risk of pushing my luck, the sequel starts next. Care to join me for one more?” he asked, a hopeful expression on his handsome face. It wasn’t that she hadn’t studied Evan’s face before, but never like this. His normal carefree demeanor seemed more relaxed in his home, his cheeks flushed from his drink and the close quarters. A few flecks of golden stubble peppered his jawline, and she fought the urge to reach up and touch him again.Slow down, CeCe!
CeCe frowned but took a beer. “What part of sobering up didn’t you understand? You’re very persuasive, you know.”
Evan winked and clinked their bottles together. When the opening credits scrolled across the screen, CeCe knew she did, in fact, want to stay and watch them. Damn Evan and his pillow forts, but this was turning into a wonderful evening.
As the next movie started, she and Evan found themselves sharing a pillow stack, their heads touching as they sprawled on the air mattress. Occasionally, she felt the mattress move with his exhales, the sensation relaxing her more than she expected. At a tense part of the movie, her hand reached out and clutched his, winding their digits together. Ten minutes later, their fingers were still intertwined in a not-so-unpleasant handhold. His skin was surprisingly smooth for someone who worked with his hands all day.
“You’ll love this scene,” he whispered, bringing goosebumps to her flesh. Leaning closer, she felt the tips of his hair tickle her skin. The feather-light sensation lulled her further into a state of near-hypnosis. Either oblivious or uncaring of her reactions, Evan soldiered on. “That actor was the bad guy in the first one but look how much better his fighting style is now.”
CeCe hummed and listened as Evan described not only the actors and their fighting styles, but also the history of certain film franchises. He never lacked enthusiasm at work, but it was fun to hear him discuss something new; something he was clearly passionate about. His voice was steady, almost in tune with her heartbeats, and she found her eyelids getting heavy.
She was no lightweight when she drank, but tonight had been the first time since the announcement of Eric’s competition that she was calm and truly happy. Her brain finally stopped overanalyzing her past choices and Eric’s past behaviors, even if only temporarily. In this moment, she was simply CeCe LaRue.
Laying there, with Evan’s steady, warm presence by her side and her hand held firmly in his, she wondered what life would be like if she gave the guy a chance. Thinking back to their night at the Christmas Jubilee Ball, it had been near perfect. Could everyday have that same feeling if she let herself get serious about Evan?
Thinking of their times at the diner together, CeCe couldn’t think of any negative interactions between them. She’d always written him off as another young waiter trying to make a few bucks on the way to his real life. She knew that not everyone working in restaurants wanted to make it a career, so she’d perfected putting up barriers with the wait staff. What was the point of starting a friendship when the other person left after the season? Granted, it occasionally gave her the reputation of a grump, but she wasn’t worried about that.
Selfishly, she didn’t know if she could leave the diner and Buckeye Falls when things inevitably went south. And they would go south. Women like her weren’t built for love. Coming from a broken home, she didn’t see herself fitting into a normal family life. Judging from all the family photos and Evan’s clear love for his sisters and niece and nephew, he was part of a world she only dreamed of.
But as CeCe felt Evan relax next to her, felt his breathing even out as he drifted to sleep, she pretended for a moment that this was real—that he was hers. That coming home from a long day to pillow forts, home-cooked meals, and sweet kisses was within her grasp.She could get used to this, she thought as she felt herself drift away. She could get used to having someone like Evan in her corner, someone who would put her first and do what’s best for her. That was a new feeling, and not one that she thought she deserved.
A few hours later, the light of dawn broke through the slats in the blinds, and CeCe pulled a pillow over her eyes to shield herself from the sun. She was still groggy and not ready to start her day. Nestling into her pillow, an arm wrapped around her side and pulled her close to a steady wall. Sighing, she backed into the warmth and smelled the familiar scent of spicy cedar.
Evan.
Her eyes snapped open, and she took in her surroundings. The TV was frozen on the passive-aggressiveAre you still watching?message.Don’t you judge us, Netflix.A half-empty bowl of popcorn sat next to her face, and she realized the glitter pillow was under her head, the beading leaving indentations in her skin. Most importantly, Evan was glued to her back, clinging to her like a koala to eucalyptus tree. She wiggled a little to break free, but he only pulled her closer and mumbled something in his sleep.
“Oh no.” She groaned as her body reacted and veered closer to him. She needed to get out of this situation immediately, but while her brain clearly wanted to flee, her body wasn’t in any hurry.
Carefully lifting his arm away from her body, CeCe reluctantly rolled away. She felt the absence of Evan’s warmth immediately and struggled not to cuddle back into his side. As she shifted her weight, the air mattress bobbed and caused him to shift onto his back. The motion jolted him awake, and he looked up to find CeCe tiptoeing toward the doorway, her shoes clutched in her hands.
Holding her breath, she reached for the doorknob, only to hear Evan behind her. “If you give me a minute, I can make you breakfast.”
CeCe’s shoulders fell and she turned to face him, adorably rumpled from sleep. “Busted?” she asked.
He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. “You’re totally busted.” With his chin, he gestured toward the kitchen. “Have a seat, you might as well stay for coffee.” He walked past her and pulled down a jar of coffee beans.
CeCe slid her shoes on and looked back and forth between the living room and where Evan stood in the kitchen. The clock on the stove said it was barely six thirty, so she had thirty minutes to get to the diner. Reading her mind, he turned on the coffee maker and opened the fridge. “We don’t have to be at work for thirty minutes, at least stay for some eggs.”
CeCe stepped closer, hanging her purse on the edge of a chair and joining him at the stove. “Only if I’m making the eggs,” she countered.
Evan smirked, one side of his mouth quirking up. “Why do you think I’m asking?” He slid a carton of eggs, a stick of butter, and a bundle of scallions toward her. “I’ll be right back,” he said as he padded back to the bathroom.
