Page 58 of Falling for You
CeCe stumbled and walked into Max’s back while Ginny gasped behind them. Evan’s hand grew slick with sweat in hers, sensing the tension. “What’s going on?” he asked no one in particular. His eyes darted back and forth between Eric and CeCe. Evan practically snarled at Eric, and she was momentarily touched. Then reality came crashing in and she had to focus on breathing.
Never one to miss an opportunity to upset her, Eric stepped closer but kept his voice loud. “So how is my favorite ex doing?”
Evan’s hand slipped from CeCe’s grasp and she felt like collapsing to the floor in a boneless heap. Her fingers flexed, desperate to feel the solid support of Evan’s grasp. But when she reached out, all she felt was cold, empty air.
CHAPTER 15
Evan’s ears rang soloudly, it was as if a fire station had been erected in his skull. Of all people, it was Mallory who broke the silence first. Her wide eyes darting back and forth between her celebrity crush du jour and her brother. “What did you say?” she asked, her voice dangerously low.
Eric leaned closer still and practically sneered at CeCe. “I asked how my favorite ex is doing. We didn’t get a chance to properly catch up earlier.” Despite the rising tensions in their group, a few of the groupies grew bored and sauntered out of the restaurant.
Sensing he’d need her, Mallory stepped closer to Evan. “What is he talking about?” she whispered in his ear.
Evan shook his head and tried to slow his heart. Beside him, CeCe stood ramrod straight, her hands balled into fists at her side. Her eyes shone with fury. She stared Eric down for a moment before finally breaking the silence. “You’re drunk. Go back to your room and sleep it off.”
Eric reached out to CeCe, but she jumped back and wedged herself between Evan and Max. “You always did know how to read me, my little pixie.” Eric’s expression was soft, but the look in his eyes made Evan’s stomach churn. There was a high probability he was about to lose his egg rolls all over the floor.
He turned to CeCe now, blocking Eric’s face from her vision. “CeCe, what is going on?” For a moment, she didn’t speak. Her mouth opened and closed a few times while her eyes scurried between Evan and Eric. “Talk to me,” Evan pleaded. He hated the weakness in his voice, but he’d never seen her look like this—like a stranger.
Suddenly, Eric started clapping and barked with laughter. “I love this.” He hiccupped. “My CeCe keeping secrets.” He turned and looked Evan right in the eye. “I’m guessing she didn’t tell her little boy toy about us, hmm? That we were together. For a year.” That last little detail felt like a punch to the solar plexus, and his knees buckled.
Heat crept up the back of his neck as Eric’s words sunk in. “You guys used to date?” In the far recesses of his mind, Evan searched for the tiniest hint that CeCe had mentioned this before. He wouldn’t forget a detail like this, surely. He never would have pushed to be in the competition if it was all about showing off to her ex. Her celebrity ex, who was standing in front of Evan with a smirk he wanted to wipe off his face.
CeCe took Evan’s arm. He felt the pressure of her grip through his sleeve, but it wasn’t enough to break the spell Eric had on him. “Poor kid,” Eric scoffed.
Us.
Two little letters strung together to have maximum impact on Evan’s heart. He felt the word cut through him in waves, a lump forming in the back of his throat. No, CeCe definitely hadn’t mentioned their romantic past. Evan wasn’t naïve, he knew she’d dated before him, but this felt like more. This felt like he was a fool. A kid who didn’t know the difference between reality and make-believe.
From behind, Evan was vaguely aware of CeCe and Max talking. Whether it was to him or to Eric, he wasn’t sure, and he didn’t really care. Stepping back until he reached the door, Evan burst out of the restaurant and into the cooling evening air. Without paying attention to where he was going, he stumbled onto the sidewalk and started walking.
The look on Eric’s face, the lack of anything from CeCe, it was too much to bear. Evan shoved his hands in his pockets and stomped forward, hoping he could walk until he found a hole to bury himself in. He felt like a damn idiot.
“Evan!” Footsteps pounded behind him. “Evan, wait!”
Evan kept pace until a hand fell on his shoulder.
