Page 62 of Falling for You
“I can see you through the peephole, dummy. Let me in,” she barked from the other side of the door.
Knowing he really didn’t have a choice, Evan unlatched the lock and stepped back while his favorite sister barged in. She carried two coffees and had a paper bag wedged under her arm. Heading straight for the couch, Mallory deposited her goods on the coffee table. “Why do you smell like a frat house? Is Shep here or something?”
The mention of his frat brother brought too many negative thoughts to mind. Instead of engaging in his sister’s questions, Evan shot her the bird and took one of the coffees. “Not that I’m complaining about the caffeine and pastries, but why are you here?”
Mallory rolled her eyes. “Geez, I wonder.” She made a show of looking around the apartment. “Could it be because you’re hours away from competition and you’re here? Or could it be because you had your heart broken and I’m making sure you’re alive?” She stared down her brother and sighed. “Drink your coffee and let’s talk.”
“I don’t think we have anything to talk about. CeCe lied to me, made a fool of me, and I’m not going to the competition.”
“I see we’re getting right to the big stuff.” She huffed. Opening the paper bag, she handed her brother a cherry Danish. “Eat up, then we gotta go.”
“I’m not going,” Evan said, taking the pastry and eating half in one bite. He was hungrier than he realized. Mallory sipped her coffee for a moment and didn’t reply. Evan knew that meant she really had something to say. Her eyes slowly moved around the room, cataloging every detail. She did this when she was thinking, and the longer she stared the worse it got. “Spill it,” he ordered, finishing his breakfast and dusting crumbs from his hands.
Mallory put her coffee down and turned to face her brother. “Mom and Dad are coming to the competition.”
Jerking back as if he’d been slapped, Evan could not have been more surprised. “What?”
“Mom texted this morning that she got Dad to take the day off. They’re headed there now.”
Evan ran a hand down his face and felt the pastry turn in his stomach. He was in no mood to cook today, let alone see CeCe and Max. He was embarrassed, raw, and angry. It wasn’t a good mix to cook award-winning food. If he didn’t go though, his father would never let him forget it. Evan would prove he wasn’t even committed to the job he said he loved.
As if reading his mind, Mallory chimed in. “I know you have a lot you need to figure out with CeCe, but think about what would happen if you didn’t show up. Think about Dad, just for a second.” She held up her hand and pinched her fingers together.
Mumbling a few choice profanities, Evan stood and paced the length of the living room. Mallory’s eyes ping-ponged back and forth, tracking his progress. “I need to go, don’t I?” he asked after another moment of stomping around.
Mallory nodded and let out a long breath. “I really think you do.” She gave him an expression he couldn’t read, and Evan felt the hairs on his neck stand up.
“There’s more, isn’t there?”
Mallory tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “When it rains, it pours,” she mused. “I’m guessing you haven’t looked online today.” Evan shook his head and felt his knees grow weak. “You better sit back down for this one,” Mallory said, patting the empty couch cushion beside her.
Evan sat back down and watched Mallory pull out her cell phone. After a few swipes, she handed the device to him. Evan saw CeCe on the screen, standing right in the fusion restaurant. His heart rate spiked and his mouth went dry. “What is this?” he asked, fearing it was what he saw yesterday. Eric throwing CeCe’s past in Evan’s face. “I don’t think I can watch this,” he warned.
“You need to. It’s not what you think it is.” Giving his sister a quizzical glance. “Ev, I’m serious.”
Evan gave up and pressed play.
The video started, and he heard CeCe’s voice, angry yet strong. He watched her knock Eric down word by word, his confidence crumbling as the scene unfolded. Just as Evan was about to ask more questions, Mallory swatted his arm. “Shhh, you need to see the whole thing.”
Evan listened to CeCe’s words, absorbed their meaning. He was so pleased to see Max and Ginny beside her, offering the support she needed to confront her ex.Her ex. Evan still couldn’t believe CeCe lied to him, but at the moment, he wasn’t too worried about it. He trusted the words coming out of CeCe’s mouth, and it pained him to hear about her painful past with Eric. Evan hated that she hadn’t trusted him enough with that burden, because he wanted to carry that for her. He wanted to wipe that sour, hurt expression from her face and never let her feel that way again.
When the video concluded, Evan handed Mallory her phone with a shaking hand. “I need to go see CeCe,” he declared.
As he tried to stand, Mallory reached out and held Evan’s shoulder. “Hold on, there’s more.”
“How can there possibly be more?” he scoffed, his brain short-circuiting at all that he’d witnessed.
Tapping away on her phone, Mallory handed it back with a new page pulled up. “Eric is out of the competition as judge and host. They pulled in some producer from theFood Network. There’s even a statement that Eric’s new show is canceled. Look.” Mallory pointed to the article.
Evan scanned through it, picking up on how CeCe’s confrontation and the viral video started a firestorm against the celebrity chef. As soon as the video was posted, several women came forward to share similar experiences about Eric’s behavior on the job and in his personal life.
At the end of the article, Evan saw mention of Eric’s wife, Hilary. “Looks like his wife is already making a statement that she’s filing for divorce.”
Mallory grimaced, like she’d drunk a glass of spoiled milk. “Yep. The guy is a scumbag of the highest order. And thanks to CeCe, the whole world knows it.” She shuddered. “I can’t believe I used to fangirl over that guy. Ugh, he’s disgusting.”
“No argument there.” Evan stood and marched back to his bedroom. “I need two minutes to change.”
Mallory collected their breakfast trash and went to the kitchen. “You’re too wound up to drive. I’m taking us in.”
