Page 39 of Without a Doubt

Eva grins. “Really?” When I nod, she comes over to kiss my cheek. “Thanks, Emerson. I should finish working.” Eva returns to the kitchen, leaving me to finish my meal.

I throw away my trash when I'm done. My heart is beating fast at the idea of meeting Eva's family. I try to iamgine what her mom will be like, what her father will be like. If it's a big birthday, will her entire family be there?

“Emerson, will you lock the door and flip the light switch closest to the door?” Eva calls from the kitchen.

“Done.” I do as she asked and go into the kitchen myself.

“You can't be back here,” she tells me. She's washing dishes, up to her elbows in suds.

“No one will ever know. I won't mess with anything,” I promise. “Tell me more about this party.”

“Well, Glen will be going with us. He'll probably drive because ever since I ran into your truck, he keeps telling me how he doesn't trust my driving.” She shakes her head with a small laugh. “His family will be there as well as mine, my grandparents, his grandparents, and friends of the family. They are having it at a banquet hall in a local restaurant. Once dinner is over, it'll probably turn into a big party.”

Wow. Everyone will be there. “How old will your mom be?”

“Fifty. Oh, and it's not this weekend, but the weekend after.” Eva drains the water since she's done. She walks into the front of the shop, where she makes the subs, and starts closing things up in there. “I'm really glad you're going with me. I can't wait for my parents to meet you.”

“What are they like?”

“Mom is sweet and nosey like I am. Dad likes to put up a tough front because he is protective over his family, but he's a softy. I would say you should probably be more worried about my cousins, but since you're best friends with Glen, you should be fine.” Eva walks past me, beckoning me to follow. We go into an office next, where she clocks out, and then leads me outside. After she locks the door, she links her arm through mine. We walk toward our vehicles, parked next to one another.

My time with her is up already? We stop in front of my truck, and I pull her against me, wrapping my arms around her waist.

“What's with the frown?” Eva asks. I didn't even realize I was frowning.

“I'm not ready to let you go,” I reply softly. My answer is true on so many levels, speaking volumes for issues Eva doesn't even know about yet. Part of me wants to tell her, to get it off my chest, and for her to know what she's getting herself into. But what am I supposed to say?

Eva searches my face. She lifts her arms and snakes them around my neck, her car keys dangling from her fingers. “Do you know what I think?”

Her question catches me off guard. “What?”

Eva grins. “I think you really like me.”

A smile quirks my lips. I lean down close enough that our lips are almost, but not quite touching. Her breath catches and my smile grows. “I think you're right.”

“Fine, you've talked me into it.”

“Talked you into what?”

“Staying at your place tonight.” She presses her lips to mine, hard and quick, and pulls away. “I'll see you shortly, Emerson.”

We go our separate ways and I can't stop smiling. My want, my need, my desire for Eva is becoming borderline obsessive. Can I really be blamed for wanting to spend time with her when she simply makes me so happy? I'm always smiling or laughing when she's around. Hell, even when she isn't and we text, she does those things to me.

The fact that when she shows up at my apartment, she knocks and pushes open the door without waiting, makes me happy. She's becoming more and more comfortable here, which has to translate to our relationship.

“Okay, I need to shower and then I must finish my homework. After that, I'm all yours.” She eyes my wet, messy hair. “I'm glad you're clothed this time.”

I laugh. “I already have a towel set out for you.”

Eva drops one of her totes next to the couch. She smiles. “Thanks.” She walks down the hallway and I don't see her again until she's done with her shower. She's changed into plaid pajama shorts and a white t-shirt. The shirt isn't tight or too loose, but I still know without a doubt that she's not wearing a bra. Eva catches my gaze as she pulls a textbook and a laptop out of her tote. She angles herself away from me a bit. “Don't even let your mind go there. If your mind goes dirty, mine will too and this will never get done.”

I hold my hands up in surrender. I grab my own laptop from the end table to do homework as well. Tonight, I learn something else about Eva. She talks to herself while she works. It's half adorable, half distracting and annoying. Even so, it makes me smile. I finish in about thirty minutes. Eva's lips are pursed slightly as she concentrates, glancing back and forth between her laptop and her textbook lying on the other side of her.

I trail my fingers from her knee up the side of the thigh. Her legs clench together, but she doesn't look my way.

“Not done yet, Emerson,” she reminds me.

My voice is low as I speak to her. “Hurry up then.”

---