Page 27 of Guarded Love

“Yeah, who knew we were late to the party?” Olivia was having a lot of fun, and I had no doubt she would tell Ari about this. Well, what of it? The girl had needed help, and I was here to provide it. I was practically a hero.

A hero staring down the prospect of suffering blue balls yet again.

“We really should get going.” Olivia set down the bags with the balloons tied to them before taking Pepper by the hand. “I need to get to work. It seems like everything here is okay.”

“Just, you know. Let us know if you need anything. Anytime.” Pepper couldn’t stop babbling as Olivia practically dragged her from the room. They whispered between themselves before the elevator doors chimed, and their whispering was cut off.

“Oh, my God.” Evelyn covered her face with one shaking hand. “Talk about timing. What a disaster.”

“For the record…” I turned to her, folding my arms again, “… exactly what would be the big fucking deal if somebody caught us kissing?”

She lowered her hand slowly, staring at me with her mouth hanging open. She looked about as surprised as the girls were when they first came in. “What?”

“I think you heard me. What is this? Do I have a disease nobody bothered telling me about? You’re over here having a fucking heart attack over something that’s one, nobody else’s business, and two, something it sure as hell seemed like you wanted. Or was I imagining that?”

“Hold on a second,” she rushed out, holding her hand up as if to stop the words from leaving my mouth.

“No, dammit. What the hell is this? It was bad enough you pretty much admitted to wanting to use me? After acting like a bitch on wheels since the minute we met? Then I go out of my fucking way to help you so you don’t have to be alone, and you’re still treating me like I have the plague.”

“Is that what you think I’m doing? For real?”

“Yes, for real. Explain it to me. I would love to hear what you have to say,” I pressed. For a moment, she froze like a deer caught in headlights. Then she burst out laughing. “Oh, fuck this.” I threw my towel on the floor in disgust. “I don’t need this bullshit.”

“Wait, wait. You’re serious?” She was still fighting a few lingering giggles. “It’s just that… I can’t believe you’re serious.”

“I’m a human being, Evelyn. I’m not hanging around to be laughed at.”

“It’s not that. I… I figured you would be embarrassed to be seen like that with me.”

“Why wouldIbe embarrassed?”

She rolled her eyes. “Please, Magnus. Don’t insult me.”

“I wasn’t trying to. Last I checked, you’re the one who just laughed at me.”

“Because the… I’m not…” She waved her hands around like she was fighting to find the words. “I’m not like you. I’m not like those girls who were just here, or any of the other girls you date or sleep with, or whatever. I’m not like any of you.”

“Because of your leg? That doesn’t matter.”

“It’s everything!” Her voice cracked, and her face went red all at once, and her eyes shone with tears. “It’s my leg. It’s the pain and the limping. My fucking cane. My body. I’m not like them!”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true! I’m not skinny, bubbly, or rich. I didn’t grow up like all of you. All my life, I always wanted what everybody else had. I have never been one of the crowd, accepted, wanted. So why would you want me?”

A single tear rolled down her cheek, glistening in the sunlight streaming through the window. Her eyes looked greener than ever, and her chest heaved. There was something so wounded, so pained in every word. It was like her whole heart was behind them. Her entire history.

Now I understood. I saw that awkward moment in her suite for what it was. She thought I was rejecting her because I didn’t want her because she wasn’t good enough.

“I get it,” she whispered with a defeated sigh. “It’s fine for you to want me when we’re alone. Nobody has to see, nobody has to know.”

“Would you stop talking?” I went to her, one knee on the bed, leaning over her until she had no choice but to lie back against the pillows. “I want you because I want you. That’s enough.”

This time, when I kissed her, I poured everything into it. No holding back.

I was going to prove in any way I could how wrong she was about herself, me, all of it.

I didn’t care if it took all day.

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