Chapter 8 Then
Training was brutal, and even though Evie and I kept in constant contact, I missed her like crazy. I was coming home this weekend, and we already had plans to spend an entire day in bed. Our relationship wasn't a complicated one, we hooked up, and often. I had a key to her place, so when I got in I took an Uber to her apartment, and waited. It hadn't changed much, other than a couple new vases, and a few more books.
Evie was always reading. She discovered she had a photogenic memory, which only made med school that much easier. Not that she really needed to use it, she was brilliant. I envied her in that aspect. I was lucky to pass my classes with D's, while she was rocking a 4.0 grade point average. How someone as intelligent as her ended up hooking up with someone like me I'll never know, but I'm lucky as hell that it happened.
I shoved my bag into her bedroom closet, and sent a quick text to Zoe letting her know I made it back safe and sound. I'd be seeing her tomorrow, but tonight, I was cooking dinner for Evie. I opened the fridge to find all of the ingredients I asked her to pick up for me. I was making chicken Alfredo, one of her favorites. I had Zoe send me my mother's recipe for the homemade sauce, and I was attempting to make it.
There was a small radio in the kitchen, so I turned it on to my favorite local station, and got to work. I had two hours before Evie would make it home, and if I failed epically, I needed time to order pizza. I managed to get the chicken cooked just fine, as well as the noodles, but the sauce... I wasn't as sure about.
When I finished everything, and taste tested it just to be sure, I jumped in the shower, and dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. I had just made my way back to the kitchen to switch off the radio, when I heard a soft knock on the door. I tossed my towel into the hamper, and headed towards the door. When I pulled it open, it was to find a man, around my age standing on the other side of it.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“Yeah.. uh is Evie around?” The man said, glancing around the hallway, and checking the number on the doors around him.
“She should be here any minute, are you a friend of hers?”
“We have class together. We were supposed to be studying tonight.”
“Must have got your wires crossed pal, Evie and I have plans tonight.” I said, with a cocky edge in my voice, that I wasn't used to using.
Before he could respond, Evie appeared beside him. The smile she was sporting instantly grew wider when her eyes caught mine, and I couldn't help but do the same. She dropped her bags in the hallway, and ran into my waiting arms peppering my face with kisses. I laughed, squeezing her tight against me. “Miss me Hermosa.” I whispered in her ear.
“So much!” She gushed, kissing me one more time before turning to face her guest. “I'm sorry Antonio. Jake just got back from Iraq, like just now, today, and we really need to catch up. Rain check?” She asked innocently.
“Of course.” He said, adjusting the strap on his bag. “You'll call me?”
“Promise.” She smiled sweetly, shutting the door, as he turned to leave. “Now. Where were we?” She teased, raising her eyebrows up and down suggestively.
“We were about to eat dinner.” I joked back. “Follow me.”
I led her into the small eat in kitchen, where the table was set for two. I couldn't find any tall candles, but I did come across a few scented candles scattered throughout the house. I pulled a chair out for her, and motioned for her to sit. She smiled, curtseying before she took it, and sending herself into a fit of giggles. “What is all this?” She asked between laughter.
“I wanted to do something nice for you.” I said, pretending to feel hurt from her laughter. “The least you could do is say thank you.”
“Jake, I-” She started, her laughter quickly dissipating.
“Sit down, and eat Evie.” I said, grabbing a bread stick from the basket and tossing it at her.
“Jacob Daniel Cruz!” She squealed, reaching for a bread stick of her own.
Before I knew it, we were in a full on bread stick war, and when we'd emptied the basket, we reached for the salad. Grape tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and croutons, flew across the kitchen, and bounced off the cupboards. Evie's curly hair was full of bacon bits, and I couldn't control my laughter. When she reached for the pot of Alfredo, I held my hands up in surrender. “Evie, wait. Let's be reasonable.” I said.
The gleam in her eye, had me smirking, and I knew if I didn't think fast, I'd be cleaning her apartment for the entire weekend. I reached for the pot with one hand, and her with the other, simultaneously placing the pot back on the stove, and her in my arms. Her breath caught in her throat, when my lips brushed hers. “I made my mother's recipe.” I whispered.
“Oh?” She whispered back, her breath against my cheek. “I suppose we should eat then, while it's still warm.”
“Thank you Percy Spencer.” I said, scooping her up into a princess hold.
“Who?” She asked with a smile, looping her arms around my neck.
“The genius who invented the microwave.” I winked, stepping over the mess that littered the kitchen floor, and carrying her into her bedroom.
“I'm not even going to ask how you know that.” She sighed, laying her head on my chest. “I'm just glad you're home.”
“Me too Hermosa.”
We spent the next few hours in a heap of tangled blankets, and limbs. The grumbling of our stomachs, the only thing capable of tearing us away from each other. I cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, while Evie showered, and when she finished she joined me at the table, wearing nothing but the tee shirt I'd vacated. “I'm starving.” She said, reaching for her fork, and bringing it to her lips. “Mmm.” She moaned, savoring the bite.
“You like it?” I asked, taking a bite of my own.
“It's delicious.” She smiled. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Being here. I know you need to see Zoe tomorrow, but I really missed you.”
I reached for her hand across the table, and ran my thumb over hers. “I love you Evie, there's no where else I'd rather be right now.”
“Except for there.” She said sadly, slowly pulling her hand away from mine.
“Evie -”
“No. I get it. I do. It's your passion. It makes you happy. I just wonder if it's the only thing that ever will.”
“I'm happy when I'm with you.” I tried to reassure her, but I wasn't sure what she wanted to hear. Was she asking for some kind of commitment? Or did she genuinely think the army was the only thing that would ever complete me?
“Forget I said anything.” She smiled. “Let's enjoy the rest of our evening. I have to share you with your sister tomorrow.” She teased.
I smiled back, and we spent the rest of our night in easy conversation. She showed me some of her course work, and I told her about basic training. I even told her I was interested in the special ops unit. The look in her eyes told me she was terrified at the thought, but she hid it well. We made love again that night, and when I woke up the next morning, she was already gone. I knew she had class, but not having her here with me had me wishing that she was. Maybe I was an idiot to think that we could have this kind of relationship. I was worried about her feelings, but the more time I spent with Evie Perez, the more I started to feel for her. My heart, and my mind were suddenly in battle, and either way I looked at it; it felt like the losing kind.