Evelyn
“I love you,” Nathan murmured as I straddled him, my hair falling over my shoulders.
I couldn’t find a hint of deceit in his eyes. “Me too, Nate. I’m so glad you get to spend the day here,” I replied with a small smile. My hands rested on his chest; this man was mine. No matter what, I knew our bond was one that would never be easily broken. The things we had been through had been rough, but now he was with me, and I was with him, and there was nothing tearing us apart.
Our relationship hadn’t started the conventional way; maybe it would have been best if we never started that way in the first place. However, I couldn’t bring myself to regret anything. I loved him, always would.
“I want to go back to school,” I confessed.
Nathan raised his eyebrows, but an amused glint lit his eyes. “Really? I thought you liked just ‘exploring the city?’”
I gently shoved him. “I love it, yes. But I need to do something, you know? I want to feel useful.”
Nodding, Nathan pressed a kiss on my lips. “I’d love to have you at the gallery all the time,” he said with a small smile. “But I don’t know if you would want that, especially with Jessica there.”
I frowned. “Wouldn’t that be unfair, though? Having me there because I’m your girlfriend? Besides, with Jessica there and our blossoming friendship, I don’t see how this could go wrong.”
Nathan snorted at my sarcasm, moving my hair back. “You are more than qualified. You led a company—”
“For like, a week,” I interrupted, ignoring the pain that still surfaced when I thought of those times.
“Still. You know about art. I could teach you more about the pieces we get in, and I’m sure Jessica would be willing to as well. I understand if you don’t want to, though, Evie. I won’t force you. The choice is yours, but the offer stands. If you don’t want to do that, then you can take care of the financial aspect; you’re good with numbers, we both know that, and Jesse and me, we’re up to our heads when it comes to that aspect.”
The idea seemed tempting. Very tempting. However, there were many things that stopped me. I didn’t want to feel like I hadn’t worked for the job, like it was another handout. Besides, I knew that being around Jessica and Nathan together could cause more problems.
But then again…
I’d be there.
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
“That’s all I’m asking for.” He smiled.
“Now,” I said, leaving his lap, “what do you want to do on your day off?”
A slow, teasing smirk formed on his lips. Immediately, I understood that I was what he wanted to do, and I began shaking my head, raising my hands to stop him as he stood and approached me.
“No, Nate. I’m tired, and sore and—”
“And you better start running before I get you,” he teased, stalking towards me with a smile.
“No, please.” I laughed. I couldn’t be serious with him, not when he was there, so playful and happy. All worries disappeared as I ran through the condo to my bedroom, trying to close the door behind me so he wouldn’t get to me.
I was too slow; he chuckled lowly, following behind me and wrapping his arm around me as he caught up.
“Too slow,” he murmured, latching his mouth to my neck without warning. What was supposed to be a complaint came out as a moan, and even without seeing him, I felt his lips quirk up to a devious smile.
“You’re like a horny…teenager,” I rasped, my eyes fluttering closed.
“Only with you.” He turned me around and claimed my lips without even giving me the chance to reply. I moaned into his mouth, consumed by him and all he caused within me as he lied me down on the bed. He knew exactly what to do to set both my mind and body on overdrive, and I loved it.
Just as he began removing his shirt, a phone started ringing. He groaned, clearly annoyed that someone dared interrupt the moment. I bit my lip, a little too riled up for my liking and frustrated at the thought that he would leave me in that state.
When the phone kept ringing, I covered my face with my hands, and Nathan picked up.
“Jesse,” he said, his tone clipped. “Yeah…kind of busy, actually…”
Nathan’s face took a regretful look, and he ran a hand through his already messy hair. Not a good sign.
“All right, I’ll be there in a bit…no, it’s fine…bye.”
I didn’t even give him a chance to speak up. “You have to leave, don’t you?”
“It looks like there’s a client interested in one of my pieces,” Nathan said with a forced smile.
The harsh glare I was giving him softened. That was a good thing; I wouldn’t ruin it for him. “Good,” I stated, truly proud of him. “Go. I’ll be right here when you get back.” I stood up, dragging a finger down his chest towards the bulge in his pants. He swallowed when I placed my hand over him.
“Maybe I can give you a bit of a congratulations when you get back home,” I whispered, nipping his earlobe.
“Shit,” he muttered, his eyes dark with desire. “I won’t be long.”
“I bet you won’t,” I replied with a smile.
“Stay here.”
***
I didn’t stay.
I wanted to know what was going on, so my brilliant mind decided that it was a good idea to visit Nathan’s apartment. Though he didn’t spend much time there, it was possible I could get some insight as to why he had been acting strange.
Did that make me a bad girlfriend?
Perhaps.
But I knew I wouldn’t have been doing that had it not been for his suspicious behavior.
Or maybe you’re just overreacting.
Hannah did always say I overreacted over everything, especially when I felt left out. Then again, when it came to Hannah, I was always an outsider. She always preferred her friends over me, to the point that my birthday parties, however small they were, were always full of her friends. And when we were old enough, she just wouldn’t show up to my little parties, no matter how much I wanted her there.
My chest tightened at the memories. It seemed some things would always hurt no matter how much time passed. To me she would always be my sister; we would always share the same blood even if our relationship was the worst. I didn’t hate her; I just hated our circumstances. Had my parents raised us, raised her a different way, our lives would be completely different.
But Hannah was who my mom raised her to be; my mom molded her to what she thought was a strong, powerful woman.
And now they were both in jail.
Oh, the irony.
Eventually they would learn.
When I arrived at Nathan’s apartment complex, I braced myself for whatever it was that I would find. I was nervous, but I didn’t think I could find anything out of the ordinary. If that were the case, he wouldn’t risk leaving his keys around wherever I could get to them.
Once I got to his floor, I took out the keys and breathed deeply before even trying to open the door.
I wasn’t mentally prepared to hear the shower running.
I wasn’t emotionally prepared to see a purse lying on the sofa or a woman’s blazer on the floor.
Or the two glasses of wine.
Or the carelessly discarded skirt.
Or to hear the repeated moans coming from the restroom.
“Oh my God,” I whimpered, covering my mouth with my hand. This could not be happening to me.
This could not be happening to us.
Maybe I deserved it; he had been married when we first started our relationship. This couldn’t be anything other than karma. I rushed out, stepping over to the elevator, hoping it could carry me anywhere, as long as it was away from this evil nightmare I was living in.