I brushed a restless hair out of my face. “Of course.”
I was just happy she’d come, to see me. Of course, she could be delivering awful news. That I may be fired and couldn’t return next year. Though, since Ramses and I hadn’t done anything unethical in the technical sense, I wasn’t quite sure that was legal.
But the Mallick family were very powerful people, and if she fought me for a place in this town, my job, I wouldn’t fight her back. I’d betrayed her trust, lying to her, and that warranted both me leaving her school as well as her city. I’d leave if she wanted me to.
I cared about her.
Nodding, I had her follow me inside, into the elevator then into my condominium. I was completely aware of the awkwardness of this situation, and to keep myself busy, I immediately invited her into my kitchen.
“Can I make you something?” I questioned, placing my keys and earbuds on the kitchen island. I reached for the tea kettle. “Tea or I could even make coffee.”
“Really, I won’t take a lot of your time.” Her hand raised in my direction, and she invited me for a seat in my own kitchen next to her.
I took it, swallowing hard. I placed my hand on the granite. “Evie, I’m so sorry.”
“For what?”
My lashes fanned, my eyes twitched wide. I felt like I was being Punk’d for a second. I gazed around. “What?”
“Why are you apologizing?” Unbuttoning her jacket, she laced her hands on the island. “Because if it’s for loving my son, changing him in more ways than I’ve ever seen…”
My mouth parted.
Hers lifted into a smile. “Why are you apologizing to me, Brielle?”
My throat thickened with heat, belly all coiled up, anxious. I chewed my lip. “I suppose for lying to you about it.” I nodded. “For not being brave enough to tell you. You’ve done so much for me. I guess I didn’t want to lose you. Your friendship.”
It had meant so much, made me strong, brave. I’d taken the steps to start over here because of her, able to love again because of her. I’d done that because she’d brought me into her life and given me the means in which to take those chances. To come here and eventually, meet her son.
Who I was desperately in love with.
I planned to fight for Ramses, for us, but I also planned to give Evelyn time. I couldn’t stay away from the man I loved and wouldn’t. I did love Ramses, but I also loved her, too. I respected her enough to keep my distance, but it wouldn’t have been forever.
She just happened to come to me first.
Taking my hands, Evie placed hers on top. “Over the years, I don’t pride myself on how great of a mother I’ve been.” Her smile fell sad. “My ex-husband, Ibrahim, was very abusive to Ramses. Not physically, but mentally. He was quite hard on him, held him to these impossible standards.”
My stomach clenched, insides tight with heat. I nodded. “He mentioned.”
His issues with his father contributed to a huge part of his anger, his decisions, as well as his insecurities. This wasn’t unknown, and neither was his ability to overcome. He was putting all that anger and resentment for his father behind him. I knew because he’d mention the things he was doing with his life moving forward. He was doing the things he wanted in life without pressures or a need for acceptance. He was his own motivator now.
And he had the biggest cheerleader in me.
I’d make sure he’d always have support for the things he wanted to do, and as long as he allowed me in his life, I wouldn’t go away. Not unless he wanted me to. I would fight for him.
“He’s strong, Evie,” I said to her. Because he was. “I bet that has a big part to do with you.” I’d seen the things she’d done, the empire she had. I’d looked into it. The Pembroke history department hadn’t had any female deans before her. She thrived in this world, commanded it.
She squeezed my hands. “I apologize to you, Bri. Because of all that with my husband, I’m very cautious when it comes to Ramses. Jump in when it’s not even necessary. Especially after his issues at Brown.”
And I got that, completely. I looked up at her. “I never should have lied to you. He didn’t want to.” I smiled. “He said we should give you the benefit of the doubt always, and I should have listened. I was just scared. I didn’t want to lose you or our friendship.”
Funny, this conversation we were having. Funny, because, before Ramses, I never would have had it. My default was to avoid.
But it seemed that wasn’t the case now.
Evie put her hands on my face. “You will love him, won’t you? Be good to him?”
I folded a hand on her wrist, nodding. “I was staying back to give you time. The only reason. I do love your son. I will be good to him.” My smile widened. “I’m not going to step back again, but I respect you enough not to throw it in your face. I’m sure this is weird. Will be weird. Especially with the age thing. Our age difference.”
I wouldn’t lie and say that still didn’t bother me or that we wouldn’t have issues. People judging us or thinking things, but I was at the place now where I wouldn’t be the one contributing to it. I’d be our biggest cheerleader in this too.
Her head tilted. “I suppose because he is my kid, yeah, that will be something I’ll have to adjust to.” She laughed a little. “But the age thing isn’t an issue. I’ve got almost a decade on James.”
“Seriously?”
She chuckled, tipping her chin. “And fuck anyone that has issue with that.”
That had us both roaring at this point, which made me so happy. I really had feared losing her. I didn’t want her to be a casualty to what I wanted.
Squeezing her hand, I brought her into a hug. “I love you, Evie.”
“I love you too, honey,” she returned. She squeezed harder. “And you take care of my son. I don’t want to lose either of you.”
I was completely with her there, and I would. So hard.
“He’s intense,” I said, pulling back. “Some days, I question if I’m strong enough for him.”
“You are.”
“How do you know?”
Her shoulders lifted, her eyes warm. “Because he chose you.”
We ended our talk after tea in the end, a long talk in which she told me all about James. Things really seemed to be going well, and I was so very happy for her. She was starting to take back her life, too, a new beginning just like mine. I walked her to the door and offered to walk her down, but she told me she was all right.
We hugged one more time before I let her go, and I’d never felt so free. How I managed to get two pretty amazing people added into my life had me truly in awe. That life could be this good. I’d been so sad for so long, but I was more than ready to give in to the power of this healing. This town and these people, I had a feeling, were going to be good for me.
“You call me,” she said at the door. “I’m sure you’ll be busy with final grading, but don’t lose touch.”
I wouldn’t, waving to her. I did have final grading now that examinations were over, but the commencement that followed, I didn’t anxiously anticipate anymore. As it turned out, Ramses and I didn’t have to wait to tell the truth. And how nice that was.