A resolved feeling rose up inside of me and I nodded as I stood. I wasn’t going to live in fear of who I was going to be or that I wasn’t good enough. I loved Eve and I would spend what time we had together showing her just what she meant to me. And how much I cared.
“I need to make a phone call,” I announced to Rosalie.
She looked so excited only for it to morph into one of confusion. “I...but Eve…” She moved to motion in Eve’s direction, but I caught her hand before she did.
“I have a plan but I need to talk to someone first.” I crouched down in front of her. “Can you keep our secret for just a bit?”
Rosalie’s smile widened as she tapped her nose with her forefinger and nodded. “Right. Of course.”
I planted a kiss on the back of her hand and hurried from the room. I could feel Eve’s gaze on me and see her from the corner of my eye, but I couldn’t stop.
I had to talk to Trenton before anything else happened. I needed him to know where I stood. If I was going to do this, I was going to do this right. The way I should have done ages ago. But starting now, I wasn’t going to allow my fears to rule me anymore. I might not be perfect, but I loved Eve and I would do my best to make her happy.
I wasn’t my father, and I didn’t have to end up like my brother. If there was one thing I was sure of it was that loving Eve made me want to be the best version of myself. If Eve gave me another chance, I knew I would never stop trying to be the kind of man she deserved.
I stepped outside, the cool wind surrounding me and causing me to suck in my breath. I huddled over my phone as I found Trenton’s number and pressed it. Adrenaline was coursing through me as I brought the phone up to my ear and waited, listening to the ringing.
My heart was pumping as the thought that I might have to leave a message dawned on me. I was strong now, but I feared the longer I waited, the harder it would be for me to say what I needed to say.
The ringing stopped and Trenton’s voice filled the air. “Finally you call me.”
“I want to date Eve.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself. It seemed like my adrenaline caused me to forget how to even have a conversation.
Trenton didn’t respond right away. He took so long that I pulled the phone from my cheek just to make sure that I hadn’t accidentally hung up on him.
“Hello?” I asked once I returned the phone.
“I’m here.”
The cold wind surrounded me as I braced myself for what he was going to say.
Realizing that I needed to explain myself, I started. I told him everything. That I wanted to protect Eve. That I kept my distance. But I couldn’t stop myself from caring about her. That I respected him but I couldn’t change the way I felt. When I finished talking, Trenton didn’t say anything right away. I closed my eyes, fearing that I’d ruined everything. Trenton hated me. Eve hated me. I’d lost the only family I had besides Mom in one swift move.
I was a mess.
“You care about Eve that much, huh?” Trenton finally asked. There was a teasing tone to his words that had me thinking, maybe things weren’t as bad as I feared.
“Yes,” I said quickly. I didn’t want to seed any doubt in his mind.
“And you’ll be good to her?”
It was insulting that he even had to ask that. “Of course.”
“And we can still have guy time when I get back?”
I scoffed. “Yep.”
My heart was racing now but this time it wasn’t from fear but anticipation. Was he really going to sign off on us? Was I ridiculous to hope?
“I’m not sure you need my permission, but if you want it, I guess I’ll agree.”
I let out a whoop and pumped my fist in the air. Partly from relief and partly from the fact that I was freezing. I was in a t-shirt and the temperature was rapidly dropping.
“Wow. I didn’t know I meant that much to you, man.”
I snorted as I settled back against the exterior wall. “You don’t,” I joked.
“Yeah, sure.” We both chuckled and then Trenton fell silent. “So, how are you going to fix things?”
I winced. “She’s that mad?”
“Yeah. It’s bad. She looked like she wanted to murder you last time we talked.”
I tipped my head back against the cool brick and let out my breath. “I’ll figure something out.”
“Well, I suggest you do it fast. Eve is sweet but that girl can hold a grudge.”
I nodded. “Will do.”
“I should go. I’ve got lots to do.”
“All right, man. We’ll talk later?”
“Yep.”
I hung up and tucked my phone into my back pocket. With my hands free, I shoved them under my arms as I huddled in to protect myself from the wind.
I felt free, even if fear still clung to my thoughts. I knew I loved Eve and I knew I would do anything to protect her. But now, I was going to need a game plan. Some sort of grand gesture to show her that I cared. That I was an idiot but that I wanted her. Wholly and completely.
A thought flew into my mind. A memory. The feeling I had when I held her in my arms at the dance. That was the moment that I truly let myself fall. That I opened up and lowered my walls.
I wanted to take Eve back to that time. And I was going to need a village to do that.
Excitement brewed inside of me as I pulled my phone out and brought up my text messages. After I added everyone who I thought would help, I dove in.
I was going to plan an amazing night that was going to sweep Eve off her feet. And at the end of it, I hoped she would be mine.
Forever.
Chapter 15
Eve
Life was truly unfair.
Maybe this was my heartbroken depression talking, but I was pretty sure that there was some sort of universal conspiracy against me. As if it wasn’t bad enough that I had to see Cooper every day at school, and then in the evenings at the academy twice a week, and now...this.
It was like fate was laughing at me. I could hear her evil cackles as I peeked every so often over at Cooper. He looked completely calm as he sat there with cards laid out on the table. He was playing bridge and smiling over at the ladies who sat next to him.
Why was he so happy? He didn’t deserve to be happy. He needed to be like me.
Miserable.
Yesterday his game of choice was cribbage, which I knew for a fact he didn’t know how to play. Today he was back and playing cards. I had to fight the urge to look over there again, because the sight of Cooper’s arm as he placed his cards was disturbingly appealing. Sexy, even.
No one should look sexy playing bridge. It just wasn’t fair.
I’d thought maybe Cooper would take pity on me this weekend after my angry speech at the academy. I’d hoped he’d keep his distance. After all, he was the one who’d broken us up, he’d been the one who’d insisted we keep our distance, so why on earth was he torturing me by showing up at my place of work?
Didn’t he have any idea how much it was killing me to watch him be all sweet and charming with the old ladies who doted on him?
I shoved some garbage onto my tray with a huff. I would not turn around and look at him. Nope. Wouldn’t do it. I would not—