CHAPTER 49
The next morning, Evan woke up late. She continued to sleep until the late hours of the morning. Tired, she stretched then tensed as her body ached. Smiling, she reached over to the other side of the bed. If it had been once warm, the warmth wasn't there anymore. It was cold. Her eyes opened in apprehension as she looked everywhere for the man she had just spent the night with. Managing to drag herself off the bed, she went to the bathroom, then the kitchen and finally the living room.... he wasn't there. Jason Valdez had once again left her. Searing pain tore at her heart. She wouldn't let that bother her. She needed to leave his apartment early. There was no point staying where she wasn't wanted. Why did he always do this?
Feeling dirty, she went to the bathroom to draw herself a warm bath. As she washed thoroughly in the tub, memories of last night flooded her. She couldn't remember the last time sex had felt this good. Angry at herself for thinking such, she sponged herself until her pale skin reddened. Then she came out and dressed up hurriedly. Her gaze fell on the bedspread that had witnessed so much of their lovemaking. A sad tune started to play in her head. Annoyed, she packed the spread and dumped them in the laundry machine. She added the detergent and timed the machine. While waiting for the device to clean the stains, she went about packing her things.
Suddenly feeling the urge to eat and craving some fruits, she opened the fridge. Instead, the fruit salad Jason had brought in last night stared at her. Still upset, she ignored it but then reached for it. She took a reluctant bite and closed her eyes in ecstasy. "Hmmmmm." Loving the taste, she sat down to eat.
The meal made her heavy, and she strolled to the dishwasher. The clothes were already washed so she aired the them in the laundry machine. Once back, she looked everywhere. Sure there was nothing more to do, she took her bag and began to head out. At the door, she stumbled by a rigid body. Though shocked, she knew before looking up who it was as she found herself staring into cold blue eyes.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jason asked.
Exhausted, emotionally drained, heavy, with hormones running wild, Evangeline burst into tears. Jason did all he could to calm her down. But even then, she continued to cry in heavy sobs. When she quietened a little, she smiled through swollen eyes at him.
Apologizing, she smiled at him again. "I'm sorry, it must be the hormones."
He didn't even know how to respond to that. Should he ask why she was leaving? What if that makes her cry again? "You were leaving." He decided to pry, stilling himself for whatever she would say to him.
"I thought you'd left again."
Oh! "I just went to sort some things out in the office. I did promise you a nice weekend and I intend to make it worth it" he assured. "Even though you cancelled on me."
She forced herself to look at him. He looked like he was in a good mood. Perhaps it was time they talked about this thing growing between them. She held his hand and stood up, pulling him gently with her. She made them sit down on the couch facing each other, still holding hands, "Do you feel guilty about what's going on between us?"
He looked surprised, though he knew he hadn't handled their relationship well too, "No." He replied."Do you?"
"But you looked guilty and wouldn't even talk to me after the vehicle trailing me. Then we made love and I don't even know what to think anymore."
Looking at her, he could see that she did look confused, "I'm sorry. This is going to hurt but I'll be honest with you, okay?" She nodded and he sighed heavily, "Yes, I did feel guilty when we first kissed." She pulled away but he held on, "Really?" He asked her, looking straight into her lovely eyes, "If it were you, wouldn't you have done the same? My wife is lying barely cold in her casket. I felt guilty as charged."
She nodded, it probably was too soon. Things were going too fast. "True."
"But then again, I can't help how I feel around you" he smiled, "I like you. Like a lot and I don't know what this is. But I'm willing to see where it goes. Do you?" when she said nothing, he said "I mean it's a lot to take in. first you have my baby. Now this. I won't want to impose. And I'm sure Ellen would have wanted this. She wants me happy. She's have done this for me if it were in her powers." He looked at her dreamily and Evan knew he was thinking about his late wife at that moment. "She is just that kind of woman. Selfless." He sighed, the dreamy look was gone. "I'm guessing it was the realization that she would have wanted this that helped me find peace with what we have going on"
"Okay." Evangeline replied, "I'm happy you made your peace with it. Though, it's fast, I must say."
"Tell me about it." He murmured, trailing kisses on her arm. "There's also Logan too. I kept withdrawing, hoping not to butt into your relationship. We never did say anything about him."
"Forget Logan." She squirmed as he kissed her palm, "We're done."
"You sure about that?"
The way he asked made her force him to look at her. He knew something, "What is it?"
"With the way he drove here like a maniac when he saw us kissing at your place?" He smirked
"You saw him!"
"Yes, I did." He confessed, "I just figured you two needed space to talk. That's why I didn't come back." Then he murmured, "Even though it almost killed me not to."
She smiled, "Well, we're over. We have been for a while now."
He looked at her cheerfully, "How that makes me happy." He said in a sing song voice. Evan laughed happily as he pulled her in for a kiss. Her phone started ringing. She pulled away and almost screamed as she picked, "Seriously, Adriana you have the worst timing for calling." She said to her sister. Listening, she stared wide-eyed. When she ended the call, she turned to Jason.
He took the words right out of her mouth, "Your visit has been extended." He said, "You are staying with me."
"You knew?"
"It's part of the reason I left you in bed this morning. It appears we need to tighten security. Don't panic." He added as she looked frail, "My men are right outside. We are in this together."
"Okay, tell me everything. Everyone's been holding out on me."
