Without a Doubt (7 page)

“You had a girl for a best friend? Are you still best friends or was that a kindergarten-long friendship?”

Just like that, his back goes rigid and his hands stop moving in the sink. What's wrong with what I asked? Emerson clears his throat. “Yeah, her name was Kelly. We stayed friends.” He struggles to keep his voice casual. “We dated in high school, but broke up when I left for college. I don't talk to her anymore.” He even adds a shrug for good measures, but I'm not fooled.

My heart beats faster at what this means. She wasn't simply a high school girlfriend; she was his childhood best friend. That's a serious bond and it's supposedly over? Just like that? This is my chance to ask questions. The topic is here and if I want to know more, I could ask.

But I don't.

I don't want to know anything else that will make me more scared to continue hanging out with Emerson. If I ask questions, that's exactly what will happen, especially if Emerson decides he doesn't want to answer them.

“That sucks,” I say quietly. “Did you set the timer for the brownies?” I ask to change the subject.

“WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE thing about living on your own?” Eva asks as she takes a bite of her third brownie. The girl seriously loves them.

“I like knowing that I'm solely responsible for my success and failures. I feel like I was before, but it's more true now. And I like living by my own rules. What's your favorite thing about not living with your parents?”

She stretches her legs out in front of her and rests her hands on her stomach now that the brownie is gone. “My parents were pretty flexible to start with, so I don't know. I don't feel like much has changed. I do my own laundry and pick up after myself. I did that when I lived with them.” She releases a heavy breath. “I shouldn't have had that last brownie. I'm overstuffed.”

I laugh. “Me too. I think you have the stomach of a guy.”

Eva glares. “You don't know how to flirt, do you? Or you don't know there's a list of things to not say to a girl.”

“I didn't say you looked like a guy,” I point out.

“Doesn't make it any better, Emerson.”

“Either way, I think it should be noted that I can flirt.” She raises an eyebrow at me. “I can,” I repeat. “If you don't think so, then I still have to be doing something right. You're here, aren't you?”

Eva rolls her eyes. “Don't be so smug. Maybe I have an ulterior motive.” She turns to rest her back against the armrest and props her feet on my lap.

“What would that be?” I ask, completely amused.

She thinks about it for a second. “You've fed me, taken me horseback riding, and made me laugh. I needed someone to do those things for me, and here you are.”

A smile is begging to appear on my face, but I hold it at bay. “Does this mean you got stung and ran into my truck on purpose then?”

“That was just fate helping me out.”

“You believe in fate?”

Eva shrugs. “Sometimes. Plus, doesn't it sound better to say fate brought people together than pure coincidence? It has a better ring to it. Not to mention that all our choices lead us closer to the next choice, so fate makes more sense. If we had done something differently, made a different choice, then other aspects of our lives would change, too.”

“You seem like you've thought about it before.”

“That was all off the top of my head, actually.” She grins. “Older, wiser, and quicker on my feet, Emerson.”

“One year older can't make you too much wiser than I am.”

“Well, I'm a girl, so that helps my case, too.”

I laugh. “You...” I shake my head, at a loss as to how to describe her.

“I'm too much?” she tries.

“Yes, you are,” I agree.

Her grin widens before she turns to lie on her side. “Let's watch a movie.”

I didn't turn my gaming console off earlier and the controller is still on the end table next to me. After changing the channel and switching from the game to Netflix, I start scrolling to find a movie for us to watch.

“Ooh, what about that one?” Eva asks about a particular movie. I've already seen it, but I hit play anyway.

For a moment earlier, I was worried about Eva's response to my blunder about Kelly. With as curious as she seems to be about everything else, I figured she would ask a ton of questions. She didn't, thankfully. It's not a conversation I want to have yet.

Not that I've had to have that conversation before. Nothing has made it far enough or serious enough to bring her up. I banish Kelly from my thoughts with a breath and focus on the person actually here with me.

Eva lifts her head to look at me. “Are you okay? Did you want to watch another movie?”

My breath must have been more like a sigh. “No, I'm good.” I settle into the couch and rest my hands on one of Eva's legs at the ankle. I glide my hand up to her knee and back down again, over and over. Her skin is soft, smooth, and my repetitive actions relax me.

Within twenty minutes, a glance at Eva shows her sound asleep. The brownies must have done her in. I finish watching the movie and notice the time. It's pretty late. Do I wake her and take her to campus, or let her sleep? It only takes me an instant to make a decision. Carefully, I move her feet from my lap, so I can stand. After going to my room and pushing blankets out of the way, I return to the couch.

She's turned onto her back, which is perfect for me to ease an arm underneath her knees and the other behind her back. Eva doesn't wake as I lift her and carry her to my room. I lay her down gently, cover her up, and then close the door quietly. I grab a blanket from the hall closet. Once I undress down to my boxers, I lie down, cover up, and close my eyes. Hopefully, Eva won't be upset that I chose not to wake her.

“You know, I'm starting to think you have a sleeping problem,” I say when Eva stumbles into the living room in the morning.

She's in that dazed state, her eyes half closed as her feet shuffle on the floor. I'm sitting up, still barely clothed, but the blanket is covering me from the waist down. Eva falls into the seat next to me and leans over. I quickly put the pillow in my lap, just in time as she rests her head on it. “Sorry,” she mumbles. “If I get still and comfortable, I'll fall asleep.”

“It's okay. You're not mad that I let you stay here, are you?”

She hums an answer, which I'm pretty sure means no.

“Takes you a bit to wake up, huh?”

“Mhm.”

I chuckle. Five minutes or so go by before she rolls onto her back. She blinks a few times, and then she squints.

“Were you shirtless when I came in here?”

I nod and laugh. “I must need to start working out if you didn't even notice.”

Her gaze skims over my chest. I'm not cut and defined, but I'm in good shape. “No, I take all the blame for that.” She rolls over onto her side, facing the TV. Her fingers pluck at the blanket. “You slept in here?”

“Yeah, I didn't know how you'd feel if I didn't, so I took the couch.”

Then, she notices my jeans pooled on the floor because she says, “Are you wearing anything underneath this blanket, Emerson?”

“Boxers.”

“Oh.” Slowly, she sits upright next to me. “Anyway, I should probably get to campus. My phone is dead, and I would like to brush my teeth. I'll be ready to go in a second.” She stands and disappears to the bathroom.

While she's gone, I dress in what I wore yesterday since I'll be coming back here to shower. Eva returns and I go to the restroom to brush my own teeth before we go. Eva's pretty quiet on the drive.

“You're quiet in the mornings,” I say.

She looks over at me. “Are you trying to tell me something?” One of her eyebrows lifts in a challenge.

“No,” I chuckle, “just saying.”

“It takes me an hour or so to fully be awake.” I park my truck and she says, “I'll talk to you soon?”

“Yeah. I'll make sure whatever we do next keeps you moving, so you don't fall asleep on me.”

She laughs. “Just let me know. I close at the sub shop, but what day I work varies. See you around, Emerson.” With that, she hops out of my truck.

Eva and I have been texting a lot this week. She's made me laugh more than I can count, and she sends random questions for me to answer in the middle of us talking about something else. She'll ask about favorites, life goals, and all sorts of things across the board. She also told me she would be busy tonight because she's working. I just finished my own shift, so I drive to Sub Grub.

The restaurant is part of a strip of stores. There aren't but a few cars scattered across the lot. No one appears to be in Sub Grub though, since it is almost closing time. From my truck, I don't see Eva. She may be in the back. I get out of my truck, lock the doors, and walk inside. The door makes a jingle sound thanks to a bell hanging on it.

Eva pops up from behind the counter, where she had been kneeling apparently. A smile quickly lights her face when she sees me.

“Hey. What are you doing here?”

“I wanted some grub.” She laughs, and I add, “And I wanted to see you.”

“Aw, aren't you sweet.”

“Has it been busy?” I ask as I look over the menu hanging on the wall behind her.

“Not too bad. How was work?”

“Nothing to brag about. What's your favorite?”

Eva puts on a pair of gloves. “I like the steak and cheese. Want me to fix you that?”

I nod. “Just like you would eat it.” She raises an eyebrow in surprise, but gets started. “So, this Saturday morning, do you have any plans?”

“Should I guess that I'm hanging out with you?” She pops the sub into the toaster oven.

“That would be correct.” I grin.

“What time are you picking me up?” she asks as it beeps and she takes it out. I watch as she squirts ranch on it, and then adds cucumber, lettuce, spinach, and onions.

“Eight o'clock.”

“That's pretty early. What are we going to be doing?” Eva wraps it up, picks up a bag of plain chips, and places them both in a bag.

“You like surprises; why would I spoil it for you?” She grins. “Do you want me to stay while you close up?”

“You don't have to. I'm sure you're ready to eat and go home to relax.” She rings me up and I hand her some cash. “How about a kiss instead?” She sets her hands on the counter, leaning forward with a smile.