A Prior Engagement (32 page)

“I’m not with William because I love him. Don’t let him waste his life waiting on something that can never be.” She pointed to his full waiting shot.

He drank the liquor slower than the first, but fast enough not to be outdone by this girl. Changing the topic, they spent the next hour laughing about New York, people in the club, and nothing in particular. At one point, Bobby looked over at Evie. “You can hold your liquor and that makes you a cool chick in my book.”

She laughed out loud, feeling free and light tonight. “I was even better when I was a teen. I was a bit wilder then. I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

Audrey worked her way over to Bobby, introducing herself, after she spied her sister leaving. They visited for a minute before the real show started, and they weren’t referring to the band playing on stage. They leaned their backs against the bar and watched William make his way toward the bathroom. As Evie walked out of the darkened hall, he grabbed her, pressing his lips to her forehead. Her surprise morphed into calm. Her heart was racing, her mind suddenly numb, but her body operated on its own. She snuggled to his chest nuzzling her nose against his neck. Her hands instinctively went to his shoulders, sliding up and landing in his hair. Her fingers pulling gently as her body moved against him with an audible sigh.

He wrapped his arms around Evie settling his hands on her ribs and then slid them down to her hips, burying his face into her hair. For fear of losing her again, he inhaled her while he held her. He heard the faintest, sweetest voice near the base of his earlobe. “I wish we would have made love. I still dream of you touching me . . . your hands on me . . . everywhere.”

He knew she’d been drinking and would’ve never admitted that if she was sober, but it didn’t matter. He loved hearing the truth from her and he was turned on by this girl, the girl he was in love with, moving against him clouding all rationale. She was all he thought about. “I dream of you, too.” He could feel her soft lips against his jaw and down his neck and was losing this battle not to grab her and take her away with him forever.

“Hey guys.”

His eyes flashed up to see Audrey smiling at him. It couldn’t be time already. He was desperate to absorb every second he was able to hold Evie like this. He tilted his head, resting his cheek against hers and said, “We can be together.”

With that statement, she pulled her head back to look him in the eyes. “We can’t—”

“We can.”

“We can’t and shouldn’t. Trust me on this and do what’s good for you?”

“You are good for me.” He kissed her forehead. “By the way, you look incredible tonight.”

Suddenly, she felt her shoulder being grabbed, and was spun around. William held onto her waist as Audrey demanded, “We’ve got to go. He’s here.”

Evie’s eyes followed Audrey’s stare and she saw Tom standing by the bar. She didn’t know why he was there and hoped it wasn’t to check up on her, but it was obvious that was exactly why he was there.

She turned to William who said, “He doesn’t matter. I love you, Evie. Stay with me. I’ll protect you.”

Hearing him say that intermingled with the memories of Tom’s threats to ruin William’s career broke her heart. She shouldn’t have gotten so close to William. She shouldn’t have let him hold her in that most intimate embrace. And she definitely shouldn’t have listened to him. His words were dangerous and reckless. She let her emotions get away from her. She knew he didn’t know what he was saying, or even realize the direct consequences of his actions tonight. To protect him once again, she backed away with no smile to be found. She closed off the thoughts behind her eyes and reiterated what she had already said. “We can’t be together. Go find happiness somewhere else because it’s not here. It’s not with me.” She escaped through an opening in the crowd before he could talk her into staying, before he could make her believe happily ever after does exist.

Audrey looked at William, and warned, “Don’t let him see you, okay? It will be bad for her if he does.”

William grabbed her arm, threatening. “Take care of her, Audrey. I mean it.”

“I will.”

He repeated. “I mean it! Take care of her. Don’t let him hurt her and don’t let her hurt herself anymore. She deserves happiness and to be safe.”

She nodded and walked away. His heart sank as he watched Evie in the distance leave the bar with that bastard.

“Get in the car, Everleigh.” Tom’s tone left no room for negotiation.

Everleigh started to cry as she ducked into the back of the cab. Her shoulders shook as her quiet sobs overtook her body.

Tom started to climb in behind her, but stopped and looked back at Audrey. “You dressed her like a whore and got her drunk.” Everleigh looked up and saw him shake his head in disgust. “She won’t be going out with you again. It’s time you grew up, Audrey. Get in the car.”

“You can’t tell me what to do, Tom,” Audrey argued.

“You’re right, but I can tell her,” he said, referring to his drunken fiancée in the cab.

With that threat, Audrey got in the cab, and looked at her sister. Everleigh raised her chin with pride and wiped the tears from her cheek with the back of her arm. Not another word was shared on the ride home.

Bobby placed his hand down firm on William’s shoulder as if to hold him back even though he wasn’t moving. “Your plan worked.”

William’s stance relaxed, and he smiled. “She looked
amazing, Bobby. To hold her like that again . . . she wants to be with me. I can tell.”

“You’re right. She’s the one for you, man. I hope you know what you’re doing though because that guy didn’t seem like he messes around. So what’s next?”

“I’m thinking a grand gesture is in order.” He turned to his friend, sticking his hand out. Bobby shook it. “Thanks for hanging out with her and getting her drunk.”

“Why’d you want her drunk anyway? Isn’t that like taking two steps back? She might not even remember this tomorrow.”

“She’ll remember. Even if she closes her mind, she’ll remember me in here.” William tapped his chest over his heart. “And, she wouldn’t be receptive to seeing me if she wasn’t drinking, so Audrey said it was needed. She was right, too.” He smiled at what a wuss he must sound like to his friend and shook his head in disbelief that tonight’s plan worked. He now
knew
she loved him. “If she had seen me while sober, she’d convince herself it was wrong to talk with me. This way, she let down her guard and went with her feelings instead.” William knew it was kind of cheating to remind her of her true emotions this way, but Audrey had convinced him that was the only way for Evie to admit what she really felt. The words didn’t back what her body language confirmed, her real feelings. She wanted to be with him just as much, but something was holding her back. William didn’t know why she was putting on this charade, but knew Tom definitely had something to do with it. And if Tom was willing to play unfair, William was willing to play dirty as well if it meant being with Evie.

The alcohol had kicked in and was coursing through Everleigh’s system. Tom walked the girls through the lobby holding Everleigh by the arm, which was proving more difficult than it should. “Another late shift, Walter?” he asked as the doorman rushed to push the elevator button for them.

“Yes, Sir. Have to do a few overnights for Joe each month.”

Audrey startled everyone when she announced, “I’ll take her from here.”

“I’ll take her.” Tom was giving no leeway on the issue as he spoke to Audrey.

“I’ll put her right to bed. Thanks for helping me get her to the elevator. You can go home now.” Audrey stood her ground and tugged on Evie’s arm.

Everleigh was half aware of the strange conversation happening around her. She lifted her head up to see Tom turn a lighter shade of red, but he plastered a fake smile on top and relented. “Very well.” He leaned in, kissing her on the cheek. “Sleep well.” He moved closer to whisper in her ear. “I’m looking forward to when we can be alone again. I miss making love to you.”

As she watched him saunter across the lobby, she found relief in the fact she would not be sharing a bed with him tonight. She had held him off the last two months and didn’t plan on changing that until after the wedding if she could help it, but she knew he could be demanding and dreaded the day her telling him no wouldn’t work any longer.

“Making love!” The loud snort following her statement was aimed at his back.

Tom stopped with his back to her then started walking again, pushing the door open and leaving.

Everleigh continued to giggle. “You wish, Tom.” Her tone remained harsh and hateful, no humor found at all.

Tom stopped once again before the brass door shut and looked over his right shoulder at Walter standing there shifting and anxious. “Make sure she stays home tonight. She’s been drinking.”

Upstairs, Audrey helped Evie slip her boots off and noticed that beyond just drunk, she was sad. “You doing okay there, sis?”

Evie looked up then flopped back onto her bed. “Am I awake?”

“Yes.”

Evie moved toward her pillow and tucked her legs under the covers. Audrey disappeared for a minute and returned with aspirin and a glass of water. “Take these. Hopefully, you won’t feel as bad in the morning.”

Evie obliged her sister, and then continued to drink the entire glass of water. As Audrey went to refill her glass in the bathroom, Evie lifted up on her elbows, and asked, “Was he real? Did you see him tonight?”

After setting the glass on her nightstand, Audrey lay down on the bed next to her. “He was real. He still loves you.”

“I still love him.”

“You should be with him then, don’t you think?”

Evie fell back down on the pillow, closing her eyes and touching her ribs where William had held her. She could feel his hands holding her tight to keep her from leaving, but she left him there because no matter how much she drank or they loved each other, it wouldn’t change their fate. “It’s complicated—”

“Only because you make it that way. Are you worried about Mom and Dad?”

She opened her eyes and looked at her little sister who only wanted her to be happy. She smiled. “No, not anymore. I can live without their money if I had to. I know that now. They don’t want to hear my side of things, so I’ve given up on their approval. I’m worried about him, about William. He and his family have worked too hard to get where they are. I would never risk being the cause of crushing his dreams.”

“As if you could. You are a part of those dreams. He wants to be with you, and you’re worried about what exactly? You make no sense. If you love each other—”

“It’s not enough. Love is a childish emotion best spent when dreaming of fairy tales. My fairy tale doesn’t come with the happy ending,” she said as tears spilled from her eyes, dropping onto her pillow. “He’ll love again. I have no doubt.” She wiped her face and laughed. “It’s silly I’m crying. I’ve made my choice and it’s best for everyone.”

“Except you. How can you toss your feelings aside when—”

“There was nothing casual about the decision I’ve been forced to make. I love him and will do anything that benefits him so he can be happy. By giving him up, I’m showing how much I love him.” Evie took a deep breath then yawned. She rolled over half out of aggravation and half out of sleepiness. “I’m going to bed, Audrey. Good night and happy birthday.”

Audrey wandered toward the door, but before she left, Everleigh sat up and said, “I don’t know if you had anything to do with tonight, but if you did, thank you.”

Evie rolled back onto her side, and Audrey flipped the light switch off. “Goodnight.”

As soon as her sister had left, Evie dragged her pillow and blanket over to the window seat and curled up. She needed a backdrop of life beyond the confines of the bedroom. It was the only place she found any comfort in this huge apartment she used to call home.

Chapter 27

“Everleigh? Wake up.”

She woke with a start and immediately cowered in the corner against the pane of the window. Her eyes met Tom’s, and she asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to check on you after last night. You were drunk—”

“I’m fine.” She cut him off, holding the blanket up to her chin.

“I can see that. I brought you a hot oolong tea.”

She looked at him as if he was insane. Well, she knew he was insane, but she still seemed surprised by his actions. “Why?”