A Prior Engagement (16 page)

But it wasn’t one-sided. By watching Evie, Bobby could tell she was as far gone as William. He also noticed how different she was from the other girls William had dated. She was well-mannered and soft spoken, classy, and everything about her seemed to be put together with thought and care. She was different from the outspoken girls they grew up with, which made Bobby wonder just how serious they were.

William looked at his watch, knowing she said she only had the day. He felt he was pushing his luck by staying any longer, although she seemed to be having a good time. He also knew she was too polite to interrupt the Ryder banter to leave, so he did the honors. “I need to get this girl back to the city,” he said, standing up and pulling her chair out for her. He gave a round of hugs and then Angie hugged Evie, inviting her back.

As they rushed from the cab to the ferry, William said, “Sorry, it’s later than I thought.”

“No, please, don’t be. I had such a good time. I enjoyed your family very much.” As they settled back onto the boat, he turned on the railing to face her, his expression turned serious as he traced her lifeline on the soft skin of her palm. “It meant a lot to me that you met my family. I know it’s a bit early in our relationship, but I’m glad you did. And, I’m glad you got to see my roots. You survived. I was worried that being the center of their attention might scare you off.”

She shook her head. “No, not at all. They were lovely.”

“Forewarning though, my mom may try to adopt you.”

Evie leaned her head onto William’s shoulder feeling accepted here. She wished she could always feel like this. “Forewarning, I might accept.” She looked up at him. “I liked getting to know you better.” She felt their knees brushing together and looked down. “I liked being in . . . I mean seeing your bedroom.” Evie wanted to slap herself for the slip up. She had enjoyed being in his bedroom very much, but that was too forward to say.

He pulled her chin up to look at him, leaning in to where their lips almost met, and whispered, “I liked you in my bedroom, too.” He kissed her with passion.

When they docked, Evie looked at her watch and realized she needed to get home. She hadn’t left messages for anyone and knew she would be missed. William watched her reaction to the time and after shoving his hands in his pockets, felt like he was still being kept out on a part of her life. “Why do you have to go? Why is it you’re always rushing away from me?”

Evie found his wording the exact opposite of what she wanted to do and it upset her that he took it personally. “I don’t rush away from you. I, well, like I’ve told you, I have commitments, obligations that have to be dealt with. They’re not always fun, but I’ve committed myself to see them through.” She walked ahead of him so he couldn’t see her face or the shame she felt.

William was confused and he wanted answers. He took her by the arm and made her face him. “Why do you speak in ways like I’m supposed to understand, but don’t?” He dropped his hand and with his eyebrows pulled together, pleaded. “Am I missing something deeper in your words or is it as simple as what you say?”

She looked over his right shoulder, avoiding his eyes. Evie had always loved the way William looked at her. He saw her the way she wanted to be, but right now, he was seeing her reality and it was unsettling. “I need to go, William. I would like for you to ride with me in a taxi, I’ll pay.”

Something changed in her and he saw the transformation happen before his eyes. She was not his Evie right now. He hit on something she didn’t want to talk about and he could tell it scared her. Heck, it scared him, too. Maybe today was all wrong. Maybe he’d been reading her all wrong. She looked at him with hope in her eyes, still waiting.

“No, I’ll take the subway,” he said. He hated hurting her feelings, but right now he needed time to think and if she wasn’t going to give him any answers then he needed time to process that as well.

Her face fell and the glimmer of hope she had disappeared. Her voice was low and the rejection stung. “I’m sorry. I have to go. I’m so sorry.”

She felt the tears coming as she turned away from him and started walking, but he ran and blocked her path. “Wait, it can’t end like this. Classes are over. When will I see you next?”

He saw the sadness deep into her eyes as she tried to cover it by putting on a happier expression. “I got into Lang’s summer program. I meant to tell you earlier.”

“I knew you’d get in. Now I’ll get to see you in the program.”

“Five days a week for five weeks. You think you can handle seeing that much of me?” She tried for a joke because she didn’t want this day to end on a bad note.

“If I had my way, I’d wake up to you every day of the week.”

Evie’s breath staggered at his proclamation—
his way.
She raised an eyebrow, stunned he could talk to her like they’d known each other for years and like he was in love. His sweet words always made her feel good, like anything was possible. Feeling confident from his statement and a bit sassy, she said, “How ‘bout we try out the five days first and work our way toward the seven and see how that goes?”

He liked that she was admitting she wanted more, just at a slower pace. Although it was crazy to feel this strongly for her, William already knew in his heart he would wait forever for this girl. He stepped closer and was relieved when she remained in place, anticipating. Leaning down, he touched her bottom lip. “Evie, I’ve never felt like this about anyone. I can wait. I’m willing to wait for you if that’s what it takes.”

William was a poet, a romantic, and a gentleman. Evie knew in that second, through her woozy clouded mind, she could not have him wait forever. She knew she had to be with this man no matter what the cost to herself. In her romance-induced fog, she got on her tiptoes and kissed him. She couldn’t be mad he wanted to know more about her. When they were together, they lived in that very moment and that was all that mattered.

She pulled away from him and ran for a cab, ducking inside then waving good-bye.

In that kiss, he forgave her for all of her other commitments, he forgave her for her prior engagements, and he forgave her for not spilling all of her secrets. He believed half the fun of dating was finding out these things in their due course.

Walter approached the cab and opened the door for her when she arrived home. She looked at the meter and down to her left and more frantically to her right then to the floor. It dawned on her that William still had her bag. She smiled at the doorman. “I seem to have left my bag somewhere. Can you cover my fare for me please and I will repay you as soon as I get upstairs?”

Walter was happy to cover the thirty-dollar cab ride for Evie. He knew she was good for it. As they took the elevator up, he started questioning where she was coming from in the city to rack up such a big fare. He gently probed, curious. “Good day so far?”

“Lovely.”

“Doing a little dining downtown?”

“I was at the park.”

Central Park was too close for that high-dollar fare, so he thought she had probably been somewhere she wasn’t supposed to be and let the subject drop.

Everleigh flew into the apartment, coming to a skidding stop when she saw Tom and her mother sitting in the living room discussing wedding plans. Tom stood, greeting her with a kiss. She was hesitant and looked down which did not bode well with him. Sticking her finger into the air to halt him, she rushed back to her bedroom. She pulled a hundred dollar bill out of a clutch she used the previous week.

She was hurrying back to the front door when Tom stopped her. “Where are you going, Everleigh?”

“I didn’t have money to pay the cab fare. Walter paid it for me. I’m going to repay him and then I’ll be right back.” Everleigh left him standing in their foyer with his hands on his hips and a confused expression.

Walter had held the elevator open for her. She handed him the large bill and smiled. “Thank you. You were a life-saver.” She saw his baffled look toward the bill. “Keep it. Thanks again.”

“Thank you, Miss Wright, but that’s not necessary.”

“Please call me Evie.”

“Thank you, Evie.” He paused as she walked to her front door. “That was a large fare. Did you have fun at the park?”

She turned around with her hand on the doorknob, and smiled. A hint of blush covered her cheeks. “Yes, I did. Thank you for asking.”

Tom had questions and Everleigh explained the best she could during his cross-examination regarding her day. She kept things vague.

He found her in character for her recent untrustworthy behavior. That didn’t mean he understood the changes he was seeing in her and it confused him more to what brought them on. He started contemplating drastic measures to get her back on board with the way he thought she should be by the time they married in October.

William had watched Evie run for the safety of the taxi and speed away. By the time he realized he still had her bag slung over his shoulder, she was out of sight. He knew he couldn’t call her since her phone was in the bag he was currently holding. But he did know where she lived because even though he never escorted her to the building, she had pointed in the general direction of that corner the night he walked her home. He headed for the subway and as he descended the stairs into the tunnel, he had made a decision. He chose to return her bag, rationalizing she would need her wallet, phone, and the bag in general. It was the right thing to do.

He exited the subway one block up from Park Avenue and even though he had ridden his bike down the street many times for work, he had never walked down the pretty street, never having a reason to before. Evie was right about the avenue. It was one of the most beautiful in the city and at night seemed magical with the tiny white lights in the trees and the doormen all standing in their starched uniforms. But, William didn’t kid himself with the façade of the wealth that lined this street. He knew behind every door everyone had problems—just different ones than he had. He walked up to the building he hoped was hers and approached the doorman who was sitting behind his desk.

“I’m sorry, sir. I was caught up in the baseball game on TV. How can I help you?” Walter asked, standing out of respect for the visitor.

William smiled at the man as he explained the situation. “I have a friend’s bag I need to return. She left it by accident today.” William smiled while taking the bag off his shoulder. “Evie Wright? I hope this is her building.”

Walter recognized the backpack right away. “Yes, Sir, it is. I can get that to her if you want to leave it with me?”

He was relieved to know she would have her stuff tonight and not have to worry. “I’m William, what’s your name?”

“Walter, Sir.” Walter gave a firm, but friendly handshake.

“Please don’t call me sir.”

“Ok . . . William.” Walter set the bag behind the desk, his curiosity piquing, and he asked, “So, how do you know Miss Wright?”

“We go to school together. Who’s winning?” William leaned over the top of the desk to get a look at the small television hidden from the lobby’s view.

Walter looked the young man over, noticing his casual but well-worn clothes and his backpack slung over his shoulder. His bag looked like it had seen a few years. Walter smiled, connecting the dots of the evening between Evie and William. “We’re down in the sixth. Where do you live, William? Who’s your doorman? I know most of them in the city.”

“You know, Walter, I don’t have a doorman. I live in an old walk-up about eighteen or so blocks from here.”

Walter had liked William immediately, but now he really liked him. “Starving student, huh?”

“Something like that. Actually, exactly like that.” They shared a laugh, bonding over baseball and honesty.

Walter rushed and opened the door for a tenant and when she was on the elevator, he turned back to William and said, “Miss Wright’s a wonderful girl.” He tried to sound relaxed like it was everyday conversation, but for some reason he wanted more information. He didn’t tend to stick his nose in resident’s business, but when it came to Evie, he hoped for her to live a better life than the one she was living and this new man might be the key to that.

William knew it was a statement, but still felt the need to address it. “She’s a great girl.” He felt his cheeks heat, but he didn’t know why, so he looked down at his sneakers as a distraction.

Walter knew in that instant that William
was
the reason for her better, happier moods of late and he could tell he sincerely liked her. He wasn’t going to ruin it with the mention of moody abusive fiancés. He figured that was a situation for them to talk to each other about in private.

William smiled. “I should get going. Thanks for getting the bag back to her and it was nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Walter said, rushing past him to hold the door open. “I should get back to work.”

William nodded and shook Walter’s hand as he walked out. “Yes, and the game.”

They shared a laugh as William left.

Everleigh felt a wave of relief at ten-thirty when Tom announced he needed a good night’s rest and was heading home. She felt almost giddy entering her room and locking her door, now having the time she needed to process her day, her feelings, and her thoughts of William.

As Tom walked through the lobby, Walter held the door open for him. Seeing the doorman reminded Tom he had to cover Everleigh’s fare tonight. Finding that odd, he acted as casual and friendly as he could and as if the thought just occurred to him, he asked, “Everleigh mentioned you paid her fare this evening. Thank you for taking care of her. By the way, do you recall how much her fare was by chance?” Tom stood there pondering this while eyeing Walter.