Running Home to You (The Running Series) (32 page)

“Good night, Evan.  I love you, too,” I answer as sleep claims me. 

As I’m drifting off to sleep, I hear Evan whisper softly, “Forever.”

Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

I
wake early the next day, well before the sun.  As I attempt to adjust my position, I feel a tugging sensation in my middle.  Once the fog in my mind clears, I realize that pulling sensation is Evan’s arm.  A smile slowly etches across my face as I listen to him sleep.  I know he’s sound asleep without even looking.  His breathing is slow and steady, and I can feel his warm breath sweeping across my shoulder.  I cuddle into his warm embrace a little more deeply and drift back into a blissful sleep in the arms of the man I love.  I have the most magical dreams of beautiful little brown haired girls all holding Winnie the Pooh honey bears.

The next time I wake, the sun is shining brightly through the window, casting the room in a glorious ray of blue light.  My head is resting on Evan’s chest and this time it’s my arm holding tightly across his middle.  He looks down at me and moves a stray hair behind my ear.  “Good morning,” he hums happily.  “How are you feeling today?”

I look up into his piercing blue eyes.  He smiles, flashing the most hypnotizing dimples.  “Too soon to say, really.”  Evan’s arm is wrapped tightly around me, stroking my back and sending tiny sparks of electricity shooting through me like wildfire.  I wrap a leg around his, the need to feel close to him nearly overwhelming.

With my free hand, I take advantage of the opportunity to reacquaint myself with the chiseled perfection of his beautifully formed chest.  I trace the lines that outline his well-sculpted abs.  When I begin to explore the tiny hairs just below his navel, he grabs my hand, brings it to his lips, and kisses each of my knuckles.

“If I stay here much longer, I can’t be held responsible for what happens next, Juliette.”  Evan holds me tightly, and the evidence of his affections for me is pressing firmly against me.

“I’m afraid to get up, Evan.  I’m frightened that this is just another dream and when I get up, I’ll wake and you’ll disappear again.” 

“Oh, sweetheart.  I’m not going anywhere.” He squeezes me again.  “But I’m also not going to be the one to disobey doctor’s orders.  When I bring you back into our bed, there will be no doubt about what may or may not happen.”  He gives me a playful slap on my ass.  “You get that beautiful ass in the shower and I’ll start the coffee.  Don’t be long.”

Evan slips from the bedroom and I watch as he disappears from view.  When I attempt to make myself vertical, the consequences of last night’s over indulgence becomes crystal clear.  My head feels like it weighs a hundred pounds.  I definitely overdid it last night.  I haven’t felt this bad in a long time.

After a long, hot shower, I join Evan in the kitchen where I find him staring out the window, holding a cup of coffee, and dressed in a pair of long shorts and a crimson red Sentinel’s t-shirt.  My eyes dart to his bare feet.  I’ve always felt there was something strangely intimate about a man’s bare feet and I’ve given it quite a bit of thought about why the sight of something so banal brings me such joy.  God knows there’s nothing attractive about men’s hairy feet.  As I’m standing here, I think I finally understand.  I never had a man in my house growing up.  It was just my mother and me.  The men who visited our home came and went, friends, neighbors, uncles, and cousins.  Their visits were always short and infrequent.  A man walking around in bare feet represents the close intimacy of family, of belonging, of comfort.  Seeing him standing there, I know exactly where I belong, where I find my comfort, and where I want to build my family.

“You look deep in thought, Juliette.  Is everything okay?” he asks.

I nod my head.  “Oh, yeah.  Everything’s good.  Really good.”

I pour myself a cup of hot coffee and take a seat at the kitchen table.  Evan joins me and asks, “Did you girls have fun last night?  You were so cute when you got here.”

“I was cute?  I vaguely remember leaving the bar last night with Marcus.”  I close my eyes and try to recall what happened after that, but I come up blank.  “Why didn’t Marcus bring me home last night?  Was I that bad?  Did I say anything embarrassing?”

“A true gentleman doesn’t reveal his secrets.” 

“Well, tell me this.  Can you tell me why I dreamed of beautiful little brown-haired girls and Winnie the Pooh?” I ask him.

Evan sits back in his chair and grins, contemplating his response.  He knows something, so I patiently wait for him to share.

“Before I answer, I’d like to ask you something.  Do you think that people reveal their private truths when they drink too much, or do their ramblings mean nothing significant?”

“Hmm, interesting thought,” I concede.  Since I have no idea where he’s going with this, I have no choice but to answer truthfully.  “It’s been my experience that alcohol just intensifies your emotions and personality.  It doesn’t completely change who you are or what you truly think and feel.”

“I totally agree, Juliette.”  A huge grin slowly appears across his face and he gives a little chuckle.  “Last night, you were asking me if I was going to marry you,” he confesses.  Completely embarrassed, I bury my head in my arms on the table.  “But that’s not all.  You also told me you thought we would make beautiful babies together.  I’m pretty sure that’s why you dreamed about little girls.  I have no idea what the deal is with the bear, though.”

I sneak a peek at Evan and he’s not laughing at me.  Thank God.  “Evan, I’m so sorry,” I tell him.  “I had no right to put you on the spot like that.  I’m so embarrassed.”

Evan gets up and walks over to me.  He crouches down and gently takes my chin in his hand, forcing me to look at him.  “Don’t ever be embarrassed about telling me what your dreams are, especially when they’re such beautiful dreams.  Your dreams are my dreams.  You are my dream come true.  Don’t you know that by now?”

“I thought I knew that, but you’ve been so far away. I thought your dreams didn’t include me anymore,” I tell him honestly.  “So now what?”

“We stick to the plan.  I have the ESPYs tonight with Callie.  She’s really looking forward to it, too.  Tomorrow, we have an early appointment with the good doctor.  Let’s see what happens then.”  I nod in agreement.

E
van and Callie are getting ready at the McGuire’s home with the help of some stylists.  Evan insisted that I invite everyone over to the beach house to watch the ESPYs here.  Everyone’s here except for Adam.  It’s his job to stick close but remain in the background all night.  I don’t know if I envy him or feel sorry for him. 

Auggie is here with us tonight.  His parents brought him here earlier.  It’s his first outing since the accident.  I’m so glad to have him here with us.  He’s in good hands today.  He’s got four women fussing all over him, waiting on him hand and foot.

Despite the fact that most of us here are in the food industry, none of us feel well enough to cook tonight.  A real treat for a chef or baker is to have someone else cook for us.  Marcus and Derek agree to take care of dinner.  For them, that means pizza, which is just fine by us.  Here at the Jersey Shore, we have some of the best pizza joints in the state, maybe even the entire world.

We watch and wait for Evan to hit the Red Carpet.  I get a text from Evan at 7:30 telling me that he’s in the limo and he’s about to make his way to the Red Carpet.  We all gather around the television, and we don’t have to wait long.  I get my first look at my man, looking so incredibly handsome.  He’s wearing a sharp gray suit, a white shirt, and an orchid tie.  Just the right amount of facial hair makes him completely irresistible.

We can see Callie off to the side as Evan stops for photos and interviews.  Evan is so poised and comfortable in front of the camera.  When one reporter asks whom he brought with him today, he motions for Callie to join him.  He proudly puts his arm around his big sister and introduces her.  Callie looks lovely on her brother’s arm, dressed tastefully in a short, shimmery ecru-colored dress that shows off her tanned legs so well.

While we wait for the awards to begin, the pizza arrives.  The guys pop open a few cold beers to enjoy with their pizza, but not us girls.  Emmy and I have prepared Sangria Mocktails, an alcohol-free Spanish punch overflowing with fresh fruit and juice.

As everyone is chatting merrily, Marcus pulls me aside to discuss last night’s events.  “So, Jette, how much do you remember about last night?” he asks.

“Most of it, I think.  I know we drank a lot, too much, really.  I remember everything until we started doing all those shots.  That’s when things start to get fuzzy,” I confess.  “Wait a minute,” I grab his arm and ask him a question quietly so that no one else can hear, “did I get into a fight last night?”  He nods his head.  “Holy shit.  I remember now.  Ryker was there, wasn’t he?”

“Yeah, he was.  Listen, I don’t like what I’m seeing.  I think it’s time we let him go.  He was only supposed to stay until the Grand Opening, anyway.  I think it’s time we part ways amicably.  We can write him a good letter of recommendation and help him find a job if he wants.  What do you say?”

Flashes of Ryker come in fleeting images.  I remember him showing up out of nowhere last night.  I can see him pulling up on his motorcycle long after he should have left the bar.  He seems to have a strong distaste for Evan, and that’s not a good attribute for an employee to have.  As much as it pains me to admit, it’s probably a good idea to let Marcus fire him.

“Do it,” I tell him.  “Just do me one favor, I don’t want to be there when you do.”  Something tells me that this needs to be handled carefully.  “Does Evan know what happened?”

“No, I haven’t had a chance to talk to him.  Not yet.”

“Marcus, I’m just getting him back.  I don’t want to give him any excuse to overreact.  Please don’t tell him.”

“Jette, he has a right to know.  If Ryker shows up again, Evan needs to know what he’s dealing with.  Don’t worry, I’ll handle Mac.”  He puts his hands on my shoulders and assures me, “I got this.” 

I rejoin the girls who are hanging out on the deck outside with Auggie.  He’s been cooped up indoors for far too long.  Marcus opens the door for me as I step outside.  Camilla sees her fiancé and calls, “Oh, there you are.  Honey bear, can I have a bottle of water, please?”

It all makes perfect sense now.  “Honey bear!” I shout.  “That’s why I dreamed of Winnie the Pooh last night.”  I get strange looks from everyone, particularly Marcus.

Eventually, the moment of truth arrives, Evan’s on screen appearance.  He steps out onto the stage, along with the beauty Jennifer Cameron who starred in that long running television drama, The Valley.  For someone nearly fifty years old, she is unbelievably gorgeous.  The two of them get a roaring welcome of applause as they make their way to the microphone.  Always the gentleman, Evan allows Jennifer to speak first, only adding a few side remarks before announcing the winner and presenting the trophy to a basketball player from Syracuse.

Once Evan’s big moment is over, there’s not much more for us to watch.  Of course, Marcus and Derek are keenly interested, but as for us girls, we just spend the remainder of the night hanging out on the deck and enjoying the view of the ocean as night falls gently on the horizon.

At ten o’clock, I get a text from Evan to tell me he’s on his way to a few after parties.  He wants to show Callie a good time and introduce her to a few of his teammates and celebrities that will be making the rounds tonight.

I would prefer not to sit up waiting and wondering when he’ll be home, so at eleven, we all wrap things up and I bring Auggie back home.  It’s been a long day for him and he’s exhausted.  After tucking him in, I lock up and climb into bed, too.

I get a text at nearly two o’clock in the morning from Evan to let me know he’s home, he’s safe, and he’ll see me soon.  I text back a simple X O for hugs and kisses to let him know I got his text.