by Unknown
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I replied, “It’s all been said.”
“Nothing has been said!” Briar protested, but I ignored her, frowning as my email inbox loaded and I noticed an email from Zane. He’d obviously been in the one spot long enough to have continued access to the internet if he’d replied so soon to my email. In general, we don’t reply to the mass emails we send on…that day…but I’d been expecting one in response to Logan’s big reveal.
I clicked on it, but to my surprise, there were only three sentences and none of them asked about Logan:
Nice to finally get a decent amount of photos, Evelyn. You look well, but I have one little question.
Why, in all of the pictures you sent me of the band, there’s no picture of the drummer?
“Crap,” I said with a groan, smacking my head hard.
“What’s wrong?” Briar asked, walking further into the room and reading over my shoulder. She laughed and gave me a playful push, “How much more obvious can you get?”
“I know,” I groaned again, “I was so busy trying to avoid him reading anything into a picture of Stone…that I forgot not having a picture was even worse!”
Candy giggled from the bed, “What are you going to tell him?”
Feeling vindictive, I quickly wrote back:
He’s huge and ugly and hates getting his picture taken.
Candy burst out laughing as I hit send and Briar shook her head with a small smile.
“And you say you’re over it,” she said with a snort.
“I am,” I said once more, before shutting down my computer and crawling into my bed.
Briar sighed, “Will you at least sit with us tomorrow?”
“No.”
***
Shockingly, it wasn’t until Wednesday morning that I finally received another phone call from my mother. It was mid-morning and I was doing nothing, so I grudgingly answered the phone.
“Hi, Mum.”
“Did you know about the baby all this time and not tell me?” she demanded, but there was little bite to her tone.
“No, I didn’t find out until everyone else did.”
“Isn’t it wonderful?” she squealed, “I’ve just started a whole new series of pregnancy romance.”
I choked on a laugh. “Awesome.”
“I’ve started knitting again too! I’ve been working like crazy to get something made in time, but of course then I realised that it will be too hot this time of year for knitwear…so I went on a shopping spree instead.”
I giggled and wondered how much money I had in my allowance savings. I hadn’t bought my niece or nephew a present yet either. I suddenly started to get excited. I’d been too busy concentrating on all the bad, that I hadn’t even made time to be happy for Logan. My phone beeped to signal another call, so I glanced at the screen, my jaw dropping when Logan’s name flashed across it. Shivers of excitement gave me goose bumps and I quickly said goodbye to Mum, breathlessly answering Logan’s call.
“Holy shit, Eve,” his warm voice trembled over the phone, “It’s coming. We’re on our way to the hospital.”
“Logan!” I shouted, “Are you talking to me on your phone while driving your pregnant girlfriend to the hospital?!”
“YES HE IS!” I heard what I presumed was Ivy, shout in the background.
“Sorry! Sorry! Just ring everyone will you? I’ll call you when it’s here.”
“Holy crap,” I said to the empty room.
“SHIT!”
I called my mum back right away.
***
I was smiling brightly when I finally got off the phone with everyone – just in time for dinner. I didn’t even care what my phone bill would be like. I was too excited. Logan could call at any minute now. I’d been on the phone and net for nearly nine hours. I skipped into the dining hall and leapt into a chair beside Candy, smiling brightly at Mason, Jamie and Briar, who were also sitting there. They stared at me.
Mason raised an eyebrow, “Someone’s looking a lot happier today. Get laid?”
“Ow!” he glared across the table at Candy and I assumed she’d kicked him.
“No,” I said cheerfully, ignoring Stone’s stare from across the room, “I’m going to be an aunty very soon. I’m waiting for the phone call.”
Briar and Candy squealed excitedly and the boys nodded with vague smiles. I picked at my dinner, shifting in my seat and humming softly.
Ouch!
I looked over at Candy in surprise. “Stop it,” she said with a laugh, “Sit still and eat. You’re putting me off my food.”
“Sorry,” I said with a big grin.
Candy’s expression suddenly darkened and I followed her gaze to the band table, where Chloe was sitting down next to Stone. In my seat! I fought the growing glare and rolled my eyes instead, pretending not to notice when Stone slowly braced an arm over her shoulders.
Briar’s gaze met mine. “He’s not going to do anything with Chloe, Evie.”
“I don’t care,” I said with a shrug, finally managing to stop fidgeting and eat something now that some of my euphoria had mellowed.
“You do,” Candy insisted. I shot her a glare, but continued eating steadily.
“He’s miserable,” Briar said, pleading at me with her eyes, “Please just let him talk to you.”
“He looks happy enough to me,” I snapped, as he leaned down so that Chloe could better whisper into his ear, “And he hasn’t tried to talk to me.”
“Because he’s still annoyed about everything! Because he doesn’t know what to say to make things up to you. Because he doesn’t know how he feels about all of us keeping stuff from him. He doesn’t know how you feel Evie. He doesn’t know if you’re still mad. He’s been trying to read you all week. Trying to catch your eye. He’s been waiting for you to sit with us again. Waiting for you to throw the necklace back at him and talk about everything!”
My hands slid to my throat and I swallowed when I realised I was still wearing the necklace. I’d been wearing it everyday. I fingered the charm and felt my heart clench at the thought of taking it off.
“I should probably give it back,” I whispered.
Briar groaned, “He won’t take it back. Evie, please at least talk to him. Even if it’s just for closure. I can’t stand to see him hurting.”
“He looks fine,” I said, glancing at his usual blank mask, but avoiding his eyes.
“You know better,” she whispered.
My phone bleeped and I leapt up to pull it from the tight pocket of my jeans. My face split into a broad grin as I read the text.
“I have a niece,” I whispered, before jumping up and down with excitement. Briar and Candy joined in, but I paused, my smile faltering. “I need to call a taxi.”
“Mase can take you!” Candy said, turning to look at her boyfriend. Mason winced, “I’ve got a flat battery.”
He looked at the table sheepishly as Jamie laughed at him for being stupid enough to leave his lights on.
“Ask Stone,” Briar told me, giving me a push in his direction.
“No.”
“Evie…”
“What’s happening?” Alec asked with a smile, wrapping his arms around Briar from behind.
I grinned at him, glad he’d interrupted, even though I suspected he’d been sent over by the rest of the people at the band table, who were trying to sneak looks at us. Stone was openly staring, Chloe still under his arm.
“Logan’s girlfriend just had the baby,” I told him, “I’m going to go order a taxi.”
He eyed me carefully, “Stone could probably give you a lift.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and he grinned. “Fine,” he said with a sigh, “I’ll go grab the keys to the band van. I’ll give you a lift.”
Briar hit him softly in rebuke, but he ignored her.
I beamed at him. “Thank you! I’ll be ten minutes!” I paused in the process of opening the door leading to the stairs. “No tricks either,” I warned th
em, nodding my head towards Stone. Briar stopped whispering in Alec’s ear and pouted, sliding down into her seat with a sigh.
“No tricks,” Alec agreed.
***
My first impression of Ivy Williams, was that she was in fact, rather plain. Yeah, okay, so judging someone’s physical appearance after many hours of labour isn’t exactly fair…but looking beyond the fatigue, I’m ashamed to say my first thought was that she looked pretty ordinary. Medium height, medium build, skin neither tan nor pale, not particularly freckly, no dimples, average size nose, her ears didn’t stick out, her eyebrows weren’t too thin or too shaggy, average breasts, brown eyes and long brown hair.
I’d immediately felt guilty for the thought, especially when I began to wonder why Logan had fallen for her. A little light bulb of realisation flashed through my brain as I began to understand just what Ivy had been thinking when she’d dumped my brother. She wasn’t ugly by any stretch of the imagination – she was even quite pretty in an ordinary way – but compared to the girls Logan usually slept with (and the man himself)…I didn’t think I’d be the only person thinking unkind thoughts.
And for her to get pregnant before they married…I inwardly winced. People would jump to unfair conclusions.
Well stuff them all! I knew that Logan loved Ivy – that he found her beautiful – and that was all that mattered to me.
“Hi,” I smiled at her shyly as Logan pulled me toward the bed.
“Hello,” she said cautiously, before glancing up at Logan. He smiled down at her and dropped a kiss on her forehead. I stifled a giggle of amusement when she blushed.
“This is my little sister Evie,” Logan told her, hugging me to his side. “Evie, meet Ivy.”
I cleared my throat nervously. “It’s great to finally meet you,” I said, unsure how much I was supposed to know about her…or if admitting that I knew very little was wrong. I took a chance and blurted, “All Lo would tell me was your name.”
Ivy smiled warmly at me, “Guess this was kind of a surprise…”
I bit my lip and nodded, “A nice surprise though.”
Ivy let out a large breath she seemed to have been holding and her smile brightened a little more. “Logan did talk a bit about his family…you’re studying here, right? Photography?”
I nodded and cautiously showed her my camera bag. “Do you mind if I take some pictures?”
Ivy groaned. “Not of me, right? Just of Logan and Dylan?”
I froze. “What?”
Logan held me a bit tighter and Ivy shut her mouth with a snap, sending a small glare towards my brother. He shifted a bit behind me and cleared his throat. “We named our daughter Dylan Eva Vine. Ivy’s got an older sister called Ava so we thought we’d mesh Eve and Ava. Do you like it?”
Logan seemed to be purposefully trying to avoid discussing the fact they’d named her Dylan. After Dad. I sent him a look to let him know I wasn’t fooled, but smiled and nodded. “It’s a beautiful name,” I said, looking beyond the bed at the small cot next to it, “Can I see her?”
Logan lit up and tugged me around the bed, carefully lifting the small bundle like a pro – or someone with seven younger siblings – and handing Dylan to me. I nervously cradled her against my chest, unused to holding babies and worried I’d hurt her. I gazed down at her face, admiring her tiny hands and little feet as she snuggled into my warmth.
I teared up a little and hastily tried to blink them away. “She’s beautiful, Lo,” I whispered.
He grinned proudly and carefully took her back. “She sure he is,” he said smugly, “I’ll have to beat the men off.”
I snorted. Logan would probably invite them in for a beer.
I unpacked my camera and snapped what felt like hundreds of photos. I convinced Ivy to get in a few pictures as well, before making Logan take a picture of me and my niece for the display on my phone.
Ivy’s mother and older siblings turned up, so I left quickly after being introduced. Alec had waited for me downstairs and I spent the entire drive home, as well as the walk to my room, going on and on about Dylan. He didn’t seem to mind though. As soon as he left, I plugged in my camera and got to work, editing and sending as many pictures as I could to the family. Naturally, everyone then tried to call, Skype or messenger me, so it wasn’t until nearly dawn, that I eventually got to sleep.
***
To say I was cranky when someone knocked on my door at 0900 hours the next morning, was an understatement. I felt as if I’d barely fallen asleep, so I glared at the door, not even registering the familiar knock.
“Go away! I’m sleeping,” I grumbled quietly. Two firm knocks sounded again though, so I ripped back the covers and trudged to the door, wearing just a skimpy singlet and little shorts. I pulled the door open and rubbed a hand down my tired face, pushing the unruly waves of hair out of the way.
“What is it?” I murmured with a yawn. The large presence in front of me shifted their weight, drawing my attention to full focus. I tilted my head up and looked into those chilly silver eyes.
“Oh,” I cried out softly, “Hi.”
“Hi,” he replied, the shock of his growly voice in the quiet, making me jump. My stomach clenched and my thighs grew warm in reaction to the sound. I’d missed it.
I scowled, my brain fully functioning now.
“Bye,” I snapped, moving to slam the door. He stopped it, grabbing it firmly in one hand and holding it still.
“Evelyn…” he said carefully. We need to talk, his eyes added.
“Go away, Grant,” I said tiredly, “I’m not in the mood for sex or cuddles.”
His eyes flashed with irritation, but he took a calming breath. “Please. I just want to talk.”
I scoffed. “We don’t talk.”
I shoved the door hard and he quickly moved his hand, letting the door slam shut.
Thirty-Seven
The first week of exams started well. I breezed through Monday’s exam and spent Tuesday preparing for Wednesdays’. I felt slightly less confident as I left the room after that one, but decided not to worry about it. My last two exams weren’t until the Thursday and Friday of next week, so I was determined to spend the interim focusing on my photography assignment. I couldn’t put it off any longer. It was due next Wednesday.
In fact, I decided with a sorrowful sigh, I should probably get started on it right now. I trudged back toward my building, kicking up dirt as my feet shuffled unenthusiastically forward.
“Hey Evie-baby!” a familiar friendly voice called, halting my slow progress.
I turned and smiled tentatively at Donny, welcoming the distraction, but still feeling slightly uneasy around him after recent events. “Hi,” I whispered with a blush.
He stopped and examined my face closely for a few moments. With a wry smile, he opened his arms. “Come here you,” he said with a chuckle, “No awkwardness between friends.”
I tentatively slid my arms beneath his and around to pat his back, keeping a bit of distance between us. He snorted, wrapping both arms around me and pressing me to him in a bone-crushing hug.
“Ow,” I muttered, but couldn’t hold back a giggle.
“There we go,” he said as he drew away, gently flicking the corner of my smile, “Let’s go for a walk.”
I glanced up at our building, knowing that I shouldn’t really procrastinate any longer…
To hell with it. I took Donny’s hand and let him lead me away.
***
When we reached the rugby stands, Donny released my hand and lay down on one of the benches. I sat on the one below his and propped my chin in my hands, my elbows resting on my knees as I stared out at the empty pitch.
“How are you holding up?” Donny asked me, all flirtation and silliness gone.
I didn’t turn and look at him, but could feel his intent gaze on my face.
“I’m fine,” I lied. The truth was, I was lonely. I wasn’t sleeping well either – so used to Stone’s huge presence beside me,
that even my king single felt like a king double. To make things worse, I no longer knew my position within the group, or whether I even wanted to retain one. I didn’t know if I’d be able to handle being in such close proximity to Stone day in and day out. For another thing, I didn’t know if Stone would allow my continued presence.
“Do you miss him?”
“Who?”