“Yeah. I don’t count.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Elena. I hate to think you have such a low self-esteem. Of course you count.”
“Ha ha.” She patted his arm, and he bit back a laugh at the patronizing gesture coupled with her patronizing tone. “We all know I don’t suffer from low self-esteem. We also know that you only spend time with girls other than me for one reason.”
That made his jaw clench, irritation prickling over his skin. “Why does everyone think I’m such a … such a …”
“Manwhore?” Elena supplied.
His jaw clenched again. But, “Yeah. That. I’m not a manwhore. I just like to have a good time. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Oh, Evan.” Elena’s hand on his arm gave a little squeeze of reassurance. “Of course there’s not. You know I just like giving you shit. I don’t mean anything bad. But you have to see why I’m curious about this girl who, A, hasn’t been swayed by your charm, which I’m sure you’ve tried on her already, and, B, has you so willing to go out of your way to help her.”
“She was hurt. I couldn’t leave her there by herself.”
Carter interrupted. “Guys. I know it was nice out today, but it’s dark, and it’s February, and I’m cold. Can we go meet her, give her back her keys, and go home?”
Evan led the way up the stairs. He rapped on the door with his knuckles before unlocking it and letting himself in. Layla blinked at him from the spot on the couch where he’d left her, ankle still propped up, but the ice pack sitting on the coffee table. Good. He’d been gone for over half an hour with all the talking. At least she’d remembered to take it off.
Still in the doorway, he offered her a quick smile. “Hey. My roommate and his girlfriend wanted to come check on you too. Is that okay?”
Her dark eyebrows rose, and she adjusted so that she could sit up a little more, setting the book she’d been holding on the coffee table. “I guess so.”
That was all it took for Elena to push past him into the apartment, heading straight for Layla. “Oh, you poor thing. First you get hurt, and then you get stuck with this doofus to look after you.” She hooked a thumb over her shoulder in Evan’s direction. He rubbed his face, burying his laugh.
Layla looked from Elena to Evan and back again, her brows drawing together. “What? No. He’s been great. He helped me off the trail and stayed with me at the ER when my friend Alyssa didn’t answer her phone. And he went and got my car.” Her face cleared, and she glanced at him again. “Did you get my books?”
Crap. “No. I got distracted by these two. Hang on. I’ll go grab them.”
When he got back with Layla’s books, she was sitting with her foot on the coffee table and Elena on the couch next to her. Carter loitered by the door, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, watching the two girls talking. It was Carter’s position that made him realize that Layla didn’t have a TV, though. Her couch faced the window that overlooked the parking lot and the adjacent wall held a variety of bookshelves—two of the cheap five-shelf ones you can get at any big box store, a smaller three-shelf version in a different finish, and another shelf made of cinder blocks and boards. All of them full of books. Well, that was apparently how she kept herself entertained.
He set the stack of books he’d brought from her car next to Layla’s feet, and she stopped talking to look up at him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He touched the toes of her injured foot. “You’re supposed to be keeping this elevated.”
“I am!” She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowing in indignation.
Smiling, he sat down on the coffee table, propping her feet on his legs. “The swelling goes down faster if you keep your ankle above the level of your heart. That’s what I meant by propped up. With you sitting up more and your ankle lower, it doesn’t work as well.”
Her arms fell to her sides, and her eyes relaxed. “Oh.” She chewed on her lower lip, looking down at her hands before meeting his eyes again. “Okay. I’ll be sure to keep it up as much as possible once you guys leave.”
He nodded, his hands absently massaging her calves. “How does it feel? Did the ice help? Have you taken any ibuprofen yet?”
She shook her head. “No. I figured you’d yell at me for getting up if I moved while you were gone. It still hurts. Not as bad as earlier since I haven’t been on it at all, but it’s uncomfortable enough to make sleeping difficult even though I’m really freaking tired.”
Smirking at her choice of words, he stood, placing her feet carefully on the coffee table once more. “I’ll get it for you. Where do you keep it?”
He found it at the back of the narrow cabinet she’d told him to look in next to the sink. Filling a glass with water, he brought it all to her and waited for her to take the pills before ushering Elena and Carter out of the apartment.
“Thanks again, Evan. I really appreciate all your help today.”
He gave her a smile from where he stood in the doorway. “No problem. Why don’t you give me your number before I go, so I can check in on you later. I can give you a ride to school on Monday if you need.”
“You don’t need—“
He fixed her with a look that effectively cut off whatever protest she was about to make, his phone in his hands.
She looked away, biting her lip again, seeming almost flustered. But she relented and rattled off her phone number. “I’m sure my friend Alyssa can give me a ride to school though. You don’t need to plan on doing that.”
“Uh-huh. Like she came with you to the hospital?”
“That’s not the same thing.”
He shrugged. “Okay.” And sent her a quick text so she’d have his number too. “Well, either way, I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Have a good night.”
Without giving her a chance to respond, he locked the door handle and pulled it closed behind him. He’d’ve liked to deadbolt it again, but he didn’t have her keys anymore.
Elena gave him a knowing look as he descended the stairs, and quietly started singing, “Evan and Layla, sitting in a tree,” but he chose to ignore her. Whatever she was thinking didn’t matter. Layla barely tolerated him, so any starry ideas Elena had about them dating wouldn’t amount to anything. Elena could think whatever she liked.
Even if he’d enjoyed holding Layla against his chest, having her wrapped around him, massaging her legs, it didn’t make any difference. As soon as their project was done and her ankle was better, she’d go back to ignoring him like she’d done until Dr. Rankin and circumstance had forced them into each other’s company. He knew how things stood. One thing he’d gotten good at since deciding to stay out of everyone’s drama was recognizing reality for what it was.
Chapter Eleven
Layla breathed a sigh of relief after Evan and his friends left, leaving her in silence, alone with her books. It had been a rough day, and she just wanted to read for a while before going to sleep. But first she needed to call Alyssa back. She’d called, finally, while Evan, Daniel, and Elena were here, and Layla hadn’t wanted to seem rude by answering. Plus, she wouldn’t have been able to fill Alyssa in on all the crazy from today with everyone still in her apartment.
Alyssa picked up on the second ring. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry I didn’t answer earlier. You sounded all panicky on your message but you didn’t say anything but to call you back. And then you didn’t answer when I finally did. What happened? Are you okay? Were you in a wreck? Are you in surgery?”
Layla laughed. “I’m going to go in reverse order. No, no, mostly, and it’s a long story.”
“Wait. No, you’re not in surgery, no, you weren’t in a wreck, and you’re mostly okay? Is that what you mean?”
“Yeah.” Layla laughed again. “I couldn’t answer the phone if I were in surgery, could I? I’d be knocked out.”
“They don’t always knock you out for brain surgery.”
Layla spluttered. “You think they’d let me answer the phone, though?”
“Okay, no. I guess not. At least you weren’t in a wreck. But why are you only mostly okay? What happened?”
With a sigh, Layla recounted the day’s events to her best friend.
“Oh my God.”
“I know.”
“He carried you for like a mile?”
“Yup. Like it was no big deal.”
“Oh my God.”
“Is that all you can say?”
“Yes. Oh my God. Your hot study partner carried you. A mile. Without breaking a sweat.”
“Well, he did break a sweat.”
“Whatever. That’s not important. And then he sat with you in the ER because you couldn’t get ahold of me, took you home, got your car, brought you your books because you’re a nut who leaves them all over your car all the time, and offered to give you a ride to school. Oh my God. That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Layla shifted uncomfortably. “What? No. He was just being nice.”
“Mmmhmm.”
“He was.”
“Okay. If you say so.” She paused. “Are you going to let him give you a ride to school?”
“I don’t know. I was kind of hoping you might be able to.”
Layla held her breath while she waited for Alyssa’s answer. “I only have classes on Tuesday and Thursday. And I work eight to five Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Now that I’m married, my parents aren’t helping pay for anything. You know that.”
Letting out her breath, Layla nodded. “Oh. Yeah. Of course. I guess I wasn’t thinking.”
Alyssa paused for a minute, the silence hanging between them making Layla acutely aware of how far apart they’d drifted since Alyssa had gotten married. They still talked a lot, but it wasn’t the same as when they’d shared a dorm and then an apartment. Layla couldn’t count on Alyssa as much as she used to.
Alyssa cleared her throat. “I could see if Darren could do it.”
“Hmm.” Layla liked Darren well enough, but they didn’t really spend time together without Alyssa around. Even when he was just dating Alyssa, when Layla found herself alone with him, they always had the most awkward conversations until they came to an unspoken agreement to sit in silence while he waited. He’d probably do it because she was Alyssa’s friend, and he was a nice guy. But it would be painfully awkward. Would that be better or worse than accepting Evan’s help?
“Doesn’t he have eight o’clock classes, though?”
“Yeah. He does. Is that a problem?”
Layla blew out a breath. “Let me think about it. Evan didn’t say what his schedule is. It might be easier to just let him do it. He’s offered already, anyway.”
“Mmmhmm.” There was a sly quality to Alyssa’s voice that Layla didn’t like, but she chose to ignore it.
A jaw-popping yawn overtook her, reminding her how exhausted she was. “I’m gonna go. Talk tomorrow?”
“Sounds good. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will.”
After hanging up, Layla hobbled into the kitchen for a snack and got ready for bed. She snuggled back into the couch, having dragged her pillow and an extra blanket from her bed into the living room. Her couch was as comfortable as her bed, and it’d be easier to keep her foot up if she could snuggle into the nest Evan had created for her. She still needed to take the time to examine what had happened today and how she felt about all of it, but for now she was too tired. Instead she’d read for a bit and go to sleep. Tomorrow was soon enough to figure everything else out.
“Come in,” Layla called in response to the knock on her door. That would be Evan here to pick her up for class. He’d called the day before, as promised. It turned out that their schedules matched pretty closely. She finished later than he did on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but he’d assured her that he didn’t mind waiting around for her, and could use the time doing homework or working out. Guilt still niggled at her about forcing him to change his schedule around just for her, but her ankle hurt enough that driving would be painful. Alyssa had taken her to get crutches and an ankle splint the day before. She was currently standing by her kitchen table trying to juggle her books, her backpack, and the crutches.
The door opened, a blaze of light following Evan into her little apartment. After he blinked a few times to let his eyes adjust, he spotted her and crossed the apartment in four big strides. “Here. Let me help you with that.”
She gave him a wan smile as he took the books from her hand, placed them inside her backpack, zipped it closed, and held it for her to slip her arms through the straps. One of her crutches fell with a loud clatter on the vinyl flooring, but he scooped it up, flashing his straight, white teeth at her. “There. All set?”
With a nod, he walked with her to the door, waiting while she closed and locked it. The concrete steps stretched out below her, looking more daunting today than they ever had before.
“I can carry you down if you need. I don’t mind. I feel lazy anyway, since I usually work out before classes.”
Layla shook her head, the trickle of guilt turning into a full-blown river. He was really going out of his way to help her out. “No. I need to do this. I’ll have to get around campus on my own. Just—walk in front of me so you can catch me if I fall.”
He studied her, his eyes flicking over her face, before nodding. “Alright. But if I catch you, I’m carrying you the rest of the way down.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Sounds fair.”
One hand on the banister, Evan backed down the first three steps, pausing while she navigated her way down the first step using the crutches. It was awkward and slow, putting most of her weight on her left foot, placing the crutches on the next step down one at a time, moving her right foot down, and balancing her weight between her injured foot and the crutches while she brought her left foot down. The added weight from her backpack didn’t help any, but she was determined to do it herself.
As if he could read her thoughts, Evan, now only two steps below her, reached a hand toward her. “At least let me take your backpack.”
She stifled her laugh, but not her smile, shaking her head. “I got it. It’s harder, but I’ll be carrying it around all day. Might as well get used to it now.”
His mouth twisted like he might argue, but instead he gave a short nod and took another step down. They continued this way to the bottom of the stairs, him backing down one step at a time, her with her awkward, crutch-assisted, toddler-like gait. At least it was warm enough today that she only needed a light jacket. She didn’t know how she’d manage if she had to deal with her winter coat as well as her backpack and crutches. At the bottom, he stood off to one side while she navigated the last few steps. When she joined him, she gave him a wide smile.
“I did it!”
“You did.” His smile matched hers, and for a second she was lost in the unreserved happiness on his face, his blue eyes lit up, his even white teeth gleaming in the morning sun. He really was beautiful. She’d trained herself not to notice when she’d pegged him as a shameless flirt and a douche. He’d reminded her too much of Mark and everything that had happened with him. Ignoring him completely had been her best defense against his beauty and charm.
But he was actually a really nice guy. Not at all like Mark. Smart. Smarter than she’d given him credit for at first. They’d talked some about The House of the Spirits on the phone the day before, and he’d made some insightful comments and had a couple of good ideas for how to approach their project. Witnessing him talk with Abby about Isabel Allende and the socio-political background of the author and the book had given her a grudging respect for his intellectual capacity, but their conversation had taken it up a few levels.
She still couldn’t believe he was so willing to go out of his way to help her out like this, especially after the way she’d treated him the first time they’d interacted. God, she’d been such a horrible bitch.
Evan hadn’t seemed to notice her star-struck reaction to his smile, thank goodness. He opened
her door and put her crutches in the back seat for her. When he got in the driver’s seat and started the car, she reached out and put her hand on his arm on impulse. He stilled, and she withdrew her hand, her palm tingling from the brief contact. They hadn’t touched since Sunday, and it seemed that their interactions that day had polarized her toward him, the desire to touch him charging the air.
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she cleared her throat. “I, um, I …” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm her sudden nervous stammering. Without opening her eyes, she spit out what she wanted to say. “I wanted to apologize again for how I was before. I was a royal bitch, and you didn’t deserve that, and I’m sorry. And thank you again for helping me on Sunday and now. No one would blame you for leaving me in the woods to hobble home on my own or just dumping me at the ER after the way I treated you.”
“Hey.” His soft voice interrupted her flow of words and got her to open her eyes and look at him.
His palm skimmed over her leg. “We agreed on Sunday we were starting fresh, so whatever happened before doesn’t matter. And you’re welcome. I don’t mind helping you.”
Heat washed up her body starting from her leg, and she swallowed convulsively. He didn’t seem to notice, turning to the steering wheel and pulling out of his parking space.
He dropped her off as close to her first class as possible, helping her out of the car and getting her crutches, holding them steady for her as she arranged her backpack. “Text me when you’re done with class, and I’ll come get you.”
She ducked her head, wanting to avoid getting transfixed by his smile again. “Okay. Sure. I’ll call you when I’m done.”
His fingers brushed hers, and he stepped back, heading back to his car to park elsewhere. “I’ll see you later.”
Chapter Twelve
Evan shifted in his place on Layla’s couch as the ending credits for Amélie played on his laptop screen. Layla’s arm pressed against his leg as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. They’d watched the movie after he’d brought her home from class on Friday. Ostensibly he’d been staying to go over their presentation for World Lit, which they were giving on Tuesday.
False Assumptions (Players of Marycliff University Book 6) Page 7