Evolve Series Box Set

by Hall, S. E.

  “Go home, Sawyer!”

  “Not happening, woman,” he mocks me in a singsong tone. “I’m counting to three, so if you’re not gonna open it, at least get back. I don’t want you hurt.”

  He wouldn’t.

  “One!”

  I don’t think he would.

  “Two!”

  Shit, okay! “I’m coming! Simmer down, you crazy man!” I brush aside the curtains and look out at the man I can’t seem to shake, the moonlight a melodic backdrop to his angry, muscular, adorable glory.

  The second I have the window latch flipped, he’s pushed it open and already hoisted himself through. “You are in some serious trouble, Shorty.”

  “And you are scarily close to needing medication. What the hell are you doing crawling through my window in the middle of the night? Did you leave all your brain cells inside Mariah?”

  It’s the meanest thing I’ve ever said to someone in my life and I already regret it.

  “Is that what this is about? You think I fucked Mariah?”

  “You sure as hell looked close to it at the bar!”

  He stalks toward me until I’m backed against the wall, the lazy moon our own only light. “I was trying to be distant but polite. I didn’t want to cause a damn scene. What do you care anyway?”

  “I don’t care! You came to me!”

  He grabs the finger I’m poking into his chest and pulls me forward with it, coming nose to nose with me. “You leave work without telling me. You don’t answer your phone, texts or your door. What the fuck was I supposed to do?”

  I like it better when he screams; this low, gritty voice is steering me a bit off course.

  “Nothing! You’ve done enough! My car, my house, my job, everything is because of you! I can’t use you anymore. I’m such a goddamn leech I can’t even look myself in the mirror! Quit worrying about me, Sawyer, go be happy. Fuck Mariah sideways if that’s what it’ll take, but leave me be!”

  “Fine!”

  “Fine!”

  I’m not sure which my neighbor, Tucker, will appreciate more, our volume or our extensive vocabularies.

  Surprisingly, I don’t cry this time. No, I’m too wound up from being screamed at and pseudo-burglarized to cry. I know the nausea, which you’d expect from pregnancy, is from picturing him and Mariah together, not the hormones. I climb back into bed and curl in a ball, turned toward the wall.

  It’s not the lack of loud foot stomps or the absence of an opening or slamming door that clue me in…no, it’s the charge in the air, the tingling that starts at the base of my spine and slinks its way up until the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I know he’s still here, looking over me.

  “I didn’t touch Mariah tonight, nor will I ever touch her again.” His voice, now calm and low, cuts through the darkness.

  “It’s none of my business,” I say to the wall. “I’m sorry for what I said.”

  The mattress squeaks and sags under his weight, but I hold my ground and don’t turn over to see what he’s doing. “It scares me when I hear you’re sick and then I can’t find you.”

  “I just couldn’t watch her hands on you, Sawyer. She’s not good enough for you.”

  “Do you really think that?” He lies down behind me, scooting up against my back and curling an arm around my waist.

  “Yes. You’re the lottery and she’s a penny slot machine—everyone can get a pull. Find someone who appreciates all the extraordinary things you have to offer, Sawyer.”

  “Like what?” His stubble scratches my shoulder as he snuggles in further.

  “You don’t really need me to boost your ego, do you?”

  “Yes,” he tickles my side, “I do. I want to know…what someone as mind-blowing as you would possibly find special about me. Humor me, please.”

  “Hhh,” I sigh, unable to resist entwining my fingers through his resting on my stomach. “Let’s see. First of all, you’re hot as hell, and you know it, but the sexiness comes from your mannerisms—the cocky smile, the dark blue, all-seeing eyes, the sarcastic smirk—they’re all sexy and all you. It’s so much more, though, your aura or something. I don’t know. I’d bet good money you could even lure in a blind, deaf girl from fifty yards.”

  Abruptly, he flips me over, no longer satisfied having a conversation with my back. “My turn?”

  “No.” I silence him with a finger to his lips. “I didn’t ask, you did. Want me to stop?”

  I hope he says no. He needs to know how incredible he is, and I’m happy to be the one to tell him.

  “I guess not.” He plays aloof and I snort, not fooled—he’s dying to hear the rest.

  “You’re kind, maybe the kindest person I’ve ever met. You’re generous to a fault and a fiercely loyal friend. You’re protective, but in a non-suffocating way, and you respect women wholly. You’re hilarious and clever and pretty easygoing most of the time. And you care and love with all you are.”

  “Why didn’t you go to the ER and report it?”

  “Who has ADD now? Where’d that come from?”

  “I can’t quit thinking about it. The thought of you dealing with it all by yourself makes me crazy angry that I wasn’t there for you.” He kisses my forehead. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

  “You didn’t even know me then, so there’s certainly nothing for you to be sorry about.”

  “Why didn’t you go?” he asks again, holding my eyes with his own, a deadly serious conversation brewing.

  “And say what? I got smashed and irresponsible at a party and may or may not have rejected sex with one of fifty guys at said party?”

  “Or, I went to a party, which everyone should be able to safely do, and someone drugged and then attacked me? Please make sure I’m okay and run the DNA so I can press charges.”

  “I didn’t want anyone to know. I feel foolish and ashamed that I even put myself in that position.”

  “If a girl wears a really short skirt and dances on a table at a bar, is she ‘asking for it’?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Exactly! It didn’t happen because you went to a party or because of what you wore or even that you drank. It happened because one douche thought it was okay to attack a comatose girl. It will only ever be his fault, not yours.”

  “See, that’s why you deserve better than Mariah,” I say, running my hand down his chest. “You’re a one of a kind man. Hard body, soft heart.”

  “Can I hold you tonight? I was so worried. I just want to be able to sleep, knowing you’re right beside me, safe.”

  “I should say no because the line is so blurry, but I sleep better with you too,” I admit. “So yes, please stay.”

  “Come ‘ere.” He pulls me closer, offering his arm as my pillow. “Goodnight, Shorty. Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

  “Night, Sawyer, sweet dreams.”

  “They will be now.”

  CHAPTER 13

  Perfect Picture

  ***Sawyer***

  Tuesday night we all get a group text, which I’m shocked but pleased immensely to see Emmett is now a part of the list.

  The pleased part dies a quick death when I actually read it.

  Laney: Laney’s 20th birthday party this Sat night at The K, 8 pm. Costume ball— come as Disney Princes and Princesses!!

  Whitley: OMG yay! So fun!

  Tate: FML. Aren’t we too old for this?

  Dane: Surely you’re not ragging on my beautiful girl’s party idea which she is very excited about. I’m imagining that, right?

  Whitley: I call Tinkerbell!

  Bennett: Taterbear, be nice. I call Ariel!

  Evan: Again, HOW do you u remove yourself from a group message?

  Emmett: Thank you so much for thinking of me. I’d love to come but I work that night.

  Sawyer: No u don’t, Shorty. We’ll close down for the bday girl. Will you please come as my princess?

  Laney: Ahh xoxo

  Emmett: Which princess did you have i
n mind?

  Sawyer: The half-naked one with the long black hair.

  Emmett: Pocahontas?

  Sawyer: Yes, Pokeyourhontas.

  Zach: Good one lmao

  Emmett: How about Belle? You can be the Beast.

  Sawyer: I don’t even need a costume to be a Beast.

  Emmett: Well there ya go, Belle it is.

  Zach: Who the %!#* am I supposed to bring?

  Emmett: Zach, Sawyer could ask his friend Mariah to join you.

  Sawyer: EMMETT.

  Laney: Zach, take off your shirt & walk to dorm laundry. You’ll have plenty of choices in minutes.

  Dane: LANEY.

  Laney: So excited! Can’t wait to c everybody!

  Emmett walks in the front door of The K about twenty minutes later, apologizing the whole walk up to me for being late.

  “Everything okay?” I ask her.

  “Yes, Beast, I just couldn’t find my keys. Are you excited about the party?”

  “I guess.” I pop a shoulder. “If it makes Laney happy and you’re excited, then I’m willing to do just about anything.”

  “Thank you for asking me to go with you. I’ve never done anything like this—no prom, no dances, so it will be my debut.” She does a curtsy then rises back up and smiles at me.

  “There’s no princess I’d rather take. And you thanked me.” I wink. “You know what that means.”

  “Are we still playing that game? I haven’t been paying attention. Okay,” she huffs, “shoot.”

  “Why don’t you ever go to the doctor? You should know exactly how far along you are, your due date, and all kinds of stuff. Prenatal care is vital, Emmett, and I haven’t seen one clue that you’re getting any.”

  “I take a prenatal vitamin every single day. I don’t drink,” she’s fired up, ticking off on her fingers, “I googled the healthiest diet, I cut out almost all caffeine. And I went to get tested for diseases, just in case he—” She chokes up, seemingly on air, then takes a few deep breaths. “He didn’t give me anything. I’m not being neglectful.”

  “Hey,” I come out from behind the bar, “you didn’t hear any judgment in the question. If you did, you put it there. I only wanted to mention it because the book says you should be seeing a doctor once a month.”

  “The book?”

  I reach back and pull it out from under the counter. “What To Expect When Emmett’s Expecting. Step one is go to a doctor.”

  “Why do you have that book? And at work?” She darts her head around, making sure no one hears us.

  “I want to be able to help you.”

  This is the part where she reminds me she’s not a charity case and I can’t get too close and keep rescuing her. I brace for it, ten plausible comebacks already rehearsed.

  “Really? You want to help me?”

  Ah, read about this too. It’s totally natural for her to cry a lot…and tinkle. Two mysteries solved by chapter five.

  “More than anything, Shorty mama. That’s what friends do, right?” I say with a grin. “So you’re not mad?”

  “No,” she chuckles, “I’m not mad. I’m once again impressed and touched. So I guess I’ll start looking for a doctor now that I make good money. I couldn’t afford it before, but I did take precautions.”

  That’s my cue—I whip out the card from my back pocket and hand it to her. “Doctor Pregnant at your service. She takes The K’s insurance and we have an appointment at one on Thursday.”

  She slowly looks from the card up to me, eyes wet but happy. “I’m not sure how I managed before you, but I thank God every single day that I have you now. Thank you, Sawyer.”

  I hold open my arms and she slides right in, soaking up my hug as much as I relish in the feel of her. “Let’s call her by her actual name though, okay? It’s Dr. Greer.”

  “Count your blessings, woman. It was Doc InspectAPuss for a while.”

  “I will kill you.” Her eyes slit and warn me; she actually will kill me.

  “I know, I know. Sheesh, those damn pregnancy hormones are suffocating your sense of humor.” I release her, evaluating her from head to toe. “Are you ready to get to work? If you get too tired on the floor, tell me and we’ll switch you. Your energy level should start to go back up in a week or two, though.”

  “I’m great and I need the money the floor brings. Don’t patsy me, Sawyer. I can do it.”

  “Okay then.” I swat her butt, laughing when she jumps and turns around to give me a surprised visual dressing down.

  ***

  Maybe it’s the graceful way she glides instead of walks, or her sweet smile and the way it seems like every customer is as important as the last, or perhaps I’m just mesmerized by the way her low cut top seems to be trying to kick her boobs out of it, but work time isn’t good enough right now—I want only her and I time, us time, and I want it right this fucking minute. Wednesday nights are always slow anyway, so I put Kasey behind the bar and take Emmett home early. Of course she balks, desperate for the money, but when I point out her one customer and offer up a chick flick and no MSG Chinese takeout on me, she caves.

  I take her hand as we walk out and open her door, laughing to myself. My poor bike is sitting under the carport collecting dust most days. I take this car, with its hot little passenger, everywhere more often than not.

  When I climb behind the wheel, feeling like the freakishly big man in the circus car, she’s already turned on the radio. It’s garbage, Top 40 brain-melting bullshit, so I grab my phone and plug it in.

  “Got a song, for you, from me,” I say with a wink.

  She tilts her head and gives me the side-eyed examining look of hers, eyes turning sad and a frown kidnapping her sweet mouth when she figures out what it is—“Savin’ Me” by Nickelback.

  “You don’t need me to save you, Sawyer,” she mumbles through that frown.

  “You’re right. I don’t. You already did. And I’d love nothing more than the chance to show you what I can be.”

  “You already did,” she retorts like the clever little vixen she is.

  “Oh, Em, you have no idea. There’s so much more I want to show you.”

  She doesn’t respond to that, turning to look out her window instead of at me. We listen to the rest of the album as we go through the drive-thru, the wait taking longer than usual for them to remove all MSG, which I highly suspect is a ruse. Can you really take all that shit out of it and still have Chinese food? I figure it must be kinda like taking the cow outta the milk.

  Back on our way, the sounds coming from the passenger seat sound like a football team hitting a buffet. “You saving me any over there, woman?”

  “It’z jus wun egwoll,” she mumbles, hand under her mouth to catch any food she loses with her excuse.

  “Uh huh, are you sure it was the right one, with no MSG?’

  “Yez, I chebbed ddu wapper.”

  “Well then, by all means carry on, my lil’ piggy.”

  She holds up a finger that she needs one more second to chew, then swallows and gives me a huge smile. “Can we go get ice cream too, my treat?”

  She seems so happy tonight, a new air about her, and it’s turning me on like mad. “That sounds good, but I’m buying. Ah ah—” I hold my hand up, “talk to the hand, woman.”

  Her head falls back with a sweet giggle and I shift slightly in my seat, my jeans suddenly a bit crowded.

  “Hand, can we make it Coldstone?”

  “Your wish, madam, is my command. Birthday cake cookie bash blah blah it is.”

  “Close.” She laughs. “You’ve been?”

  “Nah, Laney. She sometimes makes me take a bite of hers. So sweet it’s disgusting.”

  “What do you like?”

  “Moonlit strolls on the beach.” I look over at her and smirk. “Oh, you mean ice cream? Good ole chocolate.”

  “Plain,” she mocks a yawn.

  “Not plain at all, more…classic. When you know exactly what you like, what you want, you stick with it.�
�

  I keep my eyes straight ahead but catch her in my peripheral. She’s staring at my profile, short, shallow breaths pausing between her parted lips. “Right,” she whispers, “that makes sense.”

  “We’re here!” I turn to her with my announcement, a grin to stop traffic lighting up her face. You’d think I went to Jared.

  “Woo hoo!” She bursts out of the car. Skipping, ah how I’ve longed to see that move again, to the door and flinging it open. “Oh my God, can you smell that? This is what Heaven smells like, I know it.”

  Buy stock in Coldstone, people—I plan on making a habit of seeing her so tickled. She’s gone without so much like a trooper, not a trace of bitterness or self-pity, for so long…all it takes is some ice cream to make her day. I’m in awe of this girl.

  She orders something with the word cookie in it (called that) and I go with one scoop of chocolate in a cup. When she pulls out her money, I gently swat her hand and step right in front of her, much to the cashier’s amusement.

  “Can we eat in the car?” she asks in between licks of her cone as we head for the door.

  Oh. Hell. No. I am but a man, after all.

  “Hold on.” I grumble, walking back to the counter. I grab a spoon from the jar by the register then stomp back to Emmett, jabbing the spoon into her cone like a candle on a cake. “Eat it with that.”

  “Why? If we can’t eat in the car, that’s fine. Let’s just grab a table.”

  I huff, holding the door open. “Not worried about the car, woman. Did I say anything when you ate the Chinese food in the car? Come on.” As she passes by me I lean in to whisper, “Just keep that little pink tongue in that sweet mouth of yours, okay?”

  She turns back to look at me over her shoulder, her green eyes filled with shock…and something that doesn’t look anything like rejection.

  We’re not far from the house, so she’s still eating when we pull into her driveway.

  “Your house tonight, I assume?” I ask as I turn off the car.

  “Laney’s gonna think I kidnapped you. You’re never there anymore.”

  “Yeah,” I open my door, “but Dane’ll love me for it. He can’t get her to move in with him, so he’s squatting at hers.”