A Prior Engagement

by S. L. Scott

  “I treat you like a child because that is how you act. You’ve been petulant and irresponsible. You have to earn respect, Everleigh. All you’ve shown me recently is that you need discipline, and with that, punishment. That’s all you’ve earned.”

  “I’m already being punished. I live in Hell. It can’t get worse than this!” Her eyes welled with tears.

  He leaned forward resting one of his hands on the table while the other took her hand in his. After he brought her hand to his mouth, he kissed it. “You don’t know what Hell is, but keep this up and you will soon find out.”

  She yanked her hand away like she had been burned. “You can’t destroy me anymore than you have. I’m nothing when I’m with you!”

  “Be careful what you say next. I’m warning you now, Everleigh, the wedding is on the line here. I don’t care how many years I’ve invested in you.”

  She stood up in protest, but managed to speak in her normal tone. “Invested? I’m not a business acquisition that shows profits and losses. I’m a person. And please don’t threaten me with the wedding. That’s not a threat. That would be a dream come true.” She threw her napkin on the empty plate in front of her and hurried through the crowded restaurant and out the front door.

  She ran to her left back into the heart of Manhattan and away from this part of town as fast as she could as crazy thoughts flooded her mind. Hailing a cab, she jumped in as soon as one pulled to the curb to make her escape from Tom. She leaned forward, giving the cabbie directions to the park near her home.

  With her thoughts frenzied, she took her phone out and called William on a whim. He didn’t answer, but she left a message asking him to join her. She knew she shouldn’t have, but she needed the comfort only he could provide.

  The sight of this part of the park calmed her anxiety over the fight with Tom. She paid the cab driver and started walking. Just as she found a vacant park bench, she received a text from him:

  William: Five minutes until lunch. I’ll bring subs and meet you there.

  Evie: I’ll wait for you.

  The bench was dirty, but she didn’t care. Her mind was weighed down with more important issues today. He didn’t keep her waiting long, explaining he was close to the area when she called. There was more silence than words in the beginning because he could tell she was troubled and he didn’t want to push.

  As they ate, she debated whether she should tell him about her first lunch of the day. But she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She enjoyed her time with him and didn’t want to ruin it, so she remained quiet on the matter. It was a conversation they needed to have, but she was not ready to risk this . . . this . . . what they were sharing right now. She took another bite of her sandwich and said, “This is good.”

  William still found it amusing and intriguing that she ate such normal foods like it was the first time she had ever eaten them—first the pizza and now the sandwich. Surely, she’s had a sub sandwich before. “Do you eat many subs?”

  “Not really. I had a nanny who used to take me to a local deli and we would share one. I liked that nanny.”

  William thought most of her stories about her childhood seemed gloomy though he didn’t think she meant them that way.

  “Does your mom make dinner?”

  “Ha! No, but we found the best French chef two years ago. He is amazing.” Her mood brightened as she said this.

  William laughed with a full mouth of food, but quickly covered it so as not to be gross before he grabbed his drink to wash it down. After he stopped laughing, he asked, “Have you ever eaten a hotdog from a street cart?”

  “No. I was never allowed.” Evie’s expression turned serious. She looked down at the crumbs left on the sandwich wrapper. “Please don’t make fun of me.”

  “I’m sorry if it came across as teasing. I wasn’t making fun of you at all. I’m just surprised by how untainted you are by the real world—”

  “Oh, I’m tainted more than you know.”

  “You say things like that, but never elaborate. And, a lot of time, I see sadness in your eyes. Are you sad, Evie?”

  She felt his eyes heavy on her. He was searching for answers she couldn’t give him, not yet, at least. “I have things in my life to be sad about, yes. But not when I’m with you.” She said this with conviction.

  Her little confession surprised him. “You’re the most honest person I think I’ve ever met. Don’t ever change.” William reached across the bench to touch her hand, but she tucked it to her side.

  Feeling the sting of rejection, he wasn’t quite sure what went wrong between them in the preceding moments.

  Tears filled her eyes again for the second time today, but this time for very different reasons. She knew she hadn’t been honest with him and she hated herself for lying. The guilt was consuming her. Just as a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek, she stood and announced, “I have to go.” Picking her purse up, she thanked him for lunch before she rushed away.

  Evie made it about ten feet before she was grabbed and pulled against his chest. He held her tighter than she had ever been held. She couldn’t escape him if she wanted, but she didn’t want to, so she stopped trying and relaxed within the safety of his arms, letting him envelop her.

  His heart beat strong as she breathed in his scent, a combination of soap and a light sweat, made her a bit lightheaded. She wanted as much of him as she could get right then, but her reality was a dark cloud hanging over her. She took a deep breath as William stroked her hair, gaining her strength to fight all the good in the feelings he brought out in her.

  “I’m here if you need a friend, Evie. You can tell me anything.”

  Pushing against his body, she detached from him, and with her head held down in shame, she replied, “Not this.” Then she walked away.

  “Evie?” William wanted to run after her. He wanted to convince her that she could trust him. No matter what problems she had, he would help her, but something about their exchange made him think she wasn’t ready for that. She needed more time. He hoped deep down that he was doing the right thing by letting her leave, but had a sinking feeling she needed more than a friend—she needed an ally.

  Evie kept walking; her heart felt empty and pained at the same time. She couldn’t tell him she was engaged. She didn’t want to hurt him, but knew someday soon she would have to be honest with him and that made her cry even more.

  When she entered the lobby of her building, Walter smiled and greeted her in his usual chipper voice. “Good afternoon, Miss Wright. You have company expecting you upstairs.”

  She kept a steady pace and didn’t look at him for fear of breaking down again. He was a constant in her life since she could remember, always good to her. Walter had always felt like an uncle to her though she never wanted to burden him with the bond.

  Feeling sick to her stomach, she said, “I’m sure I do.” She kept her sunglasses on, hiding her eyes, as she entered the elevator.

  Knowing who was waiting for her on the other side of the front door, Evie stood outside for a full three minutes trying to collect her thoughts and settle her nerves. She took one last deep breath before she opened the door to the apartment.

  She was unsure of which Tom would be waiting for her—she prayed for predictable today.

  No one was in the foyer, but when she rounded the corner and entered the formal living room, she saw Tom with his back to her. He was holding a crystal glass filled with ice and scotch and was staring out the large window. He didn’t appear to realize she had entered the room.

  But he had. Tom, without losing focus on the world outside the window, said, “I never get tired of this view. You’re a very lucky girl to have grown up here.” His tone was ominous and then he tipped the glass back and finished the alcohol in one large gulp.

  After the clatter of the ice cubes against the empty crystal glass subsided, she set her purse on the table, careful in her choice of words. “Your apartment also has breathtaking views.”

>   With a slight shake of his head, he looked down at his now empty glass. He turned, his brown eyes piercing her, and asked, “Drink?”

  “No, thank you.” Evie sat down in a side chair, pressed against the arm and tried to appear calm.

  “Hope you don’t mind if I do?” It was rhetorical, so she didn’t answer. Tom walked over to the liquor tray, dropped two new ice cubes into the glass, and poured the liquor from the decanter up to the middle of the glass. “Scotch is an acquired taste.”

  She sat there silently, never taking her eyes off him as he paced. She was too afraid to lose sight of him. After taking another long drink, he came and sat in a chair next to her with their knees barely touching. She was having trouble reading him and took a staggered breath, sensing he could see her fear though she attempted to hide it.

  He sat up and said, “Your dress got dirty.” His finger rubbed the dirty spot near the bottom of her skirt. “If you’d like I can take it to my cleaner. I’m sure he can get the spot off and make it look good as new again.” Evie remained frozen, not wanting to reveal that she had been at the park. That was her secret and she had no intention of sharing it.

  Tom leaned in even closer and let his free hand run along her cheek. His breath hit her face. “I hope you can forgive my rudeness this afternoon. I was out of line holding the wedding as a threat. I would never let anything . . .” He looked her straight in the eyes. “… Or anyone come between us. You can continue our wedding plans as scheduled.” He picked her hand up, bringing it to his mouth. “My sweet Everleigh. My life is only complete with you in it.” He kissed her hand, eyeing her the whole time.

  Everleigh’s mind was racing with unanswered questions: Did he not hear what I told him today? Was he not listening to me? What am I doing?

  He pulled her in for a kiss. With some resistance, their lips met just as the front door opened. “Oh, we’ve walked in on the lovebirds, Audrey. Hurry to your room and give them privacy.”

  Audrey stood there, glancing between Evie and Tom before she decided to leave the room. She felt uneasy as if they had walked in on something not quite right, something maybe even a little dark. But Evie had eyed her as if to tell her to go, so she did.

  Paying no mind to Audrey, Tom stood and greeted Everleigh’s mother with two air cheek kisses. “Kitty, you’re looking lovely today.”

  “Tom, that may work on Everleigh, but I’ve been around the block a time or two to know a fib when I hear it.” They both laughed, and he took her bags from her as she settled down on the settee next to her daughter. “Darling, how did your dress get dirty?”

  Tom stepped forward to reassure Kitty. “Don’t worry. I’m going to take it to my cleaner. He’s a miracle worker.”

  Everleigh stood up abruptly, disgusted watching Tom and her mother play their weird, twisted game of ‘all is right in the world.’ She picked her purse up off the table and walked around the chair. Tom followed behind and pulled her by the arm, his lips pressed against her ear, and whispered, “Tell me you forgive me, sweetheart.”

  She nodded automatically, knowing she had no other option. Then as a perfect distraction, her mother pulled out the wedding planning book and Tom rushed to sit next to her on the couch.

  Everleigh shut her door and slid down the solid white wood, numb to the world. Reaching up, she locked it before she had any unwanted visitors trying to get in, and technically, everyone was unwanted at that moment. Though she also knew deep down that a lock wouldn’t keep the monsters out.

  Her phone beeped, bringing her back to the present, and she opened her purse to see who had texted her.

  William: I don’t know what happened today. I’m sorry if I said something wrong. I’m here for you if you want to talk.

  Tears barreled over her bottom lids in a rush of emotion. It was clear to her now. William represented everything she would never have, but her heart still struggled to come to terms with that.

  She needed to scare him off. She just witnessed how entangled her family was with Tom and knew how they thought. William would never be accepted and Tom would never let her get away. She was trapped.

  Everleigh: I’m not an honest person. I struggle every day.

  William continued on his bike, picking up speed, needing to burn away his conflicting emotions. He didn’t understand her cryptic text. Was she telling him that she lied? None of that mattered because he had already fallen in love with her. He stopped to text her again, wanting to tell her more, needing her to know she’s not alone.

  William: We all have struggles. Sometimes it’s easier to overcome them together. I’m here for you.

  Chapter 11

  William got inside the auditorium at his usual time, but he couldn’t find Evie. While trudging up the steps to find a seat, he said a silent prayer that she was just running late. Before he even set his bag down, she came from behind, and said, “Hi.”

  She was beautiful and in the split second their eyes connected, he could tell there was still hope for them. Although he wanted to say so much more to her, he didn’t, knowing now was not the time. “Hi,” he replied, keeping it simple, uncomplicated.

  They both pulled out their notebooks and pens. His being the pen she gave him, which was his favorite.

  Professor Lang started at the top of the hour. William tapped her notebook with his pen and when she turned and looked at him, he whispered, “I’m sorry about yesterday.”

  “Why are you sorry?” His apology surprised her.

  “I felt like things ended on a weird note.”

  “I should be apologizing to you. I’m sorry for leaving like that. I . . . I . . . just, I can’t explain it, but I am sorry.”

  “No need for apologies, Evie.”

  After class was dismissed, William hoped she would join him. “Coffee?”

  “Yes. I could use some today. I’m need to turn my paper in first.”

  They worked their way across the aisle and down the steps to Professor Lang. As she handed him the paper, William noticed the professor seemed pleased. Lang pulled William aside to talk in private. Evie turned to look over her shoulder when she overheard the professor tell William that he had been accepted into his summer program. She kept walking to allow them privacy and left through the auditorium doors.

  He rejoined her in the hallway and as soon as William and Evie got outside the building, she stopped upset by what she had heard. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re doing Lang’s summer program?”

  “I’m doing Lang’s summer program.” His response was flat and he was confused why she was upset.

  “William, he said you’re in!”

  “And?” He was perplexed by this conversation.

  “When did you turn in your paper?” she asked with her hand planted on her hip.

  He hesitated, thinking about how he could phrase this best. “I didn’t.” He settled on honest and direct.

  “What do you mean? To be considered for one of the ten spots you have to submit an essay. Lang said he had received forty-five. How have you already been accepted when the deadline is today?”

  “He asked me to participate.” William shrugged, watching her reaction and hoping she didn’t freak out any more than she already had.

  “He asked you?” Her voice went up an octave. “As in, he wants you in the program, so he just gave you a spot?”

  “Yeah, I guess so. It’s also the final credits I need to graduate.”

  “Okay, but that’s still incredible. Maybe I underestimated you.”

  They started walking again. He looked over and said, “A lot of people do.”

  She stopped again as reality dawned. “Wait! That means there are forty-five people vying for nine spots.” She looked at him, shaking her head. “Those odds aren’t good and I need the credits for graduation, too.”

  They started walking once again.

  “You’re an intelligent girl, Evie. I don’t think you have to worry. Lang can see talent just as much as I can.”

  “S
o you’re saying you became friends with me because of my intellect?”

  He laughed as he opened the door to Bean There. “It was a little more superficial than that.”

  She smiled, laughing. “You became friends with me because you had insidious plans for me behind your charming façade?”

  “You think I’m charming?” A playful smile spread across his face as he teased her.

  She hit him on the arm, feeling embarrassed as they ordered their usual drinks. Sprawling their stuff across their two favorite tables, they started going over the notes she had taken and the highlighted portions of his book.

  After a few hours of studying, Evie sighed, resigned. “I have to go.”

  “Why?”

  “I just do. I have a commitment.” She wanted him to read between the lines, hoping she would never have to say it, but he was trusting in her answer.

  Before she had a chance to stand, he took her hand, leaned in and said, “Are we good?”

  “More than good.” She left the coffee shop with a smile on her face and happiness in her heart.

  * * *

  Evie, unlike her usual self, had finagled her way out of several dinners with Tom and one society dinner using her finals as an excuse. But by Saturday, she needed a break from all the reading and some fresh air. She wanted to see William, but he had picked up extra shifts and hadn’t been able to spend any other time with her. She felt she might be the reason for his lack of funds and took the burden of blame since she had made him pay for the long cab ride they took after dinner. She wanted to connect with him again, and texted him:

  Evie: Hi.

  He responded quickly: Hi.

  She tried to think of something clever, but nothing came to mind. Finally, she asked what she really wanted to know, hoping it would kick off the conversation: What are you doing?

  William: I’m working. Off soon. What are you doing?

  Evie: I’m about to go to the park.

  William: Wait an hour? I can join you.