A Prior Engagement

by S. L. Scott

  He glanced over his shoulder, and laughed at how cute it was that he could affect her so. She was always so controlled and yet there she was left reeling from a simple kiss. He liked that. A lot.

  Lightheaded and happy, she took a cab to her favorite little park. Lying back on the small hillside, she enjoyed the feel of the cool grass beneath her, and the sunshine warming her skin all the while love swelled inside. Was William worth throwing everything away—her family, the comfort of money—and starting life over with him? She was starting to believe he was.

  Chapter 15

  Evie and William spent the next two weeks using their detective skills to uncover the true author of the two short stories. They had one week left and their campus library offered no substantial clues. William decided to throw out the road trip idea she once suggested. He looked at her sprawled out on the floor of his small studio surrounded by papers, and said, “I think our last hope is the Philly library.”

  Considering the idea, she kept her eyes on the Kyd writing samples. “I can do Monday.”

  “I can also do Monday.”

  Evie sat up, crossing her legs, and rested her chin on her hands in front of her. She was careful with her words, hoping she wouldn’t offend him. “How about I buy the train tickets and you buy lunch.”

  He knew what she was doing and as much as he wanted to pay for everything, he also knew the tickets to Philadelphia would strain his budget. “All right. Thank you.” She made it easy for him to accept the offer and he appreciated that.

  The first couple of weeks of summer were easy for Everleigh. Tom and her family had been in the Hamptons most of that time since Tom’s associates were basing their work from there also. But Tom insisted on Everleigh joining them again this weekend, and out of obligation, she did. He hired a car to drive her and when she arrived, she could admit she was pleased to be there once again. She loved this house, the ocean, and always felt closest to her family here.

  Tom’s family home was fifteen minutes away, which she also liked. He wasn’t staying at hers during the summer, so she had some privacy part of the time. As she carried her stuff down the upstairs hallway, she saw Audrey across the hall in her room listening to her MP3 player and reading a magazine.

  Evie dropped her bags, stood in the doorway, and knocked loudly. “Miss me, little sis?”

  Audrey’s head popped up and she smiled taking an ear bud out, “Actually, yes. It’s been kind of boring this summer. Are you here for the weekend?”

  “I head back Sunday afternoon.”

  She turned to go to her room, but Audrey quickly asked, “Do you think you might want to hang out this weekend, maybe go to a party or two together?”

  Evie smiled. “Sure.”

  Two hours later, Everleigh was lying by the pool with Audrey when Tom arrived. She heard him before she saw him.

  “There’s my favorite girl,” he said, coming through the back door of the house. As both girls turned and looked at him, Everleigh felt her heart race, but didn’t know why – fear, love, or just plain confusion? She watched him from behind her large sunglasses and could still see traces of the attractive man he was—his sandy blond hair even lighter from summer and his brown eyes happy, more carefree than usual. He seemed different to her and she hoped he was sincere this time.

  Audrey slammed her magazine on the ground capturing Everleigh’s attention and stood up. “I’m going inside.”

  Lowering her sunglasses from the top of her head, Audrey walked past Tom as if he didn’t exist. He smirked at her and felt the need to comment. “Oh, to be opinionated, moody, and to know everything. I’d almost forgotten what it was like to be a teenager.”

  Audrey ignored him and continued inside.

  Tom took the abandoned chair next to Everleigh and smiled. “It’s good to see you.” Picking her hand up, he ran his thumb over the large engagement ring on her left finger, feeling pride as he admired it. “I missed you, Everleigh.” Leaning forward, he kissed her on the lips.

  She didn’t respond, as she knew she should. “It’s nice to be here for the weekend.”

  He pulled her forward by both hands, hugging her tight. “Everleigh, my darling. My Everleigh. I love you so much that it hurts sometimes. Your rejection hurts me.” His voice was kind and sounded loving, but pained.

  She had never heard him talk like this. This was her chance and she took the opportunity to be honest. “You’ve hurt me. I don’t feel whole because of what—”

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I have no excuse.” He gripped her tighter as if she would disappear if he didn’t. He often worried she would leave him and the thought was unbearable.

  She had never heard him apologize and closed her eyes letting his words sink in.

  “I love you so much. I don’t want to lose you. I can’t . . .” His voice trembled on the last words as they trailed off, and his hands trailed down her bikini-clad body. They stopped on her hips and he nudged her head with his, exposing her neck and resting his forehead on her shoulder. He was apologetic and appeared defeated.

  Her hands had been strategically placed on his ribs to keep him at a distance, but with him openly showing his feelings, she slid them around to his back and embraced him.

  Tom smiled as he lifted his head up and kissed her. She was responsive to his kindness and the love he was showing her, having her tender Tom back. He pulled away, though, and then took her left hand into his right. “Come with me.” He led her to the pool house, around the billiards table, and into the bedroom.

  Evie’s body and mind were starting a small battle in her heart with each step she took. Her heart was winning. She couldn’t do this, she shouldn’t do this, but her mind moved her forward and into his arms. That was the logical thing to do. The thing she had done so many times before that there was a small sense of comfort in the habit, even if it was a bad habit.

  As they sat there on the bed, he took her sunglasses off and his eyes smoldered. A look that used to send tingles down her spine in desire, now only confused her conflicting soul.

  When he stood up, he lifted his shirt over his head then took his pants off revealing his boxers. Everleigh took a deep breath, willing herself to relax.

  Tom crawled back onto the bed and she stiffened, paralyzed by her thoughts. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t do this to William. She didn’t love Tom, but he was being everything she used to love about him—kind and sweet—attentive, gentle. Maybe, maybe she should. Maybe he could be everything she needed again.

  Evie closed her eyes trying to figure out what she needed to do versus what she wanted to do. She felt his lips on her chest as he kissed his way up toward her neck. Could she do this anymore? Could she shut her eyes and let sweet, kind, attentive, and gentle Tom make love to her?

  She snuck a peek at him, but clamped her eyes shut tight. Maybe she should pretend this was William? Even after all the years she had invested her heart, mind, and soul into Tom, she couldn’t stop thinking about William.

  Her heart raced and her breathing became shallow, quickening unnaturally. She opened her mouth and gasped for air.

  “Are you okay, Everleigh?”

  Her eyes flashed open and she bolted upright to a sitting position.

  Startled, Tom leaned back. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

  “No. No,” she said, shaking her head, her hand hovering over her heart. She couldn’t do this. With reminders of the responsibilities to her family and commitments she made years earlier swarming her thoughts, William stood out above all else. She stood abruptly. “I’m feeling lightheaded. I think it’s from being in the sun too long. I should eat something.”

  With a look of concern, Tom stood and started to getting dressed. “I’ll take you to lunch then.”

  While sitting at Dan’s Grill, her favorite restaurant in Montauk, Everleigh stared out at the water lost in her thoughts. She felt twisted inside and disgusted with herself. What am I doing?

  The couple sat quietly together
drinking Cape Cods on the outside deck of the restaurant. Her mind wandered back to her current predicament and when she turned to look at Tom, and he said, “I think you’re pushing yourself too hard. You’re so close to getting your degree and all of this work is catching up with you.”

  Underneath any faux concern he showed, his smug expression gave him away. He was gloating. He knew she was stressed and although some of it had been school and her final exams, he didn’t know the other half, the part that made her life better, happier. So as she sat there trying to figure out what twisted game Tom was playing with her, it finally occurred to her. He was nice to gain her trust again, to trick her into sleeping with him even.

  She gave him a confused look that turned to irritation as she figured him out. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

  His hand reached over to rest on top of hers and he feigned innocent. “What on purpose, darling?”

  “You conned me. You acted like that to get on my good side.” She spewed these accusations without thinking.

  He looked injured as if her words had hurt him, and calm, he looked too calm. “I didn’t know I was on your bad side.”

  “I thought you meant it by the pool. The way you were acting. You were being what I want you to be—”

  He sat back, removing his hand from hers and crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not hard to figure out what a girl is going to respond to. It’s ridiculously simple in fact.”

  “I thought—”

  “I know what you thought and you should continue to think that. That was me back there. I know you think I’m a monster, but that was the real me back there. I was happy to see you.” He leaned forward, his voice sharp. “To be with you again. I missed you and needed to . . . we need to reconnect. It’s been too long. A man has needs, Everleigh. A husband has needs and I expect to have mine met.” He sat up straighter as the food was brought to the table. “So don’t be melodramatic about it. It wasn’t a charade. I love you whether you choose to believe it or not.”

  Not knowing what to think, she sat there mulling over the truths and lies. “Well, you don’t have to lie to me—”

  “Don’t I, Everleigh?” His hand slammed down on the table making the silverware clang. “We haven’t had sex in over a month and you act like I’m taking advantage of you. I see how you react to me. Something’s going on with you and I want to know what it is, damn it.”

  She shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t even know what’s going on anymore. You’re driving me insane. Maybe I’m the fool after all. If you acted more like you did this afternoon then maybe I would want to have sex with you.”

  She stood up, throwing her napkin down next to her seafood salad.

  His tone was direct, bordering on menacing. “Sit down and let’s finish this. This is the most interesting conversation we’ve had in years.”

  “Well, what does that tell you?” She walked away leaving him alone with his lunch. Rushing into the ladies room, she leaned against the counter, and cried out of anger and frustration. She felt the walls of her former idyllic life caving in around her, feeling as if she was fighting for her life.

  After a few minutes of solitude, her waitress walked in. The girl stopped, letting the door close behind her and a soft smile appeared. “The seafood salad isn’t that bad, is it?”

  Everleigh laughed, needing the release of the tension that had built up. “No, it’s quite good. My favorite thing on the menu.”

  The waitress handed her a tissue. “Your fiancé sent me in to make sure you were okay.”

  “As much as I can be, considering the mess I’ve made of my life.”

  “Is it all that bad?”

  “Worse actually.”

  The waitress hopped up on the counter, sitting next to Everleigh in front of the mirror. “My mom had a quote on our fridge when I was growing up. I read it every day. ‘Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.’” She looked down at her dangling feet, contemplating the words herself.

  Everleigh looked at her and asked, “Who wrote that?”

  “I can’t remember off the top of my head, but it’s good, isn’t it?”

  Everleigh nodded and closed her eyes, replaying every word silently in her head as gospel, feeding her soul. The waitress was right, but she already knew this by the little smile on her face. Everleigh smiled, too, and said, “You should’ve been a psychologist or a bartender, you know. How’d you know that would mean so much to me?”

  “It always meant a lot to me. I’m glad it does to you as well.” She hopped off the counter and walked to the door, and took the knob in hand. “I’m studying psychology in school by the way, so good guess. I’ll tell him you’ll be out in a minute.” She opened the door and walked out.

  When Everleigh sat down, she took a long sip of her drink, her eyes locking on his. “I think we need to talk, Tom.”

  He looked at his watch. “As much as I would love to dig deeper into our deteriorating relationship, I have an appointment in ten minutes.” He stood up, placing his crumpled napkin on the table. “You were gone so long I took care of the check and called Audrey. She’ll pick you up. I’ll see you at the club tonight.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “By the way, I really was happy to see you today.”

  Evie took a deep, cleansing, fresh-ocean air breath before walking to the parking lot. She spotted Audrey waiting in her dad’s Jaguar and climbed in.

  Unaware of the war raging inside of her sister, Audrey asked, “How was lunch?”

  Evie laughed. It was a sarcastic, caustic laugh. “Eventful.” But she didn’t want to ruin her time with her sister, so she tried to think of something the two of them could do together, something to take her mind off the lunch she just endured. “Hey, how about doing some shopping?”

  The suggestion made Audrey happy and she accepted then drove to their favorite East Hampton boutiques. As Evie lingered at a table stacked with jeans, Audrey flipped through the shirts on the hangers behind her. “Sometimes you seem withdrawn, and sometimes you are lit from within with happiness.”

  Evie wasn’t sure how to respond or if she should at all. She remained quiet, flipping through the rack of clothes.

  Audrey trying a different approach to get her sister to open up, said, “You know, if you need someone to talk to, you can always talk to me. I know we don’t always relate, but I want you to be happy more often. I like when you’re happy. Are you happy, Evie?”

  Evie considered her kind words and nodded while looking down. She was desperate to talk to someone she could trust. Right then she realized just how much her sister had matured and decided to open up. “Sometimes I am happy, but my happiness isn’t a factor that comes into play.”

  “What makes you happy and why isn’t it a factor? I know school does, but what else?”

  “I have a responsibility to our family, to our—”

  “I know what’s expected of you, Evie. I know all of that, but the last couple of months I’ve seen a change in you, a change for the better.” Audrey stood in front of Evie and asked her pointblank. “If you didn’t have to worry about the family, money, anything, all of it, what would you do?”

  She felt uncomfortable, so Evie did what she always did, she blew off the seriousness and redirected. “Oh, come on, it’s not that dramatic” She touched Audrey’s shoulder, saw the worry on her sister’s face, and tried to ease it. “I’m happy, okay? Don’t worry about me.” She turned away and pulled a blouse off the rack to try on.

  Audrey was not satisfied by the blow-off and it set her mind spinning, knowing she’d have to discover Evie’s secret on her own. Step one: Return to Manhattan soon to investigate the situation further. But for now, she’d let it slide.

  * * *

  William was in the city working. He cycled through his day embracing the easiness of his Saturday shift. He thought about Evie while trying to avoid being hit by cars. Their relationship was developing slowly, but
it was deep and laced with important shared moments, and he felt bonded in a way he didn’t expect.

  He wondered if this trip to Philly would be a good time to make it official and establish what their relationship was. He felt he needed to tread lightly around his deepening feelings for her because he didn’t want to push her faster than she was willing to go— emotionally or physically—at this stage.

  As much as he wanted to tell her everything he felt for her, he decided it best to play it by ear on this trip and let things play out naturally.

  After shopping and thinking about the quote the waitress told her, Evie purchased two train tickets to Philadelphia. The rest of the afternoon was a relief because Tom was in meetings all day, and she got to enjoy her freedom to think about William as she pleased. She wasn’t aware of the eyes that were following her. She bent down to smell a red flower along the large fence on the right side of the house, and it tickled her lip. She smiled in delight at the memory of William’s lips against her own, soft, but with purpose.

  “Right there! That’s exactly what I’m talking about.” Audrey busted her. “What’s that giddy, silly smile on your face for? I know a flower didn’t do that to you.” Audrey placed her hands on her hips, standing a few feet behind Evie.

  “I love the garden this time of year, Audrey.” Evie couldn’t look Audrey in the eyes or she’d give herself away by giggling in girly delight. “I don’t get this obsession with my happiness.”

  “Because you’re acting weird.” Audrey came closer to smell the flower for herself. “I love a pretty flower as much as the next girl, but come on, it’s just a flower.” She looked at her sister who was avoiding eye contact at all costs, and asked, “Are you in love?”

  Evie laughed at the question, but answered with honesty. “Of course I am. That’s nothing new, Detective Wright.”

  Audrey huffed in annoyance and turned on her heel to head back to the house, knowing Evie wasn’t going to give her any information.

  “I am most definitely in love,” Evie whispered, loving the sound of saying it aloud as she touched her lips once more.