My Forever Plus-One

by Shannyn Schroeder

  They dropped into silence, which was fine with him. He didn’t like where the conversation was heading. When he changed lanes to get off the highway toward his house, she simply said, “I’d prefer to go home tonight. Alone.”

  He continued on to her condo. He parked but didn’t get out to walk her up.

  She slipped her shoes back on and opened the door. Before getting out, she turned to face him. “You need to get a few things straight. One, I am not Stacy. I wouldn’t cheat on you—in your face or behind your back. Two, my job requires a lot of networking and talking to people and being friendly. If you can’t handle that, there’s no hope for us. I’m not going to give up my career for you.”

  She stepped out of the car and closed the door.

  Owen watched as she walked inside. Even after she was gone, he continued to stare at the building. He’d screwed up. He slammed his fist into the steering wheel. He turned off the engine and went inside, even though Evelyn had made it clear she was done with him tonight. He got upstairs and knocked on her door. She didn’t answer, so he knocked again. Just as he was about to use his key, the door opened. She stood in the opening, blocking his entrance.

  “What do you want?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She let go of the door and stepped closer.

  “I know you’re not Stacy, but it made me crazy watching you flirt—”

  Her eyebrow winged up.

  He held up a hand. “I know you weren’t flirting. I could tell it was phony. But they didn’t know it. It grated on my nerves all night. Then when I saw Adam kiss you, I started to lose grip on my control.” He reached out and touched her jaw. “I won’t share you, but I would never expect you to give up your job. I have to find a way to live with seeing that and not letting my mind go where it did.”

  “I know you have hang-ups. We all have baggage. But until tonight, I never thought you looked at me as if I were Stacy.”

  “I don’t.”

  “If not, why were you upset because some guy kissed my cheek? That’s all it was. Would you act that way if it had been Gabe or Trevor?”

  “No.” His immediate thought was that they wouldn’t do that to him. But neither would Evelyn. He knew that. “I don’t know how to explain. I know it’s irrational. I promise to work on it. I’m really sorry if I ruined your night.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.” She hitched a thumb over her shoulder. “Want to come in?”

  “As much as I’d love to, I have to get home to Probie.”

  “Okay. See you tomorrow?”

  “Absolutely.” He leaned in and kissed her, making sure it was nothing like any touch she’d received from anyone else all night. As he drove home, the thoughts she had thrown out for consideration dogged him. Since his marriage and divorce, Evelyn was the only woman to gain his trust. But that was before they’d started sleeping together.

  None of that mattered. Evelyn did. He trusted her, even if his behavior didn’t reflect it.

  …

  Owen was on shift, so Evelyn went to Sunny’s to meet her friends alone. She was still feeling off-center. As soon as she walked through the door of the diner, Nina practically screamed across the room.

  “It’s about time. Get your behind over her and give us details.”

  Tess shook her head as she sipped her coffee. Evelyn crossed to the table and sat. “Where are the guys?”

  “On their way, I’m sure,” Nina said with a wave of her hand. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  “What?”

  “Oh my God. You and Owen. We’ve been waiting for more than a year for the two of you to wake up and realize you’re in love. When did this happen?”

  Nina spoke so fast, Evelyn struggled to keep up. “Uh…”

  Tess passed her a cup of coffee. “Take a breath and then tell us whatever you’d like to share.” The look she gave Nina was a standard mom back off look.

  Evelyn took a drink of coffee and then a deep breath. So much had been happening with her and Owen that she hadn’t realized that she hadn’t seen her friends.

  “Okay. The night of the awards ceremony I kissed him.”

  “Ooo…tell me more,” Nina said with her chin in her hand.

  “He rejected me because he thought I was drunk.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Not really. Anyway, a couple days later, we talked and we admitted that something has been changing between us.”

  Nina smirked. “About time.”

  “How are things going?” Tess asked, ignoring Nina’s comment.

  “Pretty good, I guess.”

  Tess scrunched her face. “That sounds like you guys have already left the honeymoon phase.”

  “There’s just so much happening. We had a great time at his brother’s wedding. Although it was a little weird not having separate rooms. When we got back, I left my job. I’m searching for a new one.”

  “Wait. What?” Tess practically screeched.

  “My boss wanted me to do more emotionally charged episodes, like the school shooting one. I refused right before the wedding. He thought I’d change my mind. I didn’t. But it’s okay. I’m pitching a new show to a lot of people.”

  Trevor and Gabe came in then.

  “What’d we miss?” Trevor asked.

  “I’ll catch you up later,” Tess said. Turning to Evelyn, she said, “Go on.”

  “I need some advice. Like I said, things have been really good between me and Owen. We went to a networking thing the other night. I scored an invitation with the intention of making connections for my new show idea. He was my plus-one, as usual.” She looked at Nina. “By the time we left, though, Owen was pissed. He accused me of flirting with everyone I spoke to.”

  “Were you?” Gabe asked.

  “Don’t be a dick,” Nina countered. “She would never do that to anyone, much less Owen.”

  “But would it look like flirting to Owen?” Gabe clarified.

  Evelyn thought back to her interactions. She’d done nothing wrong. Nothing even hinted at trying to hook up with someone.

  “I think what Gabe is trying to say and failing at, is that given Owen’s history, he’s overly sensitive to anything that might look like cheating,” Trevor said.

  “Just because his ex-wife cheated doesn’t mean every woman on the planet is like that.”

  “And I’m sure logically, he knows that. There are still going to be things that will push his buttons,” Trevor said.

  “Am I supposed to be a nun?”

  “No one is saying that,” Gabe answered. “You know Owen. Things are black-and-white with him. He can trust you or he can’t. Think about how you acted. How it would look to him. If something looks like a duck and walks like a duck…”

  “Still being a dick, Gabe,” Nina said.

  “Don’t you see what’s going on here? Their whole relationship could blow up over some bullshit. What happens to us when they screw it up?” Gabe looked from Nina to Evelyn.

  “We’re not going to blow up.” She couldn’t imagine anything that would ruin her and Owen. Unless she actually cheated on him, which she would never do. “I acted no different than I have at any other event we’ve attended together.”

  “That was before you were sleeping together.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Do I really have to spell it out for you? The minute you changed your relationship, you became his. In the past, he might not have liked you flirting, but he had no claim on you.”

  She let his words sink in. What he said made sense, even though she balked at the idea of belonging to anyone. She studied Gabe for a moment. Something was off with him—more off than usual. “What’s going on?”

  “Nina’s stupid challenge.” He turned his glare on Nina. “I did what you said. I went out and met a woman at a bar. We drank, we talked, we fucked. Then she left without leaving me her number. When I looked her up, guess what I found?”

  “Oh no,” Evelyn said.


  “She’s married.” He pointed at Nina. “That’s why I look into people before I let them in my life.”

  “I said go out and meet people. Get to know them. Preferably before you stick your dick in them. Do you not remember that part? I never said go forth and have sex. We all know you have that ability.”

  “On that note, I’m out of here. I have to get to a job,” Trevor said as he tossed some bills on the table. Sliding his chair back into place, he said to Gabe, “You don’t get to blame her for your bad choices.”

  Nina stuck her tongue out at Gabe.

  Trevor left, and Tess stood as well. “I have a patient to get to, but Trevor is right, Gabe. If you’re going to try, then you have to change your approach.” She turned to Evelyn. “Talk to Owen. He’s levelheaded.”

  When she was gone, Gabe said, “People suck.”

  “Not everyone,” Evelyn said. “Look at Tess and Trevor. They found people. And you like us.”

  “You don’t get input here. You’re in love with your best friend. You didn’t have to go out and find anyone. And I like you. Nina, I’m not so sure about.”

  Nina leaned over and hugged Gabe’s arm. “You love me.”

  He rolled his eyes.

  Evelyn said, “I tried to find someone. I did the dating apps and coffee dates.”

  Straightening, Nina scoffed. “You did not try. You faked trying and then went home to Owen. There was no reason for you to look for someone when you were already in love.”

  She opened her mouth to argue that she hadn’t been in love with Owen this whole time, but she stopped. Had she? Had her relationship with Owen prevented her from finding anyone else?

  Nina grinned. “Man, I love being right.”

  When she left Sunny’s, Evelyn was filled with things to think about. She considered the networking event and how it might’ve looked through Owen’s eyes. She would never do anything to hurt him. Didn’t he know that?

  …

  A couple of days later, Evelyn woke in Owen’s bed. It was definitely a habit she could get used to. She was still having a hard time adjusting to not having to go into work. She hadn’t been unemployed since college. She stretched out. Owen was gone. Sighing, she flipped back the covers. As she went downstairs, silence met her. Even Probie was gone, which meant Owen had gone for a run.

  With a cup of coffee in hand, she went out to his front porch to wait for him. There was a slight chill in the air now that Chicago was barreling into fall, but the sun warmed her face. Her phone buzzed, disturbing her moment of peace.

  “Hello,” she answered after seeing it was Donald.

  “Where are you?”

  “Why?”

  “I’m at your house. I have some good news.”

  “I’m at Owen’s.” Down the block, she saw Owen heading her way with Probie tugging at his leash.

  “When will you be back here?”

  “Not for a while,” she said. Owen’s face lit with a smile as he neared.

  He unhooked Probie’s leash, and the dog poked his cold nose at her before running up the stairs. Owen bent and kissed her head. He was sweaty from his run but looked good.

  Donald huffed. “I have someone who is interested in producing your show.”

  That caught her attention, so she tore her eyes away from Owen, who was standing in the grass stretching his body. “What?”

  “Marcus Dielman is expanding his studio in Chicago. I mentioned you’re in the market, and he wants to meet.”

  “Wow. Thank you. When?”

  “I’m only in town tonight. I’ll make reservations. Eight o’clock work for you?”

  “Yeah.”

  They disconnected, and Evelyn sat in stunned silence.

  “Who was that?”

  “Donald.”

  The muscle in Owen’s jaw twitched.

  “He’s in town. He has a friend who might be interested in producing my show.”

  “Yeah? That’s great.”

  “That was not the enthusiastic answer I hoped for.” She stood to look him in the eye.

  He stepped closer. “I’m glad someone wants your show. I just wish it wasn’t connected to your ex.”

  “He’s just making the introductions. Come with me. We’re having dinner tonight. You can meet Marcus and help me woo him. Plus, you’ll get to see that Donald is totally harmless.”

  With his hands on his hips, he sighed. “I don’t know that I’ll ever see him as harmless, but if you want me there, I’ll come.”

  “Excellent. Now go take your shower, and I’ll buy you breakfast.”

  He swooped in, wrapping an arm around her waist, and pulled her close. “How about you join me in the shower?”

  “Tempting. Go warm it up. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  He jogged up the stairs and led Probie into the house.

  Evelyn sent Donald a text to make the reservations for four instead of three because Owen was joining them.

  Is that a good idea?

  Why not?

  He’s not in the business. You need to focus.

  Owen will be there to support me, not as a distraction.

  I hope so. This is a business meeting, not a group date.

  Evelyn paused, because his text rubbed her wrong. She hadn’t implied it should be a date. She wanted to shoot something back that would be entirely inappropriate, like the middle finger emoji, but then she remembered that Owen was upstairs waiting. Hot naked man won every day over trading petty texts with her ex.

  …

  Owen didn’t know how Evelyn had roped him into doing this. They’d known each other for years, and while he’d met Donald on occasion, they’d never spent any time together. There was a good reason for that. Evelyn had shared plenty of stories over the years of how Donald was manipulative. Like the time he convinced her not to take a job working on a show because it would be bad for her career, only to snag the spot for himself. She’d justified forgiving him because she’d gotten an even better offer. Sometimes the manipulation wasn’t even directed at her. He’d been known to screw people out of meetings with someone so he could take the spotlight. Everything was always about him. It was just how the man was wired.

  Owen couldn’t stand it. The pretense drove him crazy. He didn’t trust a damn thing about Donald. He only looked out for number one, and if Evelyn got hurt, she was just collateral damage.

  Owen wouldn’t let that happen.

  So, for her he wore a suit. Again. Waited for her to get ready. Again. Except this time, he sat on the edge of her bed and watched her dress and primp. She wasn’t sexy Evelyn tonight. She was all business, but the black skirt was just short enough to give him ideas. She swept the sides of her hair up and clipped it in place.

  He rose and stood behind her. Scooping the rest of her hair to the side, he kissed her neck. He loved that his lips made her shiver. She closed her eyes and leaned against him.

  “We have to get going,” she murmured.

  “I know. I’m ready. Your neck was too tempting for me to ignore.”

  She smiled and pulled away. “For the rest of the evening, I need you to ignore it. I’ll make it worth your while when we get back here.”

  “You sure you want me to come? I can stay here and wait for you.”

  “I know you don’t like the business stuff I do. All the schmoozing gets under your skin. But this is a good opportunity for you to see me and Donald together and understand that we are nothing more than friends.”

  He understood what she wanted, but he couldn’t imagine a world in which he liked her ex. He could at least try not to be hostile toward him, though. “Okay. Let’s go and get you a job.”

  They left her condo and walked to his car. As they pulled out into the street, he said, “Not to put a damper on this meeting, but what if he doesn’t bite? Then what?”

  “What do you mean?”

  He didn’t know how to phrase the rest without coming off like a condescending jerk, but he was worried about her. “If
this guy doesn’t want your show, what will you do?”

  “I’ll continue to shop it.” She tilted her head and studied him. “What do you really want to know?”

  “Are you okay on money? You left your job without having another lined up.”

  One corner of her mouth lifted. “I’m okay. I have money saved. I’m not going to be homeless any time soon.”

  “I’d never let you be homeless.”

  “That’s very kind. But I don’t need you to take care of me, either.”

  “I know.”

  He drove the rest of the way to the restaurant listening to her practice her pitch. He wasn’t used to seeing her nervous. She always acted like she could handle anything. Whenever she participated in a party, a meeting, a conversation, she owned it. He parked near the restaurant and cut the engine. “Ready?”

  “I better be.” Her smile looked manic.

  “Don’t let them rattle you. Like you said, you just started pitching. There are a lot of other people out there. If this guy doesn’t want it, someone else will. Then you can give him the big fuck-you.”

  Her burst of laughter echoed through the car. “Thank you. I can always count on you to deliver some perspective. Let’s do this.”

  They entered the restaurant together, and Evelyn went to the hostess stand. “Hi. We’re here for the Millhouse party.”

  “The rest of your party is already seated. Right this way.”

  “Shoot. Have they been here long?”

  The woman shook her head. “Just a few minutes. They haven’t even ordered drinks yet.”

  “Thank you.”

  Owen followed them to the table, where Donald was already deep in conversation with another man. He looked like he was trying to sell the guy a car. Or the Brooklyn Bridge. Owen took a deep breath. He’d promised Evelyn to at least try tonight.

  Both men stood when Evelyn reached the table. She extended a hand. “Hi, I’m Evelyn. You must be Marcus.” They shook, and Donald came around to kiss her cheek.

  Owen nodded a greeting before Donald went back to his own seat. Owen pulled the chair out for Evelyn and then introduced himself.

  A waiter immediately stepped up and took their drink orders. Then the small talk started. They placed the order for their food before the subject of Evelyn’s pitch was even broached. He didn’t understand why they all needed to dance around. They’d set the meeting, and the purpose was clear.