Page 47

What was I thinking?
When were things ever easy when it came to her?
Shit.
I didn’t expect the past to take over my thoughts so much. Yet, whenever I see her, or spend time with her, I’m reminded of what she did to me. But at the same time, I’m also reminded we used to be friends. And we would have been more if I hadn’t gone away to college and things hadn’t gone down the way they had with Connie.
Now, I have to live daily with the constant reminder that once upon a time, I wanted her with a desperation that nearly brought me to my knees.
Now she’s my enemy.
But it doesn’t compute in my brain.
I let my head fall against the headrest.
Memories are so fucked up.
Beyond that, the more time I’m around her, the less things add up with her actions. And since Holden agrees with that assessment, I’m not imagining it either. He spends a lot more time with her than I do, and he said while she’s often quiet and withdrawn, she’s always lovely and friendly to everyone. There isn’t a single mean streak in sight. And every single night this week she spent on her homework and doing little else.
Nothing suspicious has popped up from going through her phone either, and I searched in every single corner. It all aligns with the version of Evangeline that Holden has seen. It is undoubtedly a more watered-down and subdued version of the Eve I used to know, but it’s still her.
I can still seemyEve. MyAngel.
Fuuuuuuuuck.
I close my eyes and rub a hand over my face. My skin is too tight, my head spinning in circles.
The door opens on the other side, and I stiffen.
Her sweet floral scent reaches me first, scrambling my already confused thoughts even more.
I study her.
Who are you?
Of course, my silent question goes unanswered, but I continue to stare at her while she buckles her seat belt.
I cannot look away from how breathtaking she is, how heart-stoppingly beautiful. Her dark eyes are framed by long lashes and accentuated with eye makeup, while her hair cascades down her back in soft waves that are held back in the front with golden clips that match her dress. She’s an absolute vision, and I want to drag her back into the house so she can change into something that’ll draw less attention.
When she glances my way, that nagging feeling that something isn’t right intensifies inside my chest.
I will find out what it is, and I think then I’ll have to cut her loose, after all.
This arranged marriage isn’t worth driving myself crazy over;sheisn’t.
And what secret could she possibly have that would justify what she did to me?
Nothing could.
Holden clears his throat and watches me in the rearview mirror. “Good to go?”
I nod and stare out the window.
He steers the car around the circular driveway, and I absentmindedly realize I was so enthralled by Evangeline I didn’t even notice Jo leaving. But her car is gone, leaving the driveway empty.
We stay silent on our drive to the city, and I try to shovethis whole mess inside a box in the farthest corner of my head where it belongs. I can’t let Evangeline distract me.
Good luck trying to pretend to be a newly engaged couple in love tonight while also trying to convince people you’re a reformed man.