Page 84 of Hot and Bothered

It was the only thing I could think to say. I put my hand on his knee, hoping he would at least accept this little bit of comfort. He stiffened at first, then his shoulders relaxed. He let out a breath through his nose.

“I’m the one who’s sorry,” he said.

He put his hand over mine. My heart soared at the small gesture.

“I shouldn’t have said what I did back there at the bar,” he said. “I didn’t really mean it. I was just worried and scared and lashing out.”

“I understand,” I said. “Your mom’s illness is scary.”

“It wasn’t just that.” His hand tightened on mine. “I was worried you were going to leave. That’s why I told you to go.”

That didn’t make any sense. Evan must have seen the confusion on my face.

“I’ve had more than a few women run away when they realized what my mom is like,” he said. “The crazy mother-in-law stereotype times a million, right?”

“I never,everthought anything like that,” I told him. “Your mom is ill, not crazy.”

Evan gave me a grateful look.

“I’ve had so many people in my life who just couldn’t handle it,” he said. “And that includes my dad. That’s part of the reason why he left. Why he had another family in secret. He wanted a normal life, and he couldn’t get that with my mother. After a while, I realized it was easier to not talk about her. To just never bring her up. I guess…” Evan’s eyes went wide and pained. “I guess I just wanted to pretend to have a normal life, too. Fuck.” He rubbed a hand over his face, scrubbing it viciously. “I’m just like my fucking father.”

I put a hand on his wrist.

“You’re nothing like him,” I said. “You’ve been caring for your mom all these years. You stayed, and you watched over her, and made sure she was all right.”

Evan grabbed me around the waist with one arm and buried his face in my neck.

“I’m such an asshole,” he muttered. “I shouldn’t have said those things to you. I should have just told you from the start. I shouldn’t have gotten mad when you just wanted to help. I shouldn’t have chased you away.”

“You didn’t chase me away.” I smoothed his hair back gently. “I’m right here.”

“I want you to know,” he started, “I’ve been talking with my mom’s doctors. We’re going to discuss more intensive treatment options. You were right. It’s not fair to me, and it’s not fair to my mom. She needs professional help. In-patient help. I shouldn’t be handling this alone.”

I pressed a kiss into his hair.

“You’re not alone,” I told him. “You have me. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Evan lifted his head and cupped my cheeks, looking into my eyes resolutely.

“I love you,” he said. “I’m so fucking sorry for everything. I love you and I want to be with you. I want to share my life with you, even the bad parts I try to hide.”

My heart swelled in my chest until it felt like it would burst right out.

“I love you, too,” I said. “And I want all of it, the good and the bad.”

Evan drew me close and kissed me fiercely. I returned the kiss, melting into his embrace. It had been less than a week, and yet it felt like a thousand years since I’d last felt his touch.

We traded kisses back and forth until we were sighing into each other’s mouths. When we pulled back, I quirked a smile.

“So, how do you feel about dating an accountant?” I asked in a teasing tone. “Not quite as cool as dating a lingerie model, I know.”

Evan raised an eyebrow. “So that’s what Mason was whispering to Lizzy about.” He pulled me close and gave me a loving smile. “You know I’ll support you, no matter what you want to do.”

Hearing those words, knowing that I not only had Evan’s love, but his support, knowing that he didn’t want anything from me and didn’t expect anything of me… it was almost better than hearing those three small words.

Evan nuzzled his nose again mine.

“I love you, Alice,” he whispered into my mouth one last time before capturing my lips in a kiss.

And that was when I knew.

We were each other’s happily-ever-after.