Evans
I almost dropped the phone, I’m so shocked by Ciara’s accusation. I was only teasing her. How could she think that there might be something going on between me and Elena? I let out a laugh to break the tension. “Don’t be crazy. Elena is my employee, that’s all.”
Is Ciara getting so bored she has to create fake drama in our relationship? I have to find something for her to do, an outlet.
Ciara sighs. “I’m sorry, I’m just disappointed because I was hoping you’d be home on time tonight. I planned a special dinner, and now you’re going to miss it.”
I feel a ping of regret that I can’t be there to show her how much I appreciate her thoughtfulness.
“Sweetheart, I can’t believe you could do all of that and take care of Alfred. You’re so amazing.”
I can hear Ciara smile through the phone.
“Thanks. I’ll try and leave a light on, but don’t be too late.”
“I’ll try. I love you,” I answer, and then we hang up.
I’m left feeling unsettled. I know that men can be clueless when it comes to women, but does she really think I have a thing for Elena? Am I missing something? Have I been signaling to Elena that I like her?
I’m jolted from my thoughts by a knock at the door. By the sound of it, this isn’t the first time the person on the other side of the door has knocked.
“Come in,” I call apologetically.
Elena hurries in, typing away on her BlackBerry. “Evans, the DJ is waiting for you.”
“Thanks,” I say. I can tell by the look on Ma
Elena’s face that she knows something is up, so I decide to spill it. “Sorry that I’m a little distracted, Ciara said the weirdest thing.”
“Is something wrong?” Elena sits down on the couch across from my desk.
“I’m not sure.” I glance at the photo of Ciara and Alfred on my desk, taken just a few days after he was born. “It’s too crazy.”
Elena’s expression is thoughtful. “What do you mean by crazy?’
I stand up and start walking towards the door. “Ciara practically insisted that there’s something going on between you and me, like we were having an affair.”
Elena bursts out laughing. She laughs for so long she has to wipe a tear from her eye. “For real?”
“I know, it’s crazy. I don’t know where she got that idea.” I shrug.
Elena giggles again and then shakes her head. “First of all, no. Just, no. Second of all, and I don’t know how to break this to the mighty Evans Leonard, but you’re just not my type.”
Some guys might be offended by that, but I’m relieved. I only have eyes for Ciara, even though she doesn’t seem to believe that right now. How can I prove it to her?
“Let’s go straighten this DJ out,” I say to Elena, holding open the door for her. I need to get this situation resolved so I can get home as soon as possible.
Ciara
I’m not sure how late it is when I feel Evans climb into bed next to me. Blearily, I pressed my face into my pillow. I don’t feel like talking to him or asking him about his day or about Elena. It’s so late I just want to go back to sleep. Sleep is precious now that I have a six-month-old.
To my extreme annoyance, sleep decides to evade me. I think of the leftover chicken and risotto in the refrigerator. Evans probably didn’t even eat any of it. We’re going to have leftovers for a while. Will Evans even be home to eat them? Is this our life now? I’m home and he’s out and we never see each other except when I feel him get in bed?
Okay, just breathe, Ciara.
To calm myself, I think of how comforting it is to have Evans close. As upset as I am, I love the weight of his body next to me in bed and knowing I’m not sleeping alone.
“Ciara?” Evans whispers. “Are you awake?”
Ugh. I guess we’ll have to have this talk sooner or later, so sooner it is.
I turn to face him and he kisses me gently, like he knows I’m upset. “I’m so sorry about missing dinner. I promise I’ll make it up to you, but I need you to know that there’s nothing going on with me and Elena.”
“Okay,” I sigh.
“Before I met you, I would spend days locked up with Elena working on Barcode stuff. We’ve always worked really intensely, and I can understand why you might feel threatened. But I want to make sure you understand; I love you and only you, Ciara.” He kisses me again.
“Okay, Evans” I murmured sleepily. I press myself into his chest and he puts his arms around me. I can’t believe that I ever doubted him. Within minutes, his heartbeat lulled me back to sleep