Ciara
This is so far out of left field that I never could have seen it coming. “What are you talking about, Evans?”
“Did you tell anyone about Murphy’s shooting?’ Evans asks again. His arms are folded tightly across his chest.
My stomach drops. I have absolutely no idea where this is coming from. “Why would I ever betray you, Evans? I know that you confided in me, and you better know that you can trust me.”
“Then how do you explain a reporter asking Murphy about it? Maybe you told somebody accidentally? You weren’t supposed to say anything at all.” Evans throws up his hands.
What the hell? Suddenly, he thinks I’m a liar? Is he going to start believing the tabloids now? Will I have to defend everything I say? How dare he come in here and just accuse me like this.
“I’d never accidentally let something like that slip out. You better think carefully before you accuse me. Just this morning you told me you trusted me. What happened between then and now? You know I’m always honest with you, and that I don’t hide things from you.” I’m almost yelling now; I’m so frustrated with him.
Evans’s arms drop to his sides. “No? When were you going to tell me about Arizona?”
“What does seeing my parents have to do with any of this?” He’s not making any sense at all. Why is he acting like going to Arizona is some big sneaky trip I’m taking? It’s not like I have a lover out there that I go to see every few weeks or anything.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I had to find out from Elena that my fiancé is planning on flying to Arizona with our son?” His blue eyes are blazing with anger.
“Why are you making such a big deal out of this? My parents were concerned about everything they read in the news. I want to go reassure them that everything is fine, and that I was never a hooker! I want to see my dad now that he’s doing better. Can you blame me? I was planning on telling you but I haven’t had a chance! Why are you treating me like I’m some kind of criminal?”
In the blink of an eye, all the fight goes out of Evans. He’s quiet, staring at me. I can see the wheels turning in his head as he thinks.
“What is going on, Evans? What’s got you so paranoid?” He’s not being himself today. If he’s going to freak out every time I tell someone something before I tell him, I don’t know how we’re going to deal with each other. It’s like he’s suddenly a completely different person.
Suddenly his face falls and the look of sadness there breaks my heart. “Ciara, I'm so sorry. I lost my head. A reporter suddenly asked Murphy a question about it and it freaked me out. Anything that brings up my past with Murphy tends to do that.” He shakes his head and sits down in a chair, as if he doesn’t have the energy to stand anymore.
I go to him and put my hand on his shoulder. “Yeah, I can see that. But Evans, who else could possibly know?” Wait. Oh my God. “What did Murphy do right after he was shot? Didn’t he need medical attention?”
“Yes.” Evans nods. “He was in the hospital for a while afterwards.”