Without a Doubt (14 page)

“As uncomfortable as you would be if I walked into the room wearing only a towel.” She picks up her sandwich, takes a bite, and then faces me. “You can't have yours until you put on clothes.”

I laugh. “Okay, okay.”

By the time I change and make it back to the kitchen, Eva is walking past me to take her own shower. I eat my sandwich and then start getting my books together. I'm grabbing a pen from the end table in the living room when I hear, “Emerson.” I lift my head to see Eva leaning against the threshold of the hallway. A white towel is wrapped around her body and her hair. I swallow hard at the sight of her. Ample cleavage looks strained from underneath the towel, one of her legs is showing from the hip down thanks to her not having the towel completely wrapped around her, and her damp skin shines.

“Just wanted to prove a point,” she says before turning and walking to my bedroom.

“Feel free to prove points more often,” I call after her, causing her to laugh.

When we finally arrive on campus, we're cutting it close to being late. I give her a kiss and say, “Try to have a good day, but if not, let me know and I'll be your day-saver again.”

She grins. “Same to you.”

We part ways and go about our days. It's like after that my attention is divided between what I'm doing and checking my phone. All day, I obsessively check it for a text or a call from Kelly. The seconds turn to minutes and the minutes turn to hours. The only people who text me are Eva and Glen. The only person to call is my mother. The day comes and goes and Kelly doesn't contact me.

The guilt from hoping she would, of feeling like this is a betrayal to Eva, keeps me from calling her instead. Kelly doesn't want to get back together, and I don't want to be faced with the possibility of having to end things with Eva. Maybe it's for the best this way.

I never thought I'd face this day. It's always been Kelly; wanting her, loving her, and waiting for her. The possibility that there could be someone else never crossed my mind. I don't know where things might go with Eva, but I do know I want to find out.

Thursday, I work and do homework. Friday is much of the same. Eva is hanging out with Catherine tonight, so when Glen texts me about meeting at a restaurant and bar, I agree to go. It's a hot spot on Friday nights because they'll have live bands play and if there's a game on, it'll be playing in the background on the flat-screen TVs. It's been awhile since we last went.

When I arrive, Glen is flirting with the waitress at the small high-top table. I take a seat and order a sweet tea once she pays attention to me.

“Have you gotten her number yet?” I ask as she walks away.

Glen grins. “Right before you walked in.”

I laugh. Ever since Glen's girlfriend, Lori, broke up with him in February, he's been hopping from one girl to the next. He's torn up over it, which is completely understandable, all things considered, but I don't think going after every girl he meets is helping him. How he recovers and heals is his prerogative and unless it becomes harmful, I'm not saying a word. “How long have you been here?”

“Not even five minutes. I'm starting to impress myself.”

“I bet.”

We make small talk for a while, order some food and a couple of beers. The live band they have booked for tonight plays mostly rock music. They're taking a break when Glen takes a pull from his beer then asks a question.

“How's it going with Eva?”

“Shouldn't you already know?”

He shakes his head. “It's never good to answer a question with a question. What? Have you finally heard from Kelly or something?” When I glance down at my beer and don't answer right away, he shoves my shoulder. “What the fuck, Emerson? You do realize you're dating my cousin, right?”

“Don't get riled up until I explain. I don't have to tell you at all, you know.”

“Yeah, well, it'll be in your best interest to tell me before I kick your ass. Have you told Eva yet?”

“No.” I take a deep breath. “She called the other night, but I didn't talk to her long because Eva was with me, and she never called me back.”

“Wait, Eva was with you?”

“Yeah. She was having a bad day, so she was staying at my place. She was in the shower when Kelly called. Kelly said she missed me and wanted to see how I was doing. That's it. I told her I couldn't talk, but she could call me back the next day and she didn't.”

“And you didn't call her?” I shake my head. “Don't mess with me, Emerson. All you did freshman year was mope over this chick and you're telling me you didn't call her back? Why?”

“Because of Eva,” I answer simply. Glen seems stunned speechless. “Don't look at me like that, Glen. It was one phone call, the first in over a year, and she didn't say anything about getting back together. We were friends first, so she could have been calling to simply check in. Was I tempted to call her back? Yeah, but I didn't. Because of Eva. Kelly chose not to call again, and that means something.”

Glen stares at me for a moment. “I still don't like this. There should be one girl in the entire picture, not two.”

“Kelly isn't in the picture.”

“Bullshit! You're telling me if she called you again and said she wanted you back, you wouldn't go running?”

I take a long pull from my beer, thinking it over. “The thing is, she did call and didn't say that.”

Glen watches me, not saying anything for a bit. “This time, she didn't. If—”

“Look, I didn't call her back because I'm with Eva, and I don't want that to change. I doubt Kelly will call again, and if she does, Eva will be the first to know. In the mean time, I don't see the point in telling her over nothing. If you're worried about me wronging Eva, then stop worrying.”

His eyes narrow. “I'll feel better and stop worrying when you can tell me that if Kelly were to want you back, you wouldn't leave Eva without a second thought. It's easy for you to say all this shit about not talking to her because of Eva when you don't think she wants to get back together. If she did, you
would
be having second thoughts, and
that
is what bothers me.”

I don't say anything because that's what bothers me too.

“SO, WHO'S THIS guy you've been seeing?” I ask Catherine. We're spending the night binge-watching
Grey's Anatomy
on Netflix and eating all the popcorn and candy we can manage.

“His name is Parker. I met him in the library one night when I was studying and researching for a paper.” She pops a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “That's my favorite thing about us.”

“There's an us?”

She nods. “Yep. I really like him. He's quiet and soft spoken, but the boy knows how to be assertive and confident and take matters into his own hands.”

I laugh. “He sounds like a good fit for you.”

Catherine rips open a candy bar and adds, “He's a virgin too. Well, he was one.”

My eyes nearly pop out of my head. “Catherine! You took his virginity? Oh, my goodness. How did this happen?”

“We had sex,” she says simply, and we both crack up laughing. “He hasn't dated anyone for an extended period of time, so he never got to the sex.”

“He's only been seeing you for two weeks,” I point out.

She grins. “What can I say? He really likes me. How's it going with Emerson?”

“Good. He's been really sweet to me.” I go on to tell her about what he did for me when I was having a bad day. “He has a toothbrush and a comforter for me over at his place, too.”

“A comforter? Why?”

“He steals the blankets, so now I have my own.”

Catherine's phone beeps and she picks it up. After a moment, she starts moving her thumbs. Then she glances over at me with a sly smile. “It seems I've created a sexaholic—”

“That's not a word,” I chuckle.

“Either way, it's a fact. Don't you want to spend the night with Emerson tomorrow, so I can have the dorm all to myself?” She grins. “Please?”

“If Emerson is free—” Catherine grabs my phone. “What are you doing?”

“Sending Emerson a text to ensure any plans he has tomorrow involve you.” When she's done sending the text, she hands it back to me. My jaw drops as I read the dirty message with explicit details about what I supposedly want to do tomorrow night.

“Catherine! I haven't had sex with him yet!”

My phone starts ringing with a call from Emerson.

She laughs. “Sorry?”

I glare at her before answering, “Hello.”

Emerson clears his throat. “Um, Eva, want to explain why I nearly spit my beer all over Glen?” Then he adds, “Are you serious? I mean, I thought—”

“I know. Sorry. Catherine sent it because she wants to make sure I'm not here tomorrow night. I didn't know you were with Glen.”

“It's all right. I work, but I get off at seven if you want to come over.”

“I work too, so I'll be there around nine. Thanks.”

“Thanks, Emerson!” Catherine shouts.

He laughs. “You're both welcome.”

We hang up and I playfully shove Catherine. “I still can't believe you!”

“I can't believe you haven't had sex with him yet. I mean, if you aren't ready, then I get that. I just thought after how you've raved about him, then you would be ready.”

I steal the popcorn bag from her and eat a handful before I reply. “I wasn't ready, and the whole ex-girlfriend thing made me hesitate even more. But now?” I shrug. “Maybe I'll do those things you texted Emerson about.”

Catherine laughs, and thankfully, we go back to watching the show.

“Glen! What are you doing here?” I walk down the counter to where I can lean over to hug him.

“I came to see you and get something to eat before you close.” We go to the other end, so I can start making his favorite sub. “I haven't seen much of you lately. Think you'll want to hang out Monday?”

“Yeah, sure. Want to do dinner? Chinese, maybe?” Glen nods. “Sorry I haven't been around much. Between school and work and—”

“Emerson,” he finishes. “Yeah, I know you're busy, Eva.”

There's something about the way he says it that rubs me the wrong way. “Is everything okay, Glen? Did something happen with you and Emerson last night?” I've been watching him as I speak, but he hasn't given me any clues. He opens his mouth to answer when I throw another question at him. “Has something new happened with Kelly?”

He closes his mouth, and then opens it as he sighs. “No, nothing new that I know of.” He gives me the grin he uses when he flirts or tries to get his way. “I just miss my favorite cousin. Let me know what time for Monday and I'll meet you there, okay?”

I nod and finish his sub. “You don't have a hot date tonight?”

Glen grins. “Not until later.” He hands me the cash for his sub and says his goodbye.

A glance at the clock on the wall shows that I have one minute until I can close. I get busy cleaning up and making sure everything is in order for whoever opens tomorrow. Soon, Glen is forgotten as my mind turns to Emerson.

Somehow, I'm energized after work. I think part of it may be because I'm about to see Emerson. I haven't been able to stop thinking about what Catherine texted Emerson last night. The idea of doing those things with him has been on my mind all day long. I'm buzzing with temptation by the time I knock on his door.