Keep it together, Evie. Just a little longer. Things will be better when you see Josh.
Wanting to avoid the line of people at the front of the restaurant, I take the back entrance. While I doubt everyone in Portland reads Gary’s posts, it might be prudent to try to keep a low profile.
Bill’s words churn in my head. Break up with him.
No, no fucking way. I would never abandon Josh at a time like this. Whatever happens, I’ll stick by him. I’m sure his family is giving him hell right now.
Oh, God. My dad. I’ll have to tell him about Gary’s article if he doesn’t already know. He’s going to be heartbroken that my job is in jeopardy.
Shoving all of those thoughts down, I pull open the back door to the restaurant. I glance around, trying to find Josh. It’s later than I’d hoped to meet him and the lunch rush is in full swing.
I keep looking for Josh sitting alone, but every table is full. A woman’s laughter catches my attention, and I turn to see the back of someone who looks like Josh, but the man isn’t by himself. One woman is sitting across from him and two are standing at his side.
As I get closer, I realize how incredibly beautiful they all are. They must be in their mid-twenties, and they’re decked out in full makeup and dressed like models.
Lucky guy.
The women are smiling and laughing. The girl standing next to him grabs his bicep and leans down to whisper in his ear.
I start to turn away, but then their conversation makes me still.
“Your blog is so hot, Josh. I’ve told all of my girlfriends to check it out.” And then my heart starts beating out of my chest when she leans across the table and adds, “I’ve ordered your toy, but I’d really like to demo the real thing.”
Oh, fuck, no.
Stalking closer, I watch this trainwreck in slow motion.
Because him being propositioned in person by gorgeous women frothing at the mouth to sex him up is my worst nightmare.
I want to laugh about how distressed I was this weekend over his inbox. Because that was a small brushfire. This… this is the whole goddamn forest burning to the ground.
He clears his throat, and I wait for him to tell them he has a girlfriend—to say he’s involved with someone, to say he’s taken—but he just laughs awkwardly. “Thanks, ladies. It’s been a fun project.”
Come on, Josh. Decline her come-on.
I should wait to hear what he says, but rage is pulsing through my veins, making me want to grab these bitches by the hair and drag them away from him.
No, Evie. He should be the one to walk away from these girls. This is on him.
The women chatter on with him while he just sits there.
I’m so pissed, I can’t stop myself. Stepping closer so he can see me, I wave my arm. “Yeah, Josh, you should give them a demo. I bet all three of these girls would love a free ride.” His head jerks back and his eyes widen when he realizes I’ve been standing two feet away for the last several minutes.
“Evie. Sweetheart.”
I only barely restrain myself from telling him to fuck right off. “I can see you’re terribly busy.” I motion toward his fangirls. “Please, don’t let me interrupt. We can handle your business via email when you have more time.”
He starts talking and shaking his head no, but the pulse pounding through my ears prevents me from hearing a damn thing as I stalk away.
33
Josh
My eyes focus on the thin zipper at the back of Evie’s beige skirt as she storms out of the coffee shop.
My breath seizes in my throat, and the sounds of the restaurant fade to a dull nothing.
Not pausing to button my jacket, I chase down my girlfriend, dodging waitresses with full cups of steaming hot coffee and a busboy loaded down with dirty dishes. I not-so-gently push past a group of hipster guys stroking their beards and talking in the aisle. They look at me indignantly as I run after her. I’m sure I threw The Coffee Pot into an uproar, and I don’t care.
I need to get to Evie.
Scanning the street, I spot her stalking away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. She’s hobbled by her high heels and tight skirt.
“Evie!” I run and catch up to her, touching her upper arm.
She spins around, and the hurt in her eyes hits me right in the solar plexus. It’s bad. She’s furious. And I’m not sure what, on the laundry list of things, is causing it now.
“You!” she shrieks. “Get away from me! All those come-ons. All those women online, and now this! Do you even like me, or am I just the first woman who knew about your blog? Am I going to have to stand in line now behind your admirers?” Tears streak down her face, and my heart trips over itself.
Her voice lowers to a whisper. “If those women in there are what you really want, please go. Just don’t pretend this means something to you if it doesn’t.”
She bursts into incoherent sobs, and I step forward and wrap my arms around her tightly, feeling her shudder against my chest. She’s trembling so hard I worry she’s not going to stop. With one hand she holds on to me, her briefcase limp in the other. As she buries her face against me, her tears soak my shirt and break my heart.
“Shhh,” I say as I press my nose to the top of her head and kiss it. I smell her familiar almond scent, which fills me with a longing to do nothing but be near her.
Although… she’s acting completely crazy.
Not that I blame her because today has been fucked up, but she’s wrong about what happened a few minutes ago.
“Baby, I don’t give a shit about those women,” I murmur against her hair. “I’m overwhelmed too. I was sitting there, freaking the fuck out, waiting for you. Waiting to talk to you and figure out what to do. I could’ve been sitting with a two-ton elephant and not known it. I’m sorry you thought I was anything other than polite to those women. Causing you pain is the last thing I’d ever want to do.”
I hold her close and let her shake against me, let my words sink in, let her get it out.
I might have hired her to protect me, but I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she’s okay.
Because, yeah, we’re in a lot of shit.
As soon as we’re done talking, I’m headed to my parents’ house. Spencer texted that he plans to be there for my execution. And Evie needs to go tell Kendall off. That woman—PR, my ass—probably did more damage to my reputation than anyone ever could. Because who else would’ve spilled this secret?
After a moment, Evie quiets down, and I glance around. We’ve attracted a small crowd. Her beautiful face is red and puffy, and mascara smudges dot the back of her hands—as well as my shirt, I’m sure.
“Baby,” I whisper. “I’m parked right over there. Come on. Let’s talk in my car. I’ll drive you back to your office.”
She’s shivering even though it’s summer. I take off my jacket and wrap it around her, and we hustle to my car. Thankfully we’re left alone.