Chapter 56

Sebastian

I didn’t think Evelyn knew so many places that we could possibly tackle in our short week here. But as usual, she managed to surprise me.

From the beach to her favorite quiet stores, Evelyn tells me about any and all memories she can draw out of her mind.

“I started coming here with my mom every weekend,” she remarks as we leave her coffee shop. “Was my first cup of coffee.”

We lay out on the sand at the beach with very few people surrounding us, and she falls asleep next to me in the sun.

Another restaurant we go to remembers Evelyn from growing up and gives us a discount on the food, as well as a free dessert.

“You didn’t have to do that!” Evelyn insists to the owner, Mr. Lancaster.

“Not every day one of our own travels home.” His wide grin even tugs at my heartstrings as my girlfriend stands to hug the man.

“You really come out of your shell around these people,” I observe when we leave together.

“That’s what home is—a place where you’re at your most comfortable.”

I kiss her head and wrap an arm around her. “So poetic.”

As our days pass in a blur, I feel the urge to do something—though at first, I don’t have a clue what something should be.

There’s one day that Evelyn takes me to the outlet malls. “What’s so special about a bunch of stores?” I comment.

Evelyn’s eyes dance as she grins at me. “Middle school hangout mostly, but my favorite ice cream place is here.”

“What?” I raise a brow. “Your favorite place to get ice cream is in some random outlet?”

“What can I say? I’m a simple gal.”

“You’re anything for simple, Evelyn Walters.”

As we walk slowly past the other people around us, I think about how this relationship can continue at school. A few people know about the technicality of our relationship, but what about behind closed doors?

And further on, how can we trust anyone?

I make a list of people that I can trust in my head.

Evelyn.

That’s the entire list.

Well, Ava, too, depending.

It’s become quite evident that I don’t have anyone in my corner.

Just her.

And as she orders ice cream for the two of us to enjoy, an idea finally pops into my head for what I can do for her while we’re here before we’re thrust back into the throngs of classmates, family, and school.

It takes me a few days to set up all the pieces. But two days before we’re set to fly back home, I finally start to clue her in.

I set a box on the bed while she’s in the bathroom, holding a dress that I’d seen Evelyn ogling when passing the store. Next, I get the two dozen roses that I’d ordered to the room out and place them on the table of our hotel room.

Finally, I look inconspicuous as Evelyn returns to the room, stunned at what is before us.

“What’s all this?” She laughs.

“A surprise,” I answer, nodding to the box on the bed. “We have somewhere to be later.”

I leave her to open her gifts and get ready as I head into the bathroom myself to shower and dress. In addition to her dress, I’ve purchased a suit to wear.

As I stand under the hot shower water and wash my hair, my chest begins to tug at the thought of Evelyn in that dress and smiling as she smells the roses.

“Who the hell have I become?” I ask myself. “A man who buys dresses, roses, and plans an extravagant evening for two?”

I’ve never been this sort of man—my world has consisted of a new girl at a moment’s notice, racing, school, and making what I want from those around me. The idea that Evelyn Walters landed in my arms on our birthday is all but a long-forgotten world.

“Love really can change someone.”

That’s the only thought I can come up with.

Evelyn looks as beautiful as ever as I walk out of the bathroom dressed and ready. The white dress makes her eyes pop, her smile bigger. I struggle not to throw her on the bed and have my way with her.

“Are you going to tell me why we’re wearing fancy clothing?”

“That would ruin the fun.”

A limo picks us up outside the hotel, and we ride in the backseat together, drinking champagne out of flutes.

“This is all so…unexpected,” she murmurs as she looks out the window to our view.

“That we could have a night out?”

“You’ve always been thoughtful. But something about the way you’ve treated me tonight is so much different. So…special.”

Another lurch in my stomach.

Does she forget just how stupid in love I am?

The surprise isn’t too extravagant—we go to one of the fancy restaurants that I was able to find. What’s better is that we’ve been given our own room.

The privacy that we need tonight.

“You put all this together, Sebastian?” Her voice sounds thick like she might cry.

“A beautiful woman deserves a night out in a fancy place, Princess.”

That gets her, as it always does. Her cheeks blush ever so slightly, and her eyes and head bow to look at the table.

“You didn’t have to do all of this.”

I reach my hand out on the table, watching her eyes.

“Why?”

“It’s so much.”

I shake my head.

“Things are going to be different once we get back to New York,” I state, squeezing her hand in mine. “And I want there to be room where we can talk about the future.”

Man, I really do sound like someone else.

“We won’t have this level of privacy,” she says in a child-like tone. “We have to be smart and discrete.”

I squeeze her hand again. “We will.”

“How do you know that?” Evelyn’s eyebrow shoots up, but I know she isn’t acting in defense. She’s just questioning how on earth we’ll be able to keep going.

“As long as you love me? I’ll be here. If you want to run away together, then we’ll do it. If you want to hide in my apartment for a week and do nothing but sleep next to me, then we’ll do it. If you want to announce to the world that you’re with someone you love, by all means.”

More pink to add to her cheeks.

“I wish I could tell the world,” she admits.

“One day,” I assure her. “There will be a day where we can be honest.”

“Are you sure that’ll be safe?”

“No,” I reply. “Nothing with us will ever fully be safe.”

But that doesn’t mean we can’t find alternatives until then. I just know Evelyn has to be my forever. My heart is screaming at me to stay steadfast and always be there.

My chest and eyes are burning. I don’t want her to experience loneliness again.

“But I promise to find solutions to whatever problems we face,” I vow. “I’m going to win my next race, look over at the cockpit and scream that I love you. I’m going to fight back anyone who tries to get in your way. I’m going to prove that this isn’t just some lie to live.”

I reach under the table to the gift box I’d had set up.

“Before we go home, I just have one more thing for you.”

I hand her the box and watch Evelyn open it with wide eyes. Inside is a necklace that matches the green in her eyes, and as soon as she makes eye contact again, I know she’s happy.

“I love you,” she whispers, hugging the necklace close to her chest. Every word I could possibly say is overshadowed by that voice, those eyes, and those lips.

I lean into Evelyn and kiss her, letting our lips graze one another as I respond in my own hushed tone, “I love you.”