Hisvoicewassofaint,likeawhisperlostinthewind.Beforeshecouldcatchtherest,theroarofpassingcarsdrownedhimout.
Shewantedtohearmore,butthedrivercutin,announcingtheirarrival.
Reluctantly,shepaidandhelpedSteveoutofthecar.
SteveandEvelynlivedcloseby,andthankfully,theirbuildinghadanelevator.
Otherwise,shewasntsureshecouldvedraggedhisdrunkselfallthewayup.
Seeinghimstumble,Evelynknewhecouldnthandlewashingupalone.Atleastheseemedawareenoughtofindhisway tothebedroom.

Recognizingthefamiliarroom,hecollapsedontothe bed.
Evelynsighedinrelief,butbeforeshecouldfullyexhale,amuffledsoundofdongcamefromthebedroom.
Herheartskippedabeatassherushedin,onlytofindStevesprawledonthefloor,lookingoddlypeaceful.Itwasunclearwhetherhehadfallenasleeporjustpassedout.
Worriedhemightvehurthimself, shecheckedhimover.Turnsout,hedfallenontothebedfirst,thenrolledoff.
Witharesignedsigh,Evelynhauledhimbackontothebed.Justasshewasabouttotuckhimin,hisarmshotout,pullingherintohischest.
Shefroze,thenstruggledto breakfree,butheonlyheldhertighter.
Herhandspressedagainsthisfirmchest,hisalcohollacedbreathbrushingherear,sendingaflushofheatthrough her.

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Then,thewordsshehadntcaughtearlierbecamecrystalclear.
Evelyn…Ilikeyou… Herfaceburned.Shetriedtowrigglefree,butitwasnouse.Exhaustiontookover,andbeforesheknewit,shedfallenasleepinhisarms.
Thatnight,bothsleptsoundly.
ThetroublecamethenextmorningwhenStevewokeup,soberandhorrified.
HestareddownatEvelyn,stillasleepinhisarms,replayingthepreviousnightsblunders.Hisfaceturnedcrimson,hisbodystiffeningwithembarrassment.
Evelynstirred,discomfortedbythenowrigidpillow.Sheshifted,thenfrozeasrealizationhit.
44.1% Chapter20 Hereyessnappedopen, meetingStevesflushedfaceinchesaway.

Hercheeksburnedasshescrambledoutofhisembrace,runningahandthroughhermessyhair.
Howhadsheendedupsleepinglikethat?Andsosoundly? 1.Ijustbroughtyouback.Youretheonewho…Shetrailedoff,unabletofinish,Steve,stillredfaced,mumbledsomethingbutstayedsilent.
Seeinghislackofresponse,Evelynfeltachill.Sheboltedforthedoor,desperatetoescapetheawkwardness.
Butjustasherhandtouchedthehandle,Steveshandcoveredhers.
Thedoorwasinfrontofher,Stevewasbehindher, Thedoorwouldntbudge,andStevewasntbackingdown.
Trapped,Evelynsmindraced,herbodystiffeningasiffireworkswereexplodinginherhead.