Stevewasntsurehowtheydendedupinthissituation,butsomethingtoldhimthatifheletherwalkawaynow,theirrelationshipwouldneverrecoveritmightevengrowcolderthanbefore.
Hisheartpoundedlikeadruminhischest,soloudhecouldhearitinhisears.Heswallowedhard,tryingtosteady himself.
Evelyn,Iwasdrunklastnight,hebegan,hisgriptighteningonthedoorhandle.
Iactedoutofline,andImsorry.ButIremembereverything.Iwastheonewhomadeyoustay,IwastheonewhosaidIlikedyou.

Hetookadeepbreath,hisvoicesteadybutvulnerable.ItsnotbecauseofwhathappenedlastnightthatImsayingthis.Ilikeyou,Evelyn.Thatswhy,evenwhenIwasdrunk,Icouldntletyougo.Andnow,sober,ImtellingyouIlikeyou.Willyoustaywithme? His heartfeltlikeitwasabouttoburst,amixofhopeandfearswirlinginsidehim.
Evelynwassilentforalongmoment,herearsturningbrightred.Finally,she spoke,hervoicesoft.Canyou…stepbackalittle? Stevesheartsank.Hethoughtthiswasherwayofrejectinghim.Hishanddroppedfromthedoorhandle,andhetookafewstepsback,hisheadhanginglowlikea kickedpuppy.
WhenEvelynturnedaround,shesawhimstandingthere,lookingutterlydejected.Despiteherownembarrassment,shecouldnthelpbutlaugh.
Hearingherlaughter,Stevelookedup,hisexpressionamixofconfusionandhurt.
Ididntsayno,Evelynsaid,hervoiceteasing.WhyareyouactinglikeIjustbrokeyourheart? Steveseyeslitup,buthehesitated,still unsure.So…doesthatmeanyouresayingyes? EvelynthoughtaboutthepastyearwithSteve.Hedalwaysbeenthere forherthroughherhighsandlows,herstrugglesandtriumphs.Hedneverdoubtedher,evenwhenshedoubtedherself.

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Shesmiled,butthenshookherhead.Beforehishopecouldcrumble,sheadded,Butyourconfessionwasterrible.Noflowers,noromancejustadrunk,smellymess.Isthatreallyhowyouwanttodothis? Stevelaughed,alittledefensively.Hey,IwasdrunkbecauseIwastakingallthosedrinksforyou!Andyourenotexactlyfreshas a daisyyourselfrightnow! Evelynpointedathim,hercheekspuffingoutinmockanger.Well,thenIdefinitelydontwantthiskindofconfession! Stevesteppedcloser,pullingherintohisarms.Fine,hesaid,hisvoicesoftbutdetermined.Illgiveyooneflowers
,romance,thewholething.
proper Thatsmorelikeit,Evelynsaid,restingherchinonhisshoulder.
44.8% Chapter21 Justassherelaxedintothemoment,herphonerang.
Shepulleditout,frowningwhenshesawthecallerID:Mrs.Shelton.

ShepattedStevesback,signalinghim toletgo.Oncehedid,sheansweredthecall,steppingintothelivingroom.
Nowthattheyhadbeendivorcedforayear,whywouldMrs.Sheltonsuddenlycallher? Evelyn,Mrs.Sheltonsvoicewasshaky,barelyholdingbacktears.IknowMartinhurtyou,andImsorryforthat.
1 Shedidntwanttowastetime,soshesaiddirectly,Mrs.Shelton,justsaywhatyouneedto.
Evelyn,ifyouhavetime,couldyouvisitMartin?Ilesbeendiagnosedwithterminallivercancer.Thedoctorssayhedoesnthavemuchtimeleft.Hislastwishistoseeyou.