Free Embrace (Evolve Series #2) by S.E. Hall Page A

crap person.”
    “Baby, I’m gonna say this once, then I’m going to
get up and walk out so that I don’t change my mind. I love you and I trust you,
so go find him, text him, whatever… Fix it. I’ll give you until ten to come to
me, and when you do, it’s just me and you. No one or nothing else gets in.
Deal?”
    I lift my head in shock. What guy sends their
girlfriend to find their ex? Dane Kendrick, in all his domineering, secure,
sexy fucking excellence, that’s who. He even bosses me when he’s sending me to
find Evan… It’s the sexiest thing ever.
    I nod and then I grab his face and kiss him like I’ll
never get to again. His hands slide around my waist, pulling me against him,
our bodies molding like our mouths. He breaks away first, setting me off him
and onto the bed, standing and moving swiftly to the door.
    “Ten o’clock,” he repeats, turning back to look at
me, my hair mussed and my lips swollen, “or anytime really. Call me if you need
me and know I love you.”
    With a wink, he leaves and I grab my phone to text
Evan. That is, once I regain full use of my senses.
     
     

Chapter 8
    Unfair Comparison
    ~Evan~
     
    L aney: We’re long overdue for a Come 2 Jesus.
Tell me where 2 meet u in next few mins or I’ll hunt u down.
    Her text doesn’t surprise me at all. Today had been disastrous;
I know Laney—too much and she’s done. Really, so am I. Now is fine with me.
    Evan: U at your dorm?
    Laney: Yes.
    Evan: I’ll pick u up in 10. Be outside.
    Laney: K.
    She’s already outside when I pull up. I don’t get
out and open her door, but rather just pop the lock and stare in front of me as
she climbs in. Instantly, the whole cab smells like lavender and I run a hand
down my face, hating myself for sniffing extra hard.
    “Hey,” she says so quietly I barely hear her.
    “Hey.”
    Well thank God this isn’t awkward.  
    “Where to?” I ask, still not looking anywhere near
her direction.
    “I don’t really know. You hungry?”
    “No, I just ate.”
    “I don’t care where we go; surprise me.”
    “So…” I mutter as we pull out of the lot. “What’d
you want to talk about?”
    Smooth.
    I don’t get an answer right away and can see her lay
her head against the window out of the corner of my eye. As I make the turn,
she finds her voice.
    “I miss you, Evan. I can’t deal with you hating me.
Remember how good we were as friends, before all the other stuff got in the
way?”
    I didn’t think it was stuff and I didn’t think it
was in the way. I thought it was love and I thought it was great. But clearly,
I’m not all that omnipotent.
    “I miss you too, Laney,” I reply quietly. “I’ve
missed you since the day I left for college.”
    “Me too,” she whispers.
    This is the best spot I know, the middle of our
campus. It has flowers and benches and no one will be here this time of
evening, except maybe a random or two walking through. When we’re parked, she
gets out first, reaching behind my seat to pull out her blanket. Yes, it’s
still there. I amble out and follow her, failing miserably to not notice the
way the breeze lifts her hair and carries its scent on it.
    “Sit down,” she says, patting the spot beside her on
one of the benches farthest in the back, the blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
The girl is always cold.
    Knowing better, I sit down but leave optimal space
between us.
    She remains facing front but slides one of her
little hands over to embrace mine. “Evan,” she starts. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I
didn’t mean to; I tried to fight it.”
    “Fight what exactly? Explain it to me, Laney, ‘cause
I just can’t swallow how I was so easily replaced.”
    She pulls her hand out of mine and I know it’s
because of how abrasively I spoke. I’m not sure if I’m relieved or sorry that
she did. Touching her now confuses me, not feeling wrong, but no longer feeling
completely right.
    “You weren’t replaced. You and Dane are totally
different. One