When I Was Yours(36)

He nods in understanding. “Anyway, I just came up to bring you last year’s numbers that you were looking for. They were on my desk after all.” He hands the folder containing the papers to me.

“Thanks.”

He gets to his feet, about to leave, and then he seems to change his mind. He turns back, his hand holding the back of the chair. “You always were a good kid, Adam. You just got the shit end of the stick when it came to your parents. And I know you probably think you just caved, and Ava won again, but she didn’t.”

“No?” I give him a disbelieving look.

“Ava wanted to play Morgan. You didn’t give her the part. You’ve never done that before. In the past, you’ve always caved completely and given her what she wants.”

That’s not exactly true.

There was one time, a long time ago, when I told Ava no, and I stuck to it. But that was when Evie was still mine, and I had something to fight for.

“Well, there’s always time for me to cave.” I give a dry laugh.

He stares at me with a serious look on his face. “Even still, I’d call this one a win. I’m proud of you, son.”

From out of nowhere, I feel an ache in my chest. It’s so severe that I press my hand to it.

Then, my cell starts ringing on my desk. I’m not familiar with the number, but something tells me that it’s Evie.

“I have to take this,” I tell Richard. “Oh, and thanks,” I say when he’s reached the door.

I’m not just thanking him for bringing papers.

“No problem.” He smiles.

I wait until he’s shut the door before I answer, “Adam Gunner.”

“Adam…it’s Evie.”

She didn’t have to identify herself. I’d know her voice anywhere. And I hate the way it still affects me, even now.

“Are you still there?” she asks softly.

I realize I haven’t said anything in response.

“I’m here.”

There’s a brief pause on the line. I can hear her gentle breaths.

Then, she says, “I was thinking it’s probably time we talk.”

I blow out a breath. My mother and Evie in one day. I guess someone up there really hates me.

“But we don’t have to…if you’re busy,” she adds quickly.

“No, it’s fine. Did you want to do this over the phone or face-to-face?”

“I thought face-to-face, if that’s okay with you.”

“Fine. When?”

“Are you…busy now?”

I can just envision her as if she were in front of me right now, biting on her lower lip, the way she does when she’s nervous.

I look at the paperwork on my desk and the emails filling my screen. “I’m always busy. But I guess now is as good a time as any. Where do you want to meet?”

“Um…I don’t know. I didn’t get that far. It’s taken me a week to find the courage to call you, so…” She trails off.

And that ache is back in my chest again but stronger this time.

I press my fingers against it. “Do you know Rock and Reilly’s Irish Pub?”

“The one on Sunset Boulevard?”

“That’s the one. I’ll meet you there in twenty minutes.”

“Okay. See you then.”

I hang up, and the first thing I do before putting my cell into my pants pocket is save Evie’s number into my Contacts.

Don’t judge me. I might need to get in contact with her again.

I mean, we are still married after all.

After grabbing my car keys, I get my jacket and pull it on as I exit my office.

“Mark, I’m heading out,” I tell him, passing his desk.

“Will you be coming back, or are you done for the day?”

Stopping at the elevator, I press the button. “Done for the day.”




Pulling up outside of Reilly’s, I park my car and get out. I lock up and head into the pub. Max and I come here all the time. We’ve been drinking here since we got our first fake IDs at sixteen.

Back then, I would never have guessed that I’d be coming in here to meet with my wife to discuss the demise of our ten-year marriage that technically only lasted for one week.

I push open the door and step inside the pub. I immediately see Evie, as the place is empty, except for her.

She’s sitting in a corner booth by the window, staring into a small glass of wine. She’s not in her work uniform. She’s wearing a plain T-shirt and jean shorts. I know for a fact that she’ll be wearing flip-flops on her feet. It always was Evie’s preferred choice of footwear.

Since seeing her again, this is the first time that I’ve seen her in normal clothes. And once again, I’m thrown back ten years.

She looks beautiful.

And my cock appreciates the fact.

That was always my problem when it came to Evie. I thought with my heart and my cock.

But not anymore. She will always look beautiful to me, but it’s irrelevant. She broke my heart, so it no longer works, and I’m shutting my cock down.

I’m thinking solely with my head.

She lifts her eyes from her wine, instantly meeting with mine. She gives me a hesitant small smile.

I ignore the burn in my chest. Keeping my expression blank, I walk over to her.