When I Was Yours(39)

Evie limbers off me, getting to her feet. I stand, and then I take her face in my hands. I kiss her long and deep. Then, I grab her hand and lead her in the direction of the stairs, listening to the sound of her sexy giggle.

I’ve just gotten up the first step when there’s a knock at the front door.

“Who could that be?” Evie asks.

I shrug. “Max probably ordered takeout. I’ll get rid of whoever it is.”

I give her a quick kiss and then head for the front door.

I pull it open, and my heart sinks.

Fuck.

Ava is standing there. Over her shoulder, I see her limo parked on my driveway, her bodyguard standing beside it.

“Ava,” I say her name like a bad taste is in my mouth. “What are you doing here?”

I haven’t seen her since I left Beverly Hills back in July, and even those few months haven’t been long enough.

“It’s nice to see you, too, and call me mother. You know how much I hate it when you call me Ava.” She sweeps past me, walking into the house.

I release a sigh and close the door. My eyes immediately seek out Evie, who’s still standing at the bottom of the stairs.

My mother’s eyes are on her like a lion stalking a gazelle. I feel a nasty twist in my gut.

“And who have we got here?” Ava asks me without taking her eyes off Evie.

“Nobody. She’s just a friend.”

Evie’s eyes immediately flick to mine, and I see the hurt flash through them.

Her pain strikes me like a blow to the stomach.

I didn’t mean that. I just don’t want Ava to know that Evie is my girlfriend. Ava knows I don’t do girlfriends, and if she knows Evie’s my girlfriend, then she’ll know that Evie means something to me. And the minute Ava knows that, she’ll have more power over me. She’ll wield Evie like a weapon against me.

I can’t let that happen, so I need her to think that Evie is just another girl.

Evie knows my mother is a bitch and that we’re not close, but she doesn’t know the extent of what a f*cking devil she is.

I want to protect Evie from her, but protecting her will become a hell of a lot harder if Ava knows I care for her.

“A friend,” my mother echoes. “And does your friend have a name?”

Evie seems to come to life, the hurt quickly masked in her eyes. “I’m Evie Taylor.” She steps forward, holding her hand out to Ava. “It’s really nice to meet you, Mrs. Gunner.”

My mother looks down at her hand. Then, ignoring Evie, she sweeps past her and into the living room.

Evie’s face drops. And it’s another blow to my gut.

I really f*cking hate my mother.

“So, this is what my money’s paying for,” Ava says, looking around the beach house.

Ignoring her, I say in a quiet voice to Evie, “I’m really sorry. I had no idea she was coming.”

“Why do you need to be sorry about your mother turning up at your house?”

I run a hand through my hair. I should have told her before what Ava was like. I just never wanted her to know the kind of f*cked up my family is.

“Because she’s not a good person, Evie.”

Evie only knows good people. She doesn’t know the kind of evil my mother is or what I grew up around.

“I can’t explain now, but I will later, I promise.”

I just need to get Evie out of here—now. She can’t drive, so I’ll have to take her home and then come back and deal with whatever Ava wants from me. Because, without a doubt, she wants something.

“Ava, I’m just going to take Evie home, and then I’ll be back.”

“No need for her to rush off. Stay, and visit with me a while.” Ava sits down on the sofa. A false smile is plastered on her face as she pats the space on the sofa beside her.

Evie glances at me in question and then tentatively walks into the living room before taking the space beside Ava.

I sit on the arm of the chair, facing them.

“Oh, happy birthday, by the way,” Ava says to me.

“My birthday was three weeks ago,” I respond blankly. “You know, September thirtieth.”

My fingers go to the pendant around my neck that Evie got me.

It says, Surf. Sleep. Repeat.

It’s the best gift I’ve ever received.

“Of course I know when your birthday is.” Ava fakes a laugh. “I was there. Most horrendous day of my life. I’m not forgetting that in a hurry.”

Evie’s horrified gaze lands on my mother.

I just let out a sigh.

“So, what brings you to Malibu, Ava?” I say in a bored tone.

“We’ll get to that soon.” She flicks a hand at me. “First, I want to hear all about this one here.” She turns her body toward Evie, who still has a look of absolute horror on her face.

Evie clears her expression and offers my mother a smile.

“So, how long have you and my son been seeing each other?”

“Not long,” I answer. “And we’re not really seeing each other. Are we done here?” I stand up.

Ava ignores me, and I try to ignore the look of devastation in Evie’s eyes, the devastation that’s crushing my insides.

“Hush, Adam.” Ava gives me a look before turning back to Evie. “He’s always kidding around like this. Don’t take him seriously. You must be important to him. I know my son, and I’ve never seen a girl with him at four in the afternoon. He usually brings them home late at night, and then they’re gone before breakfast.”