Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(73)

arms. There’s nowhere in the world like Evan’s embrace. It’s here and only here that I find total acceptance, unconditional

love, and a man’s desire for only me.

“You don’t even know this Dane. You know me, Laney, you know us. I won’t let you mistake companionship for love. I won’t let

you throw us away.”

Absolutely everything he just said makes sense and speaks directly to my heart. Do I want to play two guys? No. Is he right, do I

only want Dane because he’s there? No. Granted, he would have never gotten near me if Evan had been there, but had he, I still

would’ve been tempted. Dane pulled me from across the room the minute I met him, undeniably. But I already knew this, thus my

dizziness. My thoughts are just wicked circles these days.

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Evan. I love you. I don’t love him, but I like him. I wish you were there and that this

never happened, but—”

He silences me with his fingers, rubbing my lips gently. “You must be drained, sweetness, you go to bed and don’t worry over this

nonsense. I’ll fix everything, Laney.” He pulls me in for a hug and a kiss on the forehead. “I’m really sorry for speaking out

of line to you and you know I didn’t mean it. I adore you, Laney. I always have and I always will.”

He looks at me for my acceptance and I give him a weak smile. He’s right; I’m absolutely exhausted, physically and emotionally.

He doesn’t mention staying with me again and I head to bed.





Chapter Thirty-Two


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CALLING CARD

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EVAN

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I wait for Laney to get to her bedroom and shut the door before I grab her phone and forward his contact to mine. No cute pet name,

just “Dane.” No song attached. I still have a shot. I know my Laney, and if she hasn’t attached a song, he hasn’t cracked

through her layers all the way to the center yet.

I thought about texting him from her phone and telling him “I’d” changed my mind and to leave “me” alone, but being the recent

victim of phone fraud, I’m not going to sink that low. No, I’ll go man to man with him all day long. When Laney finds out,

she’ll be pissed, but she’ll get over that. She might not get over this Dane prick if I don’t do something, though, and it’s

that thinking that propels me to proceed; without caution.

When I’m clear of her house, I dial him; sure he’ll be up waiting for her to call. “Hello?”

“Yeah, is this Dane?” “It is. Who’s this?”

“This is Evan Allen.” I let that sink in for a minute.

Ya douche—you know who I am.

“What can I do for you, Evan? Where’s Laney?” “Laney’s in bed. She’s had a very long day, not that you need to worry about

it. What you can do for me, Dane, is stay the f*ck away from her. What kind of guy goes after another man’s girl?”

“Evan, listen, I’ve heard a lot of great things about you and what you’ve done for Laney. So out of respect for that, I don’t

want to be rude, but what’s between me and Laney is none of your business. I won’t discuss her with you behind her back.”

“Don’t pull that shit with me, like you respect her and I’m betraying her. No one cares about that girl more than me. I love her

more than my own life and I’m not about to walk away.”

“Really? I thought you’d already done that.” Now he’s taking me from pissed to drive there and kick his ass mad. I want to go

real country on his ass right about now.

“Whatever, man, I had school. I didn’t walk away just for the hell of it. Either way, it’s none of your f*cking business. I’ve

been beside that girl for ten years, you’ve been there for ten minutes, so don’t ever kid yourself that you know our story.”

“Evan, I understand your position, I really do. I can’t imagine losing a girl like Laney, it would make me crazy, too, but this

is not for you and me to decide. We can’t duel it out for her hand, that’s hers to give.”

“I haven’t lost her and she gave her hand to me! If you care about her, back off! You’re just confusing her and stressing her

out.”

“I will do whatever Laney asks me to do...Laney, not you. Have a good night.”

I’m not sure what that phone call accomplished. It didn’t make me feel any better and his proper ass shows no signs of backing

off anytime soon. His calm rationale and confidence in what he has with Laney burns through me like acid. How is it that he’s he

all smug about where he stands with Laney and I’m standing here doubting everything I thought I knew about us?

I have to narrow our gap, literally. Laney Jo Walker is my future, no way I’m gonna stand back and let some tool blind her with

fancy trips and gifts. There’s no way he’s had enough time to steal her whole heart. His time stops now.