“That would be awesome,” Sadie replied. “And maybe a chocolate shake?”
Annalise laughed. “You got it.”
Once they were on the road home, the two passengers in the back fell asleep. Evan found himself glancing in his rearview mirror and gazing at Annalise.
Without the pressure of the fugitives now burning in his brain, his emotions where Annalise was concerned came to the surface.
He was still in love with her. He realized now he’d never stopped loving her. She had surprised him with her strength throughout this ordeal. He wasn’t sure if she wanted another chance with him or not, but more important he wasn’t sure he would ever trust her with his heart again.
Chapter Twelve
It was just after midnight when Evan finally pulled into Annalise’s driveway. They had gotten Sadie a fast-food child’s meal on the way home, and her resident attendant was now with her at the hospital where she would be thoroughly checked out before returning to her room at the school.
Annalise knew her time with Evan was drawing to an end. With Sadie found, Evan had no reason to stay in town. Whatever was left of the investigation could be handled in Knoxville.
“I’m so glad that Sadie seems to be okay mentally and the whole ordeal didn’t break her spirit,” she said once they were in her living room.
“Thank goodness. She’s definitely a special girl,” Evan replied.
“She is,” Annalise agreed. She cast him a surreptitious gaze and wondered if he was thinking about another special little girl named Maria. “Are you tired?”
“I am, but at the moment I’m waiting for the last of my adrenaline to burn off.”
“Surely you aren’t planning on packing up and leaving here this late tonight,” she said.
“Actually I was hoping I could avail myself of your hospitality and spend one more night here, then head out sometime tomorrow,” he replied. “In fact I’m thinking about that bed in the guest room.”
She smiled at him. “It’s all yours. I’d say you’ve more than earned it.”
They engaged in small talk about the case as they lounged on the sofa. “I’m sure you’re ready to get back to your own life,” he said.
“Almost.” She would probably not have another chance to talk to him about her feelings. The time was now, before he packed up and left her house. “Evan, I’m still in love with you.”
Her words hung in the air. He stared at her for a long moment and then looked down at the coffee table. “Annalise,” he protested softly, “isn’t it better to just leave things alone between us?”
“No, it’s not.” She gazed at him and her heart began to pound with every emotion from anxiety to love. “I want another chance with you, Evan. I’ve never stopped loving you, and having this time with you only confirms to me that you’re the only man I want in my life.”
He frowned and his eyes darkened. “You walked away from me easily enough three years ago. In fact, as I remember, you sent me a text to tell me goodbye...a text for God’s sake.”
“Walking away from you was the most difficult decision I’ve ever made in my life,” she replied. “And I sent you a goodbye text because I knew if I tried to say goodbye to you in person, I wouldn’t leave you.”
She leaned toward him. “Evan, I told you that I was unhappy a million times. I told you that you were being too controlling and I was losing my sense of self. I complained that you ran our relationship like one of your hostage negotiations.”
He remained silent, his eyes dark and shuttered, and still she continued. “Evan, I didn’t want to take that job so far away from you, but I’d reached the point where I wasn’t even sure you would care if I left you or not. Each time I tried to talk to you, you were so emotionless and you’d withdraw from me. I didn’t want Evan the calm and skillful negotiator in my life. I needed Evan the man to give me a reason to stay... Tell me to stay now, Evan. Tell me you are willing to give me another chance.”
A nerve pulsed in his strong jawline. “What makes you think it would work between us now?”
The question made hope leap into her heart. “Because I know more about you now, because I understand you better and I’m a stronger person than I was three years ago. We can make it this time, Evan. Please give me...give us a second chance.”
She saw a softness in his eyes, and she grabbed his hand with hers. “I’ve thought about you every single day that passed. I... I kept hoping you would call me.”
He jerked his hand from hers and stood up. “Call you? Do you have any idea how much you wrecked me? Annalise, I believed in you...in us...and if I couldn’t trust you, then who could I trust? If I was too controlling, then we should have talked about it, but you just gave up on us. I don’t remember you trying too hard to tell me what you were feeling at the time.”
She saw his pain in the depths of his eyes...felt it emanating from him. “I wasn’t strong enough, Evan. I admit I was weak, and it was difficult for me to talk to you about these sensitive subjects, but I can’t go back and do things differently.” She got up from the sofa, as well. “All we have is the future, and I know we can get this right.”
He raised a hand and rubbed the back of his neck as he broke eye contact with her. “I’m afraid, Annalise,” he finally said softly. “I’m afraid to give you my heart again, and then if you get unsure you just send me a text and walk away. Now I’m exhausted and I really need to get some sleep.”
Without saying another word, he turned and walked down the hallway
