My self-control is already cracking as I grab the handle. I hop in, start the engine, and drive. As soon as AMEA’s gate appears in my rear mirror, I allow my foot to harden on the gas.
My Jaguar rushes down the highway. I keep my eyes on the road, but my head is somewhere else, the nasty worm of jealousy eating away in my chest. I automatically adjust gears and accelerate even more. Eva met her ex last night. After the kiss we shared.
So it didn’t mean anything to her.
All the better. It didn’t mean anything to me either.
All of Murphy’s insinuations and psychological games …yes, it must be those that messed with me. That’s why I started to have these dreamy thoughts about Eva and me. But it doesn’t matter. I can easily stop my budding sensations. Somewhere along the way I might have gotten lost and taken my eyes off the prize. It won’t happen again. I’ll focus entirely on the bet from now on, like I should have from the beginning.
And I’m going to win it. Next time I kiss Eva it won’t be to calm my thirst for her lips. I won’t let my mind turn it into more than it is. It’ll be solely to dazzle Eva. Sure, the appearance of this mystery man from her past is a hiccup. I’ll find a way to overcome it.
I slow my Jaguar and peek up at the traffic light.
A traffic light? Wait, what?
How is this possible? Last I remember, I was on the highway, and there are no traffic lights on the highway. Where on earth am I?
I tap my fist on the side of my temple and exhale loudly. I scan my surroundings desperate to find an explanation for how I ended up in this suburb.
My eyes zoom in on the crumbly, yellow walls of the building across the street and my chest tightens as recognition sinks in.
I’ve driven to Eva’s house on autopilot. Well, that’s just great. Nothing better to show how worked up her message got me than getting spotted by Eva or her siblings slinking around this district.
I freeze mid-thought as Eva steps out onto their porch.
She’s wearing a white dress with black stripes that looks elegant but also formal. Her heels click on the pavement as she hurries to her old wreck of a sedan and gets in.
I shift in my seat. Should I follow her and find out where she is going? No, I’m not a stalker. Besides, I already know what she’s planning.
The only question is why she dressed like a candidate for a job interview instead of a woman going on a date with her ex.
My bitterness chokes me. I’m not used to feeling fooled by women, or people in general. Mostly because I never give anyone enough power over my emotions to disappoint me.
I wait for the sedan to leave. If I drive past Eva, she might see me.
But instead of firing up the engine, Eva opens the door and jumps out. She rubs her temples, her face contorted in an expression of anguish.
Something is off. She seems to be in trouble. Before I realize what I’m doing, I’ve already pulled into her driveway and rolled down my window.
“What happened, Eva? Are you okay?”
“Nathan?” she squeaks, and her eyes widen.
“I’m glad you’re this happy about seeing me.”
She flinches. “Sorry, I’m just a little bewildered. What are you doing here?”
I raise my shoulders and drop them nonchalantly. “Driving around. Why, what does it look like?”
She wrinkles her nose. “In my neighborhood? Why?”
“Why not?” It’s ridiculous to pretend that I drove over to this part of town for any other reason than to see her. But in the end, I’m not lying. I didn’t consciously choose to end up in front of her house. “And you? Where are you going? Going to meet your ex?”
Her face moves into a flustered grimace. “My ex? Why would you…” She claps her hand to her mouth and a small giggle escapes her throat. It doesn’t have an amused tone. No, it sounds rather like a hysterical snort. “You thought I would go out with my ex?”
I get out of the car. This is a conversation to be done eye to eye. I step over to Eva and cross my arms in front of my chest. “Yes, Eva. That’s exactly what I thought. Because that’s what you wrote to me.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did.”
“No, I didn’t.” Eva rolls her eyes. “Check your phone if you don’t believe me.”
I grab my phone and run my eyes run the words she sent me. “Okay, you didn’t explicitly say you were going out with him, but that something came up. However…” I give her a slow once-over. “You’re obviously on your way somewhere, and it isn’t to run errands, is it?” I hate myself for the bitter tone. My jealousy is so palpable, it might as well be tattooed on my forehead.
“I didn’t write why I cancelled on you, because…” She sniffs and drops her chin to her chest. She chews on her lower lip, and I try to ignore the delicious raspberry hue that her skin acquires with the movement of her teeth.
I want to stick to my promise of keeping my eyes on the prize. I want to disregard my accelerated pulse and this uncomfortable sensation of breathlessness. I think I almost can…
Then I glance at Eva’s head, still hanging, and my arm moves unconsciously. I lock a finger underneath her chin, forcing her to look at me. “Eva, please. What’s the matter?”
“I’m going to see my…brother,” she whispers.
“Your brother? Juan? Where is he?”
“No, my other one. Alejandro. He’s in Litchfield.”
“Litchfield? As in Litchfield, the correctional center?”
She nods and swallows hard. “Yes. He’s serving a three-month sentence for possession of narcotics.”
“Your brother is in jail? Why didn’t you tell me this?” My attempt to hide my shock isn’t very successful.
On the one hand, my heart is doing triple-somersaults, because I misunderstood her text
