A Prior Engagement (25 page)

“You’re helping me more than you know.”

He stroked the back of her head, and said, “We should call the cops.”

“There’s no point. Money and power can buy anything, including the police.”

William wanted to believe that good still existed by justice being served. “Don’t give up. We can try. Together. We’ll do this together.”

She looked up at him. “I’m not giving up. I’m facing reality. I don’t want to drag this out into the public. All I want to do is forget it ever happened. Help me forget, William. Take away all of the bad and make it good. Please.”

Doing anything for her meant doing what she needed, and right now she needed to forget that evil was real.

She slumped against him and her small voice cut into his thoughts when she asked, “Do you mind if I take a nap here? I know that’s a lot to ask, but I’ve not slept in what seems like days.”

Although he was mad and felt twisted inside, William tried to calm himself as he stood up, releasing her. “Consider this your home now. You can’t go back there. You’re not going back, not alone at least.”

Evie didn’t want to talk anymore. Her body was failing her as a result of the emotional burden she’d been carrying for the last week. She stretched out on the bed, putting her head on his pillow. She could smell William’s scent and that made her smile, which still hurt a bit to do.

“Sleep. I’ll keep you safe.” He leaned down and kissed the bruise on her temple, the one on her cheekbone, and then the one on the corner of her mouth—soft and gentle—loving. He was surprised how fast she fell asleep and knew it was because she felt safe for the first time in a week, or maybe longer.

Chapter 21

While Evie slept, William paced his apartment wanting to destroy this so called
fiancé—
not a man, a monster
.
Frustrated by the helplessness he felt made his body tense and his hands fist. He was lost in his emotions until a small whimper from the bed broke through his thoughts. Stopping, he looked at her as another soft cry escaped her. She was shaking and her face was scrunched in fear.

William had fantasized about Evie choosing to spend her nights with him, but those fantasies were of her getting peaceful sleep or making love and not sleeping at all. They never included fear or crying. Yet, here she was afraid as she slept in
his
bed and that pissed him off as much as it broke his heart.

He kicked off his shoes and did the one thing he hoped would comfort her and help her sleep. He curled up next to her, wrapping his arm around her waist and held her.

Four hours later, she woke up feeling rested. She felt William’s warm breath against her neck and the weight of his arm around her. His hand covered hers, his touch light, but sweet. Turning her head, she looked around the tiny apartment to see the time, three o’clock. William’s words lingered in her mind,
consider this your home now
. She liked her new home and was relieved in the knowledge that
he
would never find her here.

William stirred, slowly waking up. He leaned forward putting a light kiss on the back of her neck then whispered, “Did you get some rest?”

She rolled over to face him and smiled. “The best sleep since I slept here last.”

“I haven’t slept well since then, either.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being good to me when I hurt you.” It was too painful to look at him, guilt consumed her.

This whole situation was messed up and he felt they had suffered enough. It hurt knowing she lied about something so important, but he understood why she did it. She had no choice. So every time she spoke of obligations and commitments that was her way of speaking of
him
and the burdens she carried. He hated that she was weighed down in sadness. But he hated it more that she was beaten emotionally and physically to keep her ‘obligated’ and ‘committed.’

He wanted to forgive her based on selfish reasons as well. This past week had been hard, more than hard, horrible. William missed her a lot.

She whispered, “Did you mean what you said about me staying here?”

“Every word of it.” His voice firm in his conviction.

“Then I need to get to my bank.” Evie sat up and slipped out of bed. She put her shoes back on, and asked, “Will you come with me?”

“Yes, but why do you need to go to the bank?”

She grabbed her purse out of her backpack as she explained. “Because if they find out I’ve left, they’ll freeze my account and I won’t have any money which means I’ll have to go back.”

“You don’t have to rely on your parents.”

“I need money, William, and I have a monthly allowance. I’ll take what I think we can use. I can’t have you paying for everything.”

“Why do you want money from people who condone this?” he asked, signaling to her face and the bruising. “Fuck them and their money!”

She went to him to calm the fire raging inside of him. “They don’t know he did this. They are oblivious to him as much as everyone else is. He’s got everyone fooled.”

“Not me, and he’s going to pay for what he’s done to you.”

* * *

Thirty minutes later, Evie and William walked straight up to the available teller at the bank, handing her two bank cards and her ID. “I need eight-thousand from this account please.”

The teller smiled, checking the ID then the card. “Yes, Miss Wright.”

William stood frozen in shock, and then stuttered, “Eh-eight-thousand dollars?”

Evie gasped at the realization. “You’re right, that’s not enough. Make it ten please and I’ll have five off the other.”

“Large or small bills?” the teller asked.

“Large is fine. I don’t have a large purse today,” Evie said nonchalantly as William’s stomach turned inside out. He was dumbfounded by the normalcy of her getting fifteen-thousand dollars out just because she wanted it. It was insane she had access to that kind of money and he struggled to wrap his head around it.

As they were leaving, the security guard stepped forward, eyeing William. Evie smiled while taking William by the hand. The guard stepped aside with a nod of acknowledgment, letting them leave without a word.

Evie stopped once they were on the street. “We need to get out of this area now. I’ll need to buy some clothes. Where can I go that’s near your place?”

“You don’t want to get your clothes from your house?”

“I can’t go back there. I don’t want to ever go back.”

“Okay. There’s a Gap kind of near my apartment. I can take you there.” William had gotten over the initial shock of the bank experience, but was curious. “What do you need all that money for and how do you even have access to it?”

“I’m supposed to ask my parent’s permission if I want to spend over eight thousand, but I felt it was an emergency, so I got ten. And the other money was from T… from his account. I can get up to five out on that card.” Her smile was devilish. “I need clothes and money to live off, don’t I?”

He shook his head in disbelief. “Will they call the cops on you?”

“No. As I said, I’m allowed to get it. I didn’t steal it. Anyway, they probably won’t even notice it’s gone, but they will cut me off as soon as they find out I’ve left. I did what I had to do.”

“Your Dad won’t notice ten thousand dollars gone from his account?”

She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk once more, and asked, “Do you want the truth or do you want me to make you feel better?”

“The truth.”

“No, he won’t notice. I get an allowance and I’m allowed to spend up to eight without his permission. He won’t notice ten either though.”

They start walking again, but William’s mind was racing with questions. “What would you need to spend eight thousand dollars on in a month if you live at home and don’t have a car?”

“Shopping, gifts, I don’t know. You’re making me feel weird. Does this offend you?”

Money talk made him antsy and he ran his palms down the front of his shirt. “The money doesn’t offend me, but spending that kind of money on clothes or whatever meaningless crap you’re buying does.”

She lowered her voice, getting a bit irritated, feeling judged. “There are many things I owe you apologies for, but how I was raised is not one of them.”

William stopped and immediately cupped her face. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I know those pants you’re wearing in this year’s shade of blue were worth every penny.” His sarcasm was dripping then he kissed her on the nose.

Evie should have been mad over his comment. But she wasn’t. Instead she laughed, allowing him to laugh and showing she could also joke. “Stop it, or I won’t share my money. And I really want to share with you.”

They stopped by a drugstore, the Gap, and a food market on their way home. When they arrived back at William’s, Evie set her purchases in the corner by the little dining table and yawned. “I’m exhausted.”

William booted up his laptop and sat down at his desk. He glanced over at her, feeling tired. “I am, too.”

They ordered pizza, watched reruns, and then readied themselves for bed. He gave her a large T-shirt of his and let her have the bathroom first. As she pulled the shirt over her head, she caught a glimpse of her face, which she had forgotten about all afternoon until now. The bruises were starting to fade, but it would still take a few more days for them to go away altogether.

The internal bruises would take much longer. But today, William allowed her to forget for a while. She brushed her teeth and set her brush down parallel to his in the cabinet. When she walked out, he had turned down the bed and gestured to it. “If you want to sleep in it alone, I’ll understand.”

She climbed in, pulling the covers up as he took his turn in the bathroom. When William came back out, Evie flipped the covers open for him as an invitation. He turned off the small lamp and eased in next to her. “I wouldn’t want it any other way,” she said, stroking some stray strands of hair out of his eye and kissing him.

He set his hand on her side, but she flinched reminding him of how damaged she was still and anger swelled inside of him again.
Fucking bastard. Who beats a woman anyway?

One thing William knew was that he would not take advantage of the situation no matter how much he wanted to be with her. As their lips parted, Evie rolled over and he molded his body against hers.

In the early hours, William awoke. He was careful to stay still because he didn’t want to wake her knowing she needed the rest and to heal. He was appreciating everything about the girl he held in his arms—her scent, the feel of her body, even the gentle, peaceful breath he could hear escaping her mouth.

Forty-five minutes passed before William determined he wasn’t going to be able to fall asleep again. He slid out of bed and tiptoed to his desk. He switched on his small book lamp, keeping the light isolated to the desk, so he didn’t disturb her, and started reading over his paper, which was due in class by Friday. As he was editing the last page, in the quietest tone he heard Evie say, “Come back to me.” William’s head bolted up and looked over to the sleepy-eyed angel lying in his bed.

“I want you to hold me, William. Come back to bed.”

This was a request he could never deny her or himself. He turned off the light and climbed back in next to her. As they looked at each other through the dim light from the streetlamp outside the window, he breathed in just as Evie exhaled, and said the first thing that came to his mind. “You make me feel parts of my soul I didn’t know existed.”

With her eyes drowsy and half-open, she warmed inside, and shared her feelings. “When you’re with me, my heart only beats for you.”

“Every breath I breathe is given new life. All because of you, beautiful Evie.”

“You make every breath worth taking, my sweet William.” Evie leaned forward and kissed William gentle and slow. Maybe it’s the words they shared or the time of day or just the close proximity, but she wanted more with him, she wanted everything with him. She pressed her back into the mattress and encouraged him on top of her.

They kissed.

William was lost in the softness of her lips and the sweetness of her breath as he maneuvered himself above her. Their lips didn’t part as their bodies became more acquainted. They both wanted more, but it wasn’t the right time. They had just reunited. She needed to recover, if that was even possible, and he would prove his dedication to her first.