Chapter 10
Evie was five seconds away from having a nervous breakdown. After the incident at Jake and Lily's, Evie had been avoiding everyone like the plague. Thankfully, Lily let her take a few days off to go visit her family aka hide out in her apartment until she could come to terms with the fact she and AJ got each other off.
Looking down at her phone it was the 27th missed call from AJ over the past week.
"I can hear your phone ringing." AJ's voice filtered through the door. "That means you're either in there and avoiding me…again. Or something happened that your phone is in your apartment, but nobody has heard from you in over a week. Maybe you fell? Had a heart attack? I don't know but if it is the second, I am going to break your door down and make sure you're alright." AJ's voice as calm as he spoke. "You have 10 seconds to open the door Evie."
Evie sat where she was until AJ began counting. Slowly she undid the lock and chain and AJ pushed his way in. "Don't look at me like that." Evie turned away from him and walked back to the couch.
"Like what?" AJ shut the door and stalked up behind her. Grabbing her wrist, AJ spun her around to face him. "Like what? Like I'm not dealing with the most immature and indecisive woman to walk the earth? Like I wasn't worried when you ignored my calls, didn't come into work, and couldn't answer my texts? Or like I am not pissed the fuck off that you are perfectly fine? How am I looking at you?"
"All of the above." Evie peeled AJ's hand off her wrist and plopped down.
Removing his hat, AJ ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know how to do this Evie. I don't know how to read your mind. You gotta tell me what's going on because you're driving me fuckin crazy. You regret Jake's? What happened?"
Evie shrugged. "Kind of. It's…..I…we went to third base and-."
"Tell me what you want. We're not kids here. Third base? Are you 15? I made you feel good and you made me feel good. We're consenting adults so what is the problem?" AJ sat on the coffee table in front of the couch and heard it creak. "Is this going to break?"
"The problem is I am not one of your sluts that is going to drop to her knees in a public bathroom. I am not okay with having sex at random and with no meaning."
"You think it meant nothing? Evie, what do I have to do to make you see this is something. This," AJ motioned between them. "This means something to me. You mean something to me." AJ grabbed his cock "I haven't fucked anyone since before the Halloween party. My arm gets a workout almost every night. I've put it out there and told you how I feel. It's up to you now. You want this act like a woman, be an adult. If you don't say something and stop wasting my time." AJ stood.
Evie ran her hands over her face. "I'm sorry I worried you. I needed time to think and….I was embarrassed."
"Embarrassed to have an orgasm?" AJ was confused.
"Embarrassed that we haven't had a proper date and I let you touch me. I was embarrassed that it happened at Jake and Lily's dinner…..in their bathroom! You have something with sex in the bathroom, don't you?"
AJ laughed for the first time since Evie was avoiding him. Grabbing her, AJ pulled Evie to his chest and hugged her. "I don't think any less of you because you gave into something you wanted." Kissing her forehead, AJ looked down at her. "Remember I thanked you? I thanked you for allowing me to get that close to you. And don't knock bathroom sex, wait until I get you in my Jacuzzi tub." Evie hit his chest. "But…..until then. Let me wine and dine you. Whatever you want."
"I want to get to know who I am with. I need to know who you are and what I am getting involved in."
AJ nodded. "I can do that."
"You don't know me either. All you said before? It's based on my looks and making you chase me."
"Not sleeping with me the first night or first week…..or month," AJ mumbled. "That tells me a lot about you and I see how much Lily likes you. She's a good judge of character." AJ pushed a piece of hair behind Evie's ear. "So are we good? No more hiding? If you feel something you come and tell me?" Evie nodded. "So tell me what's first? How do relationships work? It's been awhile for me."
Evie shivered a bit as AJ ran his hand up her shirt and traced small circles on her skin. "We need to get to know one another." Evie pushed his hand away. "You are so private it took me over a month to get your name out of you." AJ couldn't keep his hands to himself and grabbed her hip. Stepping closer, Evie took AJ's hand in hers and lifted it to her lips. Their eyes locked as she kissed his palm then placed it on one of her breasts. "If you want this," Evie moved his hand lower. "And this," Evie swallowed hard when he cupped her through her sweatpants. "Then I want this." Taking AJ's hand away, Evie placed it over his heart. "Respect me enough to trust me." Evie felt nausea asking AJ to trust her. She could feel the bile churning in her stomach and dry swallowed to ease the physical and emotional pain.
Running his hand up Evie's chest. AJ spread his palm before going over her neck. His thumb stroked the column of her throat before he wrapped his hand around it. First instinct had Evie frightened, but it faded fast when AJ kissed her intensely. There was no wonder this guy was a ladies man, he looked good, he knew exactly what to say and if that failed him his kissing skills were panty droppers. "Let's do something tonight," AJ spoke against her lips after breaking the kiss. "I want you to take me somewhere you like. No museum bullshit though."
"Okay."
"Okay. I am going go home and change. I'll be back in an hour and you better be here." Evie raised her brow. "I'll be back in an hour." AJ kissed her and left.
Giving it a few minutes for AJ to leave, Evie called into the station. An hour didn't give her any time at all. With LA traffic, she wasn't even sure how AJ was going to make it home and back to her place. There was no chance she was going to make it to the station, get wired and back home in time.
AJ made it back to Evie's in record time dressed down in khaki shorts and a wife beater. "You ready?" AJ checked Evie out in a pair of tight jeans, sneakers and a black crop top with the outline of the ribcage. "Nice shirt." AJ let his hand slip around Evie's side and touching her tattoo.
"Are you going to examine my tattoos or are we going to go?" Evie stepped back to grab a hobo bag and keys.
AJ held the door open for Evie, "One day I am going to get you completely naked underneath me and I will get to see all of your body art."
"Might want to curb your thoughts there." Evie motioned to the noticeable hard-on he was sporting. "That's not exactly acceptable where we're going."
"And where are we going?" AJ held the car door open for Evie to get in.
"I'll tell you where to go, you drive." Evie smiled at the look on AJ's face as he shut the door and walked around the other side. "What? Don't you trust me?"
AJ made a grunting noise but followed each one of Evie's instructions to turn left or right, switch lanes etc. Finally pulling into a parking spot the sound of children laughing echoed around him. "Are you serious? You can't be serious. There are kids everywhere."
"You think you like me, you don't know me. This is something I like." Evie undid her seatbelt. "So suck it up and have some fun or let me go back home." AJ looked around. "It's getting late, the kids will be going home soon. Come on."
"Just because my idea of fun doesn't involve bumper boats and mini golf doesn't mean I don't like you." AJ defended as he got out and put the alarm on his car. Evie stood in front of him with her hand out which he took and intertwined their fingers. With a sigh, he kissed Evie's forehead. "I would go just about anywhere if it made you happy."
"I think you're falling a little fast."
"Tell me about it." AJ scoffed and looked around. "So…..what is this?"
"It's called Adventure Land and over there," Evie pointed to a building. "Is a two-story arcade, laser tag and little restaurant type place. Over there is mini golf, bumper boats, batting cages, go-karts, drop zone, sidewinder and the sky trail." Evie pointed out everything as she spoke.
"Uh huh." AJ looked around. "Alright, well….." AJ trailed off as he looked around. "I'm not going on that." AJ pointed to the drop zone. "And not going on that." AJ pointed to the sky trail. AJ looked and saw Evie's face drop. "Maybe I'll go on one of them, okay?" AJ tried to cheer her up but noticed she was zoning and looking past him. "What? Evie, are you okay?" AJ turned around to see what Evie was looking at, but she quickly grabbed him to face her.
"It's nothing. I was watching some stupid little boy bothering a girl…brought back memories." Evie cleared her throat. "I would suggest you making up your mind quite fast if you want to go on the drop zone because once we eat that won't be an option."
AJ eventually caved and went on the drop zone, he lost his hat but he would be lying if he said seeing Evie scream and laugh didn't make up for it. "So this is your thing? You like going on rides?"
"Is there some sexual double meaning to that question?" Evie questioned while picking up and dusting AJ's hat off.
Dipping his head for Evie to place the hat on, AJ chuckled. "For once…..no."
"Then yes this is my thing. I like amusement parks, water parks, paintball, concerts etc."
"Hmm, looks like…." AJ trailed off seeing Evie had zoned out looking behind him again. Turning around quickly AJ locked eyes with one guy that was looking their way. The other man dropped his head and walked away. "Who is that?"
Evie shrugged.
AJ wasn't quite buying it but took Evie's hand and continued their night going on the bumper boats, go-karts and batting cages. His ego swelled each time he swung and hit the ball with extreme force and Evie clapped or cheered him on.
As it turned to night and the temperature dropped the couple went inside and AJ found out just how competitive Evie was when she kicked his ass in air hockey and skeeball. "No wonder you like places like this, you're a show-off."
"I am a kid at heart." Not looking up, Evie wound up all of her tickets. "Want to grab something to eat before we go? My treat."
AJ furrowed his brows "Do I look like someone that is going to let a woman pay on our date?"
"You spent over $40 on tokens."
AJ waved her off. "What do want?"
"Nachos and a sprite. I will grab a table." Evie watched AJ walk off before spinning around to come face to face with Eddie. "What the hell are you doing here!?" Evie whisper yelled.
"When you called the department and we couldn't get you in to wire in time they sent me out to keep an eye on you." Eddie replied.
Evie was silent for a bit. "Are you insane?"
"I am thinking he is." AJ's voice came from behind her. Before she had a chance to react, AJ had moved Evie behind him and was menacingly starring Eddie down. "You said you didn't know him Evie. You lying to me?" AJ didn't turn around as he questioned her.
Putting his hands up Eddie took a step back. "Take it easy man, we're in the middle of an arcade filled with kids."
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Evie and I used to date." Eddie lied.
AJ looked back at Evie, his jaw set hard and his eyes blazing. "You said you didn't know him!"
"AJ, you're making a scene." Evie hushed. "AJ!" Evie raised her voice when he grabbed Eddie's collar and dragged him to the hallway leading to the restrooms.
"Are you the fucker that I saw talking to her outside the restaurant a few months ago? Grabbed her arm?" AJ questioned.
Eddie looked at Evie and went with it. "Yeah, but-."
"She invite you here tonight?"
"What? No."
"Evie invite you to the restaurant that night?"
"No. I haven't talked to Evie in months."
"How'd you know she was going to be here?" AJ gripped the collar tighter. Before getting his answer security arrived and separated them and 'suggested' AJ and Evie leave. Wrapping his arm around Evie's waist, AJ nearly dragged Evie out to the car. "You're staying with me tonight."
"What?" Evie questioned as she was basically shoved into the car with the door shut behind her.
Rounding the car, AJ got in the driver's side. "Look me in the eyes." AJ grabbed Evie's face. "You lied to me once when you said you didn't know him. Don't lie to me again. Have you spoken to him recently? Did you tell him we were coming here tonight?"
"No. I haven't talked to him so I couldn't have told him we were coming here." It was easy for Evie to say that because she hadn't told Eddie anything.
AJ nodded as he released Evie's face and put the car in reverse. "He's following you then and I'm not letting you stay home alone."
"I can take care of myself."
"I wasn't asking. You're staying with me tonight." AJ's voice was firm.
Evie raised a brow. "What if I decide otherwise?"
"Why do you have to make shit hard? I'm trying to protect you! What don't you understand that your ex has been following you? It's not the first time he's shown up somewhere. You want to risk that? Because I don't. I don't want something happening to you, okay?"
Evie felt bad and reached over to take AJ's hand in hers. "Okay."
"Thank you." AJ picked her hand up and kissed the back of it.
"On one condition."
AJ sighed "Jesus Christ Evie. What?"
"You owe me nachos."
AJ laughed. "Okay, we'll get you some nachos on the way home."