Evan's Addiction

by Sara Hess

  “So you just shoved him out the door?”

  David stared at me with a little too much enjoyment. “No I didn’t shove him; I hinted, and you seem to be enjoying my wretched sex life a little too much.” I grumbled down into my chicken Caesar salad.

  “I’m just happy that you’re confiding in me once again.” He declared.

  I sighed, knowing I had shut him out of many parts of my life after our falling out in high school, but after last night I really needed someone to talk to, and I also realized I wanted to fully mend my relationship with David.

  “It’s not like I had a lot going on in my life until a few weeks ago anyway.” I groused.

  He snorted. “I agree that you had nothing going on in the sex department of your life, but I know other things were going on that you weren’t talking about; like all the harassment you were going through.” He frowned in displeasure.

  How many sighs was I going to expel today? I was going to become the primary concern for carbon dioxide in the air. “It’s not like you could have done anything to stop it. You tried before and it didn’t make a difference.”

  Unhappiness contorted his face. “I should have started hitting the gym as soon as I found out about it, then I could have taken care of them as easily as your boyfriend did.”

  How Evan beat up those three guys all my himself still amazed me. “He’s not my boyfriend. We’re dating. And I don’t need you beating people up for me. You know I wasn’t happy about Evan doing it.” Actually, I was fifty-fifty on that, or sixty-forty maybe…okay, more like seventy-thirty.

  His eyes narrowed on me. “Phony, phony, you were so horny.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Can you be any more juvenile?”

  “Shaw and Evan sitting in a tree, H-U-M-P-I-N-G.” I slugged him in the arm hard stopping his singing. “Ow, Ms. Man Hands.” He whined rubbing his arm.

  “You’re supposed to be telling me if I completely spazed-out last night, not acting like a ten year old on pop-rocks?”

  “My bad. You’re right, and to answer your question. Yes, you absolutely did.” I socked him again for confirming my fear. “Ow, again.” David complained.

  “Are you being serious; do you really think that?” I asked worriedly.

  David set his sandwich down and met my gaze. “Why did you kick him out?”

  “I didn’t kick him out.” I repeated with a growl. “He was acting weird after. I thought I was making it easy for him.”

  He frowned. “Weird how?”

  “He got all serious and was staring at me like he didn’t know what to do with me.” That’s about the best I could explain it.

  “Are you sure you weren’t seeing something there that wasn’t just so you could have a reason to kick him out?” His brow rose in inquiry.

  I scowled. “What does that mean?” But I knew what he meant.

  He sighed. “You have trust issues, Shaw, and it’s totally understandable why you do. I think you might have tried to beat Evan to a punch you thought was coming. I’ve seen how that man looks at you and he seems ga-ga over you girl. I doubt thoughts of tagging you and running were going through his head. He was probably looking at you strangely because you had just rocked his world like never before and he was thinking how damn lucky he was.” He wagged his brows.

  Yeah, right. I had a few blow jobs under my belt but I didn’t have any past experience with sex to be able to rock his world. He could have done what he did with me with any other girl. All I did was lay there…letting him do whatever he wanted to me. My panties got wet just thinking about it.

  Shifting in my seat I stabbed at my salad. “I don’t really know his normal M.O. after sex, and maybe he looks at all the ‘special…’” I air quoted special. “…women in his life like how you think he looks at me.”

  “Ask Nic how Evan’s acted with them, or you could ask Carrie; she’s been around a few, right?”

  “I think Carrie is a little too optimistic about the two of us living happily ever after.” I could literally see the stars in her eyes when she asked how everything was going with us. “You and her could get together and spend hours on this look you think you see. And there is no way I’m asking Nic about Evan; that’s so junior school. I’m not expecting this thing to last; neither one of us are made for relationships. My purpose in suggesting he leave was to keep a portion of our…individual lives separate from…this thing…we have temporarily…going on.” I was waving my hand randomly as I tried to piece together my disjointed thoughts.

  David stared at me silently for a moment, and then he busted out laughing. “Holy shit, you are too hilarious…and too cute.” I narrowed my eyes on him because he was looking for a beat down. At my look David held out his hands in self-defense and looked to be attempting to tap down his joviality. “What! I’m sorry, but you are.” He took some deep breaths staring at me more somberly. “You really like him, don’t you?”

  I exhaled morosely down into my rapidly wilting lettuce. This discussion had gone downhill rapidly into the dark abyss of feelings. I did not want to go there.

  “He’s okay.” That was the only thing I was willing to concede.

  David gave an ‘Uhmm-hu’ next to me.

  “So, you finally cut the cord and are moving out of your parent’s house.” I said to change the subject. “I can’t believe it took you this long.” I stuffed a forkful of chicken into my mouth.

  He frowned at me. “It wasn’t like they were around in the last four years to be in the way. Once dad retired they decided they liked spending most of their time at the Florida abode. If I was divorcing them I would get the house under squatter’s rights or something. You’re going to help me move in this weekend, right.” Puss-n-Boots eyes blinked my way.

  “Wouldn’t want to do anything else.” I stuffed another forkful of food in my mouth because lunch was passing quickly and I had a one o’clock class coming up.

  “Except Evan.”

  I inhaled and then began choking up a lung along with my lettuce leaves, because that was a bull’s-eye.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  EVAN

  I stared down at the text from Shaw with a frown.

  Shaw: Won’t be able to hang out tonight. Helping David pack for his move tomorrow, and I might be busy then as well. He wanted me to invite you and whoever else wanted to come to his condo warming party Saturday at three. Nic, Carrie, Blake and Samantha have confirmed they are going.

  It was a perfectly viable explanation for being busy, but I was positive she was using it as an excuse to avoid me. Tossing my phone down on the desk in agitation I stood and walked over to the office windows. Shoving my hands in my pockets I scowled out the glass.

  Last night had been incredible…mind-blowing…and it had knocked me for a loop. I thought our first time together had been pretty damn amazing, but the alcohol must have dulled my senses to where I hadn’t appreciated the full affect. I could have blamed the wait but we’d been taking the edge off with each other so it wasn’t like I was blue-balling it.

  After I’d blasted every ounce of fluid from myself into Shaw, crashed on top of her, gotten my breath and reason back, I’d attempted to make sense of what had happened. The night should have ended with us falling asleep wrapped around each other. Unfortunately, I think I might have handled my dumbstruck moment exceedingly poorly. I’d gone all silent Bob on Shaw when she appeared to be going through her own after the act issues, but I’d been too spaced out to do anything for her; especially since she had clearly wanted me gone. Moreover, here I was fifteen hours later still trying to wrap my mind around what Shaw had made me feel.

  The whole night had been out of my control; from the Frat party, to her initiating sex, the after-sex, and finally walking befuddled from her apartment. Who the hell was I kidding; this relationship was out of my control and it wasn’t something I was used to. I was accustomed to things flowing smoothly, on an easy manageable track…my mapped track; school, girls, and this plume job that had lan
ded in my lap like a gift from my best friend. Even when Kyle, my stepfather, had been a complete douche to me I had my mom there to buffer it.

  Shaw was completely off my charted track, and the woman was in no way manageable. She stimulated me to an astounding degree, but she also made me want to pull my hair out by the roots sometimes. And since I couldn’t seem to figure out my own mind…god, she was making me crazy…my plan was to find out what was going on with Shaw’s. That at least was a realistic and productive plan.

  However, Shaw seemed to want to hide at the moment so it looked like I was going to have to hound her to discover what it was, unless I wanted to wait two days.

  Yeah, right.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  I gave Shaw one day, and then Friday I was skulking the campus grounds. She had a one to three p.m. Computer Legalities class and I stationed myself outside the building at two-fifty to wait for her. Dan was utterly cool with me taking a late extended lunch, and while I’d kept the purpose of it to myself Dan’s smirk said he wasn’t stupid. He knew I was dating Shaw and he was displaying an unexpected level of interest and joviality at the idea of it. A few times in the middle of texting her at the office I would look up and find him smiling at me in the same way I’d seen him smile at Landon…like a proud father. It was disconcerting, but it also put a warm feeling in my chest. I’d never received that look before from a male…only my mother.

  Suddenly, students began spilling from the building my eyes were glued to and I unfolded from the bench when I saw that Shaw was among them. She was wearing an over-sized sweat shirt, leggings, and her hair was swept up in her normal messy bun with haphazard curls falling everywhere. She looked better than any of the other females with their styled hair and form-fitting clothes.

  Moving forward I went rigid in anger when I saw that jackass Ford suddenly pop up next to her. He must really want some fucking bones broken. When he grabbed her arm and got in her face, and she winced and tried to pull away, my fury went volcanic. I sprinted forward.

  “Fucking trailer bitch, you better stop messing with my shit or I’m going to make your life even more hellish. Your newest dick might have cowed my Fraternity brothers but my friends outside the house have demonstrated that no damn fucking lawyer controls me. You should have spread your legs for me like a good little whore when I…”

  Snatching the fuckers hand from her arm I spun him around and stuffed my fist in his mouth to jam the rest of his words down his throat. He fell backwards onto his ass and I bent down gripping his shirt so I could hold him steady as I continued punching him.

  “Should have…fucking…listened to me…when I said to leave her alone, fuckass!” I roared in his bloody face.

  A body jumped on my back and arms wrapped around me from behind. The only reason I didn’t swing the person off me was because it was Shaw’s voice yelling in my ear. “Evan, stop!”

  Forcing myself to unclench my hand from his shirt I straightened. The son of a bitch fell back unconscious as I twisted enfolding Shaw in my arms, making sure to keep my bloody hand away from her hair and clothes.

  “Are you okay?” I squeezed her tightly against my heaving chest.

  “I’m fine, but you are going to be in so much shit, Evan.” She rumbled into my chest.

  Her words had me taking notice of the crowd around us; some watching in shock, others in entertainment. I took another glance at the bloody mess I made. Yeah, this could be a problem.

  “Hey, anyone here see this guy grab her or hear what he said to her?” Still holding Shaw I twisted around in a circle meeting everyone’s eyes.

  After a long pause where I glared at one and all daring them to pussy out, two girls and a guy finally stepped forward stating they’d heard and seen everything. I knew Shaw would have bruises on her arm testifying to the assholes manhandling so that was further justification for my actions.

  “Someone call fucking security.” I ordered incase no one had as yet.

  Shaw pushed away from my chest. “Let’s just get out of here.” She hissed, pulling at my shirt. “Maybe he didn’t see you and won’t be able to identify who beat his ass.”

  I planted my feet and frowned down at her. “No fucking way, Shaw. I warned this asshole to stay away from you and he was stupid enough to step in your vicinity again. I’m getting his ass kicked off this campus and charged.”

  She glowered at me and I swear she looked like she wanted to punch me in the face. “He can get your ass kicked off too. I can’t believe you punched him again after I told you I wanted to handle it.”

  My frown deepened. “Shaw, you’ve been dealing with this guy for years. You were sticking it to him for the past year and it didn’t make a difference. I beat his ass and threatened him to leave you alone. His fraternity warned him to leave you alone with the threat of legal actions. After all that he still went near you. He’s fucking dangerous and you need to get a restraining order and file charges for assault, slander, and anything else we can think up to get his ass thrown in jail.”

  I was vibrating with fury and my stomach was twisted sickeningly at how obsessed this guy was with her. He’d spent years harassing her and it wasn’t normal, and it wasn’t harmless.

  “And what kind of evidence am I supposed to give them to prove he’s stalking and slandering me? It’s my word against his, as well as all his friends.” She retorted.

  The defeated resignation in her eyes had my heart aching for her and also filled me with further fury, but I was astonished as well, because didn’t she realize she wasn’t all alone in this? Did the girl not know that she had friends that would do everything they could to make sure she was out of harm's way?

  Pulling her closer I rubbed her back. “Carrie, David, Nic, Sam, Seth, and I can all testify to him stalking and slandering you. He was warned to stay away by his Fraternity. It won’t be difficult, Shaw.”

  Her brows rose in surprise and then arrowed down in baffled comprehension. “Oh…well…that might work.”

  It was something that should have been done a long time ago so she could have moved on with her life. Instead this guy had been allowed to tunnel himself into her psyche messing with how she viewed herself and others. She either didn’t comprehend that there were people who cared enough to step up and help her, or she’d spent way too much time being an island unto herself. She should have at least realized that David and Carrie would have her back.

  Over Shaw’s head I saw security whizzing over in their carts. When they pulled up I took the lead, explaining the situation and demanding that the real police get called. They grimaced at that because as a rule Universities hated involving outside law enforcement; it might bring bad publicity.

  Dipshit started coming around during my account and instantly started making garbled demands for my arrest. I almost went after him again when his belligerent gaze landed on Shaw, but my arms were busy holding her and I decided that’s where I needed to stay.

  After getting statements and information from the three individuals who’d witnessed Ford’s violent words and actions toward Shaw security sent them on their way. Additional security arrived and we where hauled separately to the campus security building; Shaw and I in one vehicle, mangled mouth in the other. I called Dan on the drive over to inform him of the situation and he expressed his concern and support for Shaw while offering up the company’s legal representatives. I couldn’t deny that took a significant weight off my mind.

  When I told Shaw about his offer she silently shook her head looking stunned and overcome by the gesture.

  We spent a couple hours talking with both the University and local police. Each agreed that the allegations against Ford for his behavior today appeared solid since there were multiple statements to his aggressive behavior, and then there were the bruises that were already forming on Shaw’s arm from when the ass grabbed her…the son of a bitch!

  There would be a Dean’s forum, but UVA avowed that what Ford had done was unacceptable and he would most likely be
ejected from the university. All I got was a warning that my excessive vigor in protecting Shaw could have been scaled back in the future. For my ears only, the Dean’s assistant muttered that the extenuating circumstances of Ford’s lengthy harassment undoubtedly made me extra antagonistic towards the guy so it was understandable.

  After UVA dealt with us the local police then arrested both Ford and myself; Shaw was pressing charges against Ford, and Ford was pressing charges against me. He tried to get the police to arrest Shaw as well; whining about how she was messing with his cable, uploading homosexual material on his Facebook page, and blaming her for the calls he was getting from random guys asking about the cost of his services, whine, blah, etc. They stared at him like he was crazy as they escorted us from the building.

  I had expected to get arrested. I’d pulverized Ford’s mouth and busted a few teeth, and the law was clear; an assault was an assault. The cops gave me sympathetic grimaces and said that I’d almost certainly be cleared of the charges, but they had to do their job. I wasn’t worried; Dan’s lawyers were meeting me there and I’d be out in less than an hour, and I was fine with being arrested if it finally stopped that asshole from harassing Shaw.

  Shaw was more pissed than I was at my arrest. She railed at both the cops and Ford the entire walk out to the squad cars, which only made Ford more pissed. She then barked at me to hand over my car keys so she could head over there to give her statement again and have a car there for when I got released. I handed them over readily, liking the idea of her coming to pick me up. Everyone knew sex after getting out of jail was listed in the top ten of the Best Sex Ever…who cared if it was only going to be an hours worth of incarceration.

  After Shaw gave us all one more ferocious scowl she spun and stomped away. The cops snickered after she left and gave me commiserating smiles at what I would have to deal with when I got out. They didn’t realize how much I was looking forward to it.