by Sam Destiny
She sniffed, trying to hold back her tears yet another time. “I didn’t have anyone I could count on besides Tessa for years, and even with her I didn’t dare to because… well, I didn’t want her to see me as weak.”
“Good, now that we’ve settled you’re the only thinking that, we can talk about what you think is most important now. What will our next steps be?”
She thought for a moment, pausing just long enough to come to the realization that Jo, Scarlet, and most importantly Tessa would rock that thing no matter what. Maybe she should lie back and just enjoy the time she’d now have for her daughter and the guy she knew she was hopelessly in love with.
“Next? I’m hoping next you’ll kiss me and then just hold me while you tell me about Army training and the first years on the base. Tell me about your life. Tell me everything, because I’m not going anywhere and if I can help it, neither will you for now.”
He laughed, his eyes shining with happiness and then he leaned in, kissing her deeply, and even through the haze of her pain meds, she couldn’t help but think it was the nicest kiss they’d ever share, as if their whole future lay in it.
Then she remembered something else the nurse had said. “Fiancée?”
He looked at her guiltily. “No one got any information. We had to do something, and pretending you and I were going to be married soon was the only thing I could think of. God, standing outside there, not being sure I’d hear anything… I thought I’d have to kill people to get to you.”
She smiled softly. “I need to add you to my emergency contacts.”
He suddenly looked uneasy. “There’s something else. I might have said something like our daughter would be worried, and the word ‘daddy’ fell out. She kept repeating it, and… well…”
Evy arched a brow. “Now she calls you Daddy?”
“She doesn’t know what it means. Someone referred to me as Daddy and she picked it up, like she picked up Tank. As soon as you’re not here anymore, we’ll make sure she calls me Tank again. I promise, I’ll work on it with her. I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to be surprised when you hear it.”
She kissed his lips briefly. “Okay. It’s okay.”
It terrified her thinking how heartbroken Leila would be if this thing really wouldn’t work, but Tank was right. So far she was too small to grasp the concept of a father, so maybe they could still persuade her back to calling him Tank.
Watching him for a moment, seeing the way his eyes trailed over her face, she saw nothing but surprise and wonder, as if he still couldn’t believe he got lucky enough to find someone who made him want to change his ways.
“You’re incredible,” she whispered and he leaned in, not saying anything, but kissing her instead.
She didn’t mind. Who needed words when they had the taste of his lips on hers?
Three days later Tank had a routine down: pick up Leila in the morning, take her back to the hospital to see Evy, check on the office, and supervise everything while Tessa did her show, then take the girl back to see her mother and hang out with Evy until the evening and the little one had to get to bed.
He hated leaving in the evenings, both times, with mother and with daughter. They still worked on getting Leila to stop calling him Daddy.
Well, Evy did.
Tank didn’t mind and dropped the word as often as he could. Yes, he felt bad manipulating someone who didn’t even realize it, but maybe at some point Evy would give up correcting her daughter and just accept that he was there to stay.
“Daddy,” Leila muttered, tugging at his hand while trying to move him forward. They’d just entered the office and as much as Tank loved being around Leila, he needed some time alone that morning because there was something he wanted to do.
“Jazz?” he called, knowing his best friend had promised to be around because Tessa and he wanted to use the morning to rehearse together. She was slowly freaking out although Tank had heard her give her speech more times than he could count, and each time he loved it more.
“Tank?”
“Can you watch Leila for a few hours? I need some… time. I mean, I need a break.” He cringed, knowing how that sounded, but hoped Jazz would understand.
“You should’ve left Leila at Hils’ then. She’s not here today anyway. That would’ve given you a break and no one would’ve known. Tank, be sensible,” his best friend pleaded
Nope, Jazz didn’t understand, and by the looks of them neither did the women who volunteered for Evy.
“It’s just two hours, Jesse. You can handle her for two fucking hours, right? I’m not going to do anything stupid.”
“Futtin,” Leila echoed next to him and he closed his eyes, kneeling.
“Forget that word right away, okay? It’s a bad word. I shouldn’t have said it. Bad word.”
Her brows furrowed and she nodded. “Bad word,” she repeated and he rested his forehead against hers before glancing at his watch, clearing his throat and hoping Jazz hadn’t noticed anything.
He really had to get going.
“I’ll be back.”
He ignored the dark look Jazz was giving him, or the irritated ‘where’s he going?’ Tessa threw at her fiancé.
He just hoped Tessa or someone would look after Leila. They loved the little girl there and as much as he had considered taking her along, he worried too much she’d blab.
When he got to his truck, he turned briefly, finding Jazz standing at the window. He grinned, just for the briefest most, but his best friend didn’t give that back.
I’ll deal with it later, Tank thought and then got in, hoping things wouldn’t take long. He turned off his phone, his heart racing as he put the truck into gear and then left the office building and his more-than-pissed best friend behind.
Evy stared at the book she’d meant to read, but her thoughts were on Tank and Leila. She hardly saw one without the other and it eased her mind tremendously to know someone was watching over her daughter who hadn’t been half-forced into it.
She knew Hilary didn’t mind at all, but that didn’t mean Evy liked knowing her friend barely had another choice.
As if she’d heard Evy’s thoughts, the door opened and Hilary came in, carrying a cup from a coffee shop down the street.
“Oh God, you’re my lifesaver,” Evy groaned and reached out before her friend had even stepped close to the bed. The brunette laughed, nudging Evy until she moved over while Hils kicked off her shoes.
“Since Jazz has John, and Tank has Leila, I was bored and figured so were you. How are things going?”
Evy pointed at her leg and the bed. “Not going at all, as you can see.” She winked, but Hilary faked a yawn.
“What a lame joke. How much longer will you have to stay?”
Evy shrugged, her leaving being a sore topic. “They aren’t sure I’ll prop up that leg when I’m home, and even if it’s in a cast, if I move it too much, I could still disturb the fracture. You can take from that what you want.”
“Grounded until you promise to be a good girl. Got it. You know, I already filled the fridge with healthy snacks so when you’re back we can binge series and whatnot. I plan to watch over you. Someone needs to keep your pretty behind on the couch.”
Evy gave her a thankful smile, wanting to reply when her phone went off.
Hilary sighed. “That’s why they don’t let you out, because they fear you’re going to be running over there the second you can.”
“It’s Tess. Hey, girl!” she greeted cheerily.
“Where did you put the lighting plan for around the stage?” Tessa instantly asked.
“Tank has that. He also has the overall lighting plans because he was looking at it with the electricians and made sure he had the numbers for the cable lengths down in case one of the electricians quit short notice.”
“Got it. Leila, step away from Johnny, please? He’s asleep, sweetie, and cannot play with you right now,” Tessa announced and Evy wished she could see her daughter being around
the baby. She’d wondered how that would be, especially since she could see herself having more children eventually, and that was a new revelation still freaking her out mildly. However, that adventure was so much less scary when you had someone to share it with.
“Okay, I’ll call Tank and ask him where they are. I’m going to drop by later and—”
“Isn’t Tank with you?”
Evy held her breath, unease settling in her stomach.
“No, he dropped off Lei, asked Jazz to watch her for two hours and then was off. I’m sure he just remembered something he forgot,” Tessa quickly said, but Evy didn’t feel calmer at all.
“I’ll call him, honey,” she heard Jazz say in the background and she tensed, sitting up straighter in her bed.
There was soft muttering after a few seconds and Evy knew then.
They couldn’t reach Tank. And he’d needed two hours because it was all it took for him to meet a hook-up and get what he wanted. Hell, he’d probably be back even earlier because he didn’t need two hours to get his dick wet after she’d neglected him as much as she had.
“Well, great, Tank will bring the papers right over,” Tessa said, her voice over-the-top happy.
“He won’t. His phone’s off because he doesn’t want to be disturbed,” Evy muttered flatly.
She was crushed. There was no other word. She’d trusted him. She’d trusted him with her daughter, her life, and her heart, and this was how he was thanking her after promising she’d have all the time in the world.
She should’ve known that someone like him didn’t change so fast, so thoroughly.
“Yes, but,” Tessa injected, “before you think anything of it, remember the way he treated you, the way he cares about you. He wouldn’t hurt you or do anything to hurt you.”
Maybe he wouldn’t even consider it cheating because his heart wasn’t in it; because he wanted nothing more than a quick fuck.
Maybe, in his warped mind, it was okay.
“Since when are you so fast to jump to Tank’s defense?” Evy snarled, hot tears burning down her cheeks, and as much as she wished it was anger at what he was doing to her, she knew it was regret because what he’d promised her had seemed too perfect, so absolutely right, and losing it freaked her out.
Hilary snagged the phone from her. “I got it, Tess,” she assured her and then hung up.
“You got what?” Evy asked her voice choked.
“He’s not cheating on you,” Hilary stated resolutely and Evy felt like reminding her and Tessa that they were supposed to be her friends.
“How do you know? And what in the world is wrong with you and Tessa suddenly that you’re taking his side? You know exactly how he was!”
Hilary stood, glaring at her. “You got it. How he was! He hasn’t been like that for so long, Ev. When Tessa returned to the US, I already thought he was different. Just subtle things, small comments that made me worry about what the hell was going on with him, but after you came? He wasn’t the same and I daresay he liked the person he became. I’ve never seen him as happy as he was around you. Insecure and worried, too, but mostly happy. God, his expression rivaled Jazz’s there for a little while.”
Evy still wiped at her cheeks, not able to believe one word. Her heart had known he’d walk away, and it wasn’t because he was an asshole, but because sometimes guys only realized they loved the life they thought they hated when living a different one.
It wasn’t his fault they weren’t a good match.
It wasn’t hers, either, but it cut deep. So deep.
“You can say what you want. You all just caught a glimpse of him.”
Hilary snorted, her expression bitter. “You know what the real problem is, Evangeline? It’s not him, but the fact that you only caught glimpses of him, too, because it was shitty timing with you having to do that job. This isn’t because of him. You don’t bawl your eyes out because he supposedly cheats, but because you think you deserve it for how you treated him. He did everything for you, and you? You just kept taking,” Hilary explained and suddenly Evy wanted to do nothing more than to curl up and cry in peace.
“Out,” she muttered.
“I wouldn’t kick me out if I were in your shoes, Evangeline, because Tessa is not going to tell you anything different. I’d hoped you two would make it until after this madness was over so he could see you wanting to make him as happy as he wants to make you, but you’re caving.”
“He is currently fucking another woman!” Evy’s voice resembled a hysteric cry and she couldn’t get her voice under control, either, as more choked sobs tumbled from her lips.
“Keep believing that, girl, and the only thing happening will be you making yourself unhappy.”
“Out!” Evy screamed again and this time Hilary actually left.
Tank stared at the blonde across from him and smiled to himself. This was going exactly the way he wanted.
“No strings attached?” he assured himself and she laughed, leaning forward in her seat.
“No strings attached until you come back for more,” she promised and then shrugged.
He was glad they were done. His mind was a lot calmer and his body no longer tense all over.
Also, it had taken less time than he’d expected. He followed the blonde to the door, hugging her softly.
“Until next time.” She grinned, wiggling her brows and he laughed.
God, everything had worked out perfectly and he almost whistled as he got back into his truck, his heart lighter than it had been in months. Hell, probably lighter than it had been the first time he’d seen Evy and realized he maybe wanted more.
There was no maybe in his mind anymore.
He dropped by the office, turning his phone on on the way, picked up Leila and promised Tessa he’d go to the venue later and bring by the lighting plans. She’d been on the phone, discussing some prices which had been unexpectedly raised, from what he could gather, and he’d made sure to grab Leila and get away from Tessa’s anger. The last thing he needed was someone dulling the relief he felt.
“Daddy,” Leila squealed, throwing herself into his arms and he hugged her tight, kissing the top of her head.
“Let’s go, we’re gonna meet your mom now, how about that?”
And he wanted to hurry because if he needed to be at the venue, he didn’t want the electricians to wait much longer.
The hospital was surprisingly quiet, and as usual he didn’t bother knocking on Evy’s door. Instead he put Leila down and let her run in first.
“Mommy!”
“Hey baby. Mommy missed you.”
Tank knew something was off before even seeing her, because her words sounded choked, as if she’d been crying.
“Hey Ev,” he greeted her, walking over to the bed, but when he leaned down to kiss her cheek, she evaded him. “What’s up?” he asked, sitting on the bed where he could see her face, and really, her eyes were puffy and red, and there were traces of tears on her cheeks. Panic gripped him.
“What happened?” He reached out, but she slapped away his hand.
“Nothing. What happened to your phone? I tried to call you!”
He took it out. He’d completely forgotten to check for missed messages after turning it on, but didn’t want to do so while she was watching. “Nothing happened. I was in a meeting and turned it off. I just—”
“Meeting,” she snarled and he finally got pissed.
“Why don’t you just say what you want to say and—”
The rest of the sentence was left unfinished when a woman came in, one he’d never seen before yet could place instantly because she looked like a more mature version of the woman he loved.
“Mom?” Evy asked in utter disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
Evangeline’s mother brought her hands to her lips as tears gathered in her eyes. “What am I doing here? What am I doing here? I’m your mother! I cannot believe precious Tessa had to call me to let me know my daughter was in the hospital. You could
’ve died and I wouldn’t have been informed.”
Tank noticed how Leila edged closer to him, escaping her mother’s grip because Evy was focused on the other woman in the room.
“Daddy,” Leila whispered and Tank gathered her close.
“You’re not her father,” Mrs. Jackson snarled, her attention suddenly on him. “Her father is a business man from London who—”
“Stop it, mother! Tank has been more a father to Leila than Ian will ever be. You cannot barge in here and expect to know what’s going on!”
“Evangeline Jackson, is that a way to talk to your mother? I just flew half across the world to see you because I was worried!”
“And you come in here and attack the one person who’s had my back no matter what? The one person who didn’t mind standing by my side when I needed help?”
Tank wasn’t sure if he should stay or go, but when Evy seemed to feel his readiness to leave, she grabbed his hand.
“Stay,” she whispered softly, and no matter what had been going on before, this was the girl he knew, and if she wanted him around, he was going to stay around.
After all, they could always fight later, and the way her body vibrated with anger, the way her eyes had glittered when she’d asked him about his phone told him for sure that there was still trouble on the horizon.
No matter what she was thinking, what she worried he’d done, or rather was sure he’d done, her mother had no right to talk to him the way she had. After all, she’d come to the conclusion that he was still good for Leila.
No matter if he was a cheater or not.
If yes, he’d not ever return to her bed, but she wouldn’t and couldn’t cut him out of their lives, because Leila needed a father figure; someone to show her things Evangeline couldn’t.
And if not… well, what was there to think about then?
“Thomas Michaels, meet my mother, Dana Jackson. Mom, meet my boyfriend, Tank.”
Her mother squinted and too late Evangeline recalled what she’d told her mother about Tank. “The guy who’d treated Tessa like—”
“Mother, Leila is still here,” Evy interrupted before her mother could say a word Leila probably would repeat only too readily.
