Chapter 76: Chapter 76

Evans

I can’t wait to hear about Ciara’s first day in the mom group. While I normally don’t like my siblings intruding in my life, I’m grateful that Grace suggested the idea. It will be good for Ciara to be out of the house and making friends with other moms.

“Hello,” she says loudly. There’s a lot of background noise.

“Hey, sweetheart, the park is extra loud today?” I ask.

“The mom group didn’t work out,” Ciara sighs.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” I know that Ciara isn’t exactly a social butterfly—she’s the type of woman to have a few loyal friends rather than a gaggle of girlfriends. “I know how much you were looking forward to it.” I take a quick glance at the calendar on my computer screen. “I have a lunch meeting I can cancel. Why don’t I swing by and take you out to a late lunch?”

There’s a pause and I can hear her swallowing. “I’m actually at lunch right now,” she says slowly.

“Oh nice, where? I’ll come and meet you and Alfred.” I stand up to grab my jacket and briefcase.

“I’m with Luis. I ran into him, literally,” Ciara says.

I pull the phone away from my ear.

Wait a minute. Luis? Like, Luis the guy that had a crush on her while she was pregnant? That Luis?

My words come out colder than I’d intended. “Luis? Isn’t that the guy you were dating?” I ask.

“Are you jealous?” Ciara replies, sounding amused.

“N-no.” But my fists clench. I shouldn’t be getting upset about this, but I am, which I can’t tell Ciara. The protective, possessive part of me has roared to life. “Of course not. I’m just happy your day wasn’t a total bust.”

“Hey, my food’s getting cold. Can we talk later?” Ciara asks.

“Of course,” I answered. “I’ll see you at home.” Ciara hangs up without an “I love you.”

I turn to Elena, who has been politely pretending not to listen while sitting on the couch in my office. “I think she just hung up on me.”

Elena looks at me with her eyebrows raised. “Ciara? Are you sure? That doesn’t sound like her.”

“Well, she got off the phone rather quickly.” My lips pull into a tight line as I stare at my phone.

“Who’s Luis?” Elena asks.

“He’s Ciara’s ex,” or “sort of” ex. They went out a few times in school.” I sit back down at my desk and place my fingers on the keyboard, but I’m too distracted to type anything. I just keep picturing my beautiful Ciara smiling at another man.

Elena frowns. “Exes are never a good thing.”

Ciara

I stick my phone back into my purse and zip the compartment shut.

Who cares if I made Evans a little jealous? Maybe that’s what he deserves after the Elena thing. Sure, it’s childish, but there’s a part of me that wants him to know what it’s like to think that about the person you love. Maybe now he’ll understand.

Luis watches me put my phone away and raises an eyebrow. I busy myself pouring a glass of water, but when I look up, Luis is still staring at me from across the table.

“So, who was that?” His expression is open and expectant.

My cheeks flush and I put my hands underneath the table to pick at a hangnail.

“Just a friend,” I answered.