Evelyn

The bed is empty beside me when I wake up. I sit up and tighten the sheet around my chest. I don't know if I'm expecting Zack to be lurking in the shadows of the room or what but as I look around disappointment fills me when I don't see him anywhere. I don't bother to get dressed as I walk out of my room and down the stairs, the bed sheet trailing on the floor behind my footsteps.

"Zack?" I call. He had to be here, he had to. He promised.

After a couple of minutes I'm forced to accept that he's not downstairs either. I made my way back to the bedroom. I should have expected this. How could I have been so fucking stupid? Just as I was about to sit down on the corner of my bed I noticed a note sitting on the bedside table. I grabbed it as my heart did a little flip when I recognized his handwriting. My heart sank, however when I read the note. It was composed of four words. "This was a mistake."

But it wasn't. Not to me anyways. It didn't feel like a mistake at all. I didn't know what to do; I didn't know what to feel. I tried to tell myself it was just sex, a one night stand. I have had plenty of those before and that's all this was. It didn't mean anything. It was just sex.

But I knew deep down that none of that was true, not for me at least. It meant more to me. I loved him and therefore sex could never be just sex with him. It meant more even if I didn't want it to.

---

I kept myself busy for the next few weeks and when Whitney came home from the UK I didn't tell her about Zack. I kept busy with work and when my on again, off again boyfriend called, I busied myself with him.

Jeff was a great guy. I met him a little over a year ago when he came into the shop to get a tattoo done. He asked me out every time he came in for a session and I always turned him down.

"I don't mix business with pleasure," I would tell him with a smile.

He was stubborn and persistent but I enjoyed it and he knew that.

"So I'll pick you up at eight tomorrow night?" He asked me after his final session.

I laughed and gave in immediately. I had no reason to say no to him. He was a very attractive man with blue eyes and dark brown hair. We hit it off and began to date shortly after that. We were happy for a while and then the fighting began and we fought a lot. Jeff had a temper on him and he was also a pretty jealous guy so it made things a little rough. So, we would fight and fight until we broke up and then we'd have make up sex and get back together only to start the cycle all over again.

But this time I was going to work hard to make it last. I deserved happiness and Jeff was the closest I've been to happiness since Zack.

I pulled on a dark blue dress and slipped on some heels as I checked my reflection and then the doorbell rang.

"Jeff is here," Whitney smiles from my bedroom door.

"I'm coming," I tell her.

"Where is he taking you tonight?" She asked.

"Dinner and who know what else," I winked. She followed me downstairs.

"So what you're saying is don't wait up." She laughs.

"Exactly!" I grin as I open the door.

"Hey baby," Jeff greets me with a kiss. "You look beautiful as ever."

"Mm," I kiss him again. "You're sweet."

We walked to his car and he opened the passenger side door for me then he walks to the driver’s side and gets in.

"So I was thinking dinner and then we can catch a movie or just go back to my place." Jeff suggests as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.

I laugh. "Oh, you think tonight is going to go that well, huh?"

"Yes," he said smugly. His hand grips my thigh lightly as he smiles over at me. I know he's right and by the end of the night he will have me in bed with him.

We arrive to the restaurant and are seated immediately. Our server walks up and greets us and then says, "Oh! Evelyn I didn't even realize that was you."

I look up to see one of my clients I had been working with for the last couple of weeks. "Hey, Garrett. How's your tattoo healing?"

"Oh, great." He told me. "It looks amazing too. Everyone I show loves it and asks where I got it. So you might be getting some extra business soon!"

"That's great! I'm glad you love it." I told him. I could feel Jeff's eyes on me. "This is my boyfriend, Jeff."

Garrett stuck out his hand. "Hey dude. I'm Garrett. Your girlfriend has some mad skills when it comes to a tattoo gun. You wouldn’t be able to tell by just looking at her though."

Jeff reluctantly took Garrett's hand while he spoke. "I know," he said as he pulled away.

"Alright cool. So what can I get you to drink?" Garrett asks. We order out drinks and Garrett dismisses himself from the table.

"Jeff, be nice," I warn as Garrett walks off.

He smiles at me. "I am being nice."

I give him a look before looking down at my menu. We order minutes later and I couldn’t help but think Jeff was being really rude to Garrett and for no reason. By the end of the meal, I know I'm going to have to apologize to Garrett for Jeff’s behaviour.

"So much for not mixing business with pleasure," Jeff mumbled as I told Garrett goodbye and we walked out of the restaurant.

"Please don't start, Jeff." I sigh.

He shrugs. "I'm just saying."

"No, Jeff. I'm just saying! He's just a friend, a client. If I wanted to be with him I would be."

Jeff scoffed. “So, you admit he likes you?"

I groan. "No, Jeff. I'm saying I'm with you. I want to be with you, no one else." Zack’s face instantly popped in my head and I shoved it to the back of my mind. "Plus, Garrett is married. You would’ve known that if you paid attention and didn't act like a complete ass for no reason. So stop being such a jealous asshole or I'm done, seriously." I swung the car door open but Jeff caught it. I look up at him.

"Evelyn, I'm sorry." He told me. He grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips. "I just can't help it sometimes. But you know I'm working on it."

"I know," I tell him. "But you can't keep being an asshole to every guy I talk to."

He leans down and kisses my cheek. "I promise I'll get better." I nodded but was still annoyed and now Zack's face kept popping up in my mind. "Should I just take you home?" He asked me sadly. I'm tempted to say yes but the reoccurring thoughts of Zack leave a pang in my gut. God I miss him.

I push the thoughts to the back of my mind. "No," I tell him. "I want to go home with you.

Notes

Kind of a filler chapter but not really. I have like three more chapters written and I'm running out of ideas you guys, so updates might start slowing down! But if you have anything you'd like to happen let me know! I still have a couple of ideas but nothing too crazy and I still have no idea when or how I want this to end, though I know everyone is hoping for a happy ending!

Thank you so, so, so much for reading! Keep the comments, votes and subscriptions coming!

Title credit: Good Charlotte "We'll Let it All Out"