• 11 •

EVA

His warm, brown eyes darted between mine in surprise, roving over my body and then climbing back up to ogle my face. "It's really you? "

He couldn't believe I was here. The feeling was mutual.

I nodded, my throat clogged with emotions. The need to blink was strong, but I fought it because I feared that if I did, he would disappear.

His brows dove down. "You look different. "

His words seemed to slur slightly. And now that I took note of it, my surprise on seeing him was quickly replaced by worry.

I ignored his comment, wanting to ask him if he was okay instead, but before I could get the words out, he lunged at me and engulfed me in a tight hug. Almost immediately, my hands came up to wrap around him. I'd missed him. I closed my eyes, inhaling his familiar scent......... but it was all wrong. He smelled of beer and a cologne too strong to be associated with him.

A minute went by, then two, three, four and just when I started to think he had fallen asleep on me, he pulled away abru