Semua Bab Resisting The Playboy's Charm: Bab 101 - Bab 110

CarolinaOver the next few weeks, I start to settle back into my mind-numbing routine at the restaurant. I haven't heard from any more jobs, so it's looking like I'm gonna end up back in the same place I was before: working my ass off, waiting tables, and coming home frustrated.Evans still calls sometimes. Every few days, my phone will buzz, and his name will flash on the screen. I still haven't answered any of his calls or listened to his voicemails, but I don't block his number, either, despite Olivia's suggestion.On a Saturday morning six weeks after I left the Armstrongs' house, I decide to get back into the swing of volunteering. I'd taken a break from the community center after moving back into my apartment; I needed the time to get back on my feet and re-orient myself.But now, everything seems to be settling back to normal. It's high time I got back to the kids. They're probably missing me, and I know I miss them.I take the subway over to the center. There's standing room o

EvansThe air is wet in the aftermath of rain, and there's condensation beading on the surface of the polished gravestones at Woodlawn cemetery. I kneel into the dewey grass regardless, ignoring the dampness, and lay a bouquet of fresh daffodils in front of Serena's grave.They were her favorite. Every springtime, as kids, we had a competition to see which of us could find the first daffodil shoots of the season.I take a deep breath, looking up at the gray sky, fading quickly into blue. I haven't been here enough; not since the funeral. It's a pleasant place, if you can ignore the grief that hangs in the air. There are trees here, and it's an open stretch of green, with more of a rural feeling than most places in New York City."I should've come to visit you sooner," I say quietly, returning my gaze to Serena's gravestone. Her name is etched into the granite, above the epitaph, Loving mother and sister. "I'm sorry. I feel like I let you down."In more ways than one, I realize. I feel

CarolinaWe all head up to the registers together, and once everything is paid for, I pause by the door awkwardly, glancing back at Brandon and Evans."Well, it was really nice to run into the two of you," I begin, expecting to ungracefully part ways."You should come have dinner with us!" Brandon bursts out loudly—he's having an energetic day.I cringe internally, glancing over at Evans. "Um, I don't know if that's a good idea, kiddo.""But it would be so fun!" Brandon cries.Evans nods, his eyes warm as he meets my gaze. His voice is sincere as he says, "Please. You should join us."Whatever I was expecting Evans to say, it wasn't that. I open my mouth to refuse, then close it, considering. It couldn't hurt to just go over for dinner. In fact, it might help with the heartache I've been feeling—a reminder that time moves on, or something."Okay, sure," I say hesitantly. "I didn't have anything to do this evening, anyway."Rather than taking the subway back to my place, I get into the

CarolinaEvans trails his mouth over my neck and shoulders, teeth scraping my skin as I hook my legs around his waist, both of us desperate for the other."So fucking perfect." His voice is muffled against my skin, as if he can't bear to pull away long enough to speak. "You taste so good, Carolina. Every inch of you. I need you so goddamn badly."His hands move to the waistband of my pants, working the button and zipper down, and I rock from side to side a little, lifting my hips enough for him to slide them off. He takes my panties with them, and I hiss out a breath as the cool marble meets my bare skin."I need to be inside you," Evans groans, nearly ripping my pants off my legs as I desperately kick off my shoes. The heat between us is like an inferno, and I swear the rest of my clothes are about to burn to ash just from touching my skin. "Can I...?""Yes!" It's a breathless gasp, and I nod, reaching for his pants too.He's still wearing his shirt, and so am I, but I hardly even ca

CarolinaIt's a long drive, all the way from Evans's place up to the Bronx. With each passing minute, I grow more confused, until finally, Evans pulls into a tree-lined asphalt drive, dappled with sunlight.I don't know what destination I was expecting, but whatever it was, it wasn't this. We're at Woodlawn Cemetery.Evans drives slowly through the wrought iron gates, then up the winding access road, in silence. I turn to him, frowning."Evans—""Almost there," he says.He stops the car beneath the sweeping branches of a massive maple, then steps out, gesturing for me to do the same. I hesitate for a few moments, watching as he crosses the street and approaches a simple, granite headstone.Finally, my curiosity gets the better of me. I climb out of the car and approach him. He turns to face me."I wanted to take you to meet my sister," he says. He's smiling, but there's something sad in the depths of his eyes. "I thought that the most important ladies in my life should get the chance