Sweet Distraction ✔︎

[26] 𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒌𝒆

Missing Isabelle hurt a fuckload worse than open-heart surgery. At least the physical pain had eased up over the past few weeks. But the missing Isabelle was a goddamned permanent hole in his chest.

One he’d drilled himself because… she’d wanted to stay. She’d wanted to make it work. As much as he’d hated letting her go, Evan still couldn’t find any way around it. He’d rather spend his life alone than be the reason for trapping Isabelle.

That’s not how she sees it.

That’s how it is.

According to you.

According to my fucking ruined heart.

That’s not how she sees it.

That’s how it is.

Since when do you let your heart control you?

Bitter irony that. He’d spent his life refusing to be constrained by his physical limitations, but he’d just let Isabelle go because of his heart. And yet his other heart, the one that was bigger and more powerful than the weak organ inside his chest, was still full of crazy hopes that somehow, Isabelle had been right. Somehow they could make it work.

Or not. Because… his heart.

And his head, which was ready to explode with all the wrangling he’d been doing trying to figure it all out.

He pushed away from his desk at the Candy King corporate headquarters. At least he’d had work to distract him, though it didn’t have the same appeal as it had before. Nothing did, not without Isabelle.

He tossed a few folders into his briefcase beside a flat square package wrapped in brown paper. For the hundredth time, he picked it up and ran his fingers over the edges that were worn from his constant handling. The package had arrived in the mail two days after he’d heard from Jupiter that Isabelle had left Rainsville.

His name and address were written on the front in Isabelle’s curly handwriting, with Rainbow Palace listed as the return address. He’d been carrying the package around in his briefcase for the three weeks she’d been gone, both wanting to open it and dreading what might be inside. It was his final connection to her, this goodbye gift. Once he opened it, he felt like he’d lose her forever.

Did that mean he still had hope?

No. Because he was the fucker who’d pushed her away when her whole being had glowed with love for him.

He put the package back in his briefcase and headed out of the office. The elevator doors at the end of the corridor opened. His father and Aunt Julia stepped out, their heads turned toward each other in conversation.

The sight of them—his big-shouldered, authoritative father and his beautiful, fashionable aunt—struck a chord in Evan. Though they sparred and argued, somehow over the years they’d become a team. As if Julia had known, even in the aftermath of losing her sister, that family had to stick together to stay intact. To heal.

“Evan.” Julia caught sight of him, a flash of relief crossing her face. “Your father said your appointment with Dr. Kumar went well.”

“Very well.” This time, Evan didn’t conceal the truth. “Really good, actually. My recovery has been faster than he expected.”

“Best test results he’s had in years,” Warren added.

Evan gave Julia the details of Dr. Kumar’s assessment as they walked to the boardroom. His concerns about ending up on the Candy King sidelines after his surgery hadn’t come to pass—Josh and his father had kept him apprised of business issues when he was recovering at home, and neither of them had protested when he’d said he wanted to return to the office.