Evelyn's Girl | Lesbian Novel

XXV

Marcus brought Ben back an hour after Evelyn left. I was hugging his body while he yawned, seemingly exhausted from the day he'd had.

For the first time in my knowing Ben, he said goodnight and went straight to bed. Marcus lingered in the doorway, his hands tucked in his pockets while his eyes scanned the penthouse behind me.

"No Evelyn," He pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Yeah," I was honest, "the whole gentle thing with the girl eyes completely slipped my mind."

He was leaning against the doorframe, "Kind of sucks. I think it would've worked."

He had his keys in his hand, briefly spinning them around his fingers before tucking them in his pocket.

"Do you know how long I've known Evelyn?"

I thought for a few moments, "No. I don't."

He raised his brows, and proceeded to take me down memory lane, "I was eight years old when our parents became friends. I had a stutter. And braces."

Against my will, I stifled a laugh. The thought of little Marcus without his smooth articulate speech was humorous. Then I added the wired braces and sandy blonde hair and I couldn't contain myself.

He rolled his eyes, "Have a good laugh about it. There's a point to this story, if you'll let me get there."

I suppressed my laughter, "Please continue."

Marcus was leaning against the doorframe, his features oddly serious for the second time today, "Look. I know her like the back of my hand. She pretends she hates me and I do all the things that she tells me not to do. We've been doing it for years. I've seen her weak and I've seen her strong. I've never really seen her care before."

"She cares about you, more than anyone else. I think that should be enough." He poked my forehead, completely ruining the sentimental moment we were having.

Well, almost.

I was swatting his finger away, "Since when are you so mature and responsible?"

He shrugged his broad shoulders, "I've decided there's more to life than being rich and hot."

Then we were both laughing.

"Seriously Cecilia, let it be enough." Marcus was poking at me one last time, then walking away. He disappeared behind the elevator doors and I was pressing my back against the wall.

I was wondering why every time she left, she took a piece of me with her. It felt like an unwilling souvenir. It felt like a void.

I knew she wasn't in love with me. I also knew she hadn't been in love before. It made her uncomfortable like my touch once had. It was uncharted territory for someone who commanded complete control at all times.

Behind her eyes, she was hesitant. To fall of course. I didn't blame her.

I just loved her anyway.

So much so that it was getting harder not to feel it. I could feel it in our fights. Mostly when she walked away from me. It played over and over again like the scratched part of a tape. It hurt like a bitch.

Especially when she told me to stop.

It felt like she meant it. A guttural punch to my chest. I found it a bit harder to breathe after that. I found it a bit harder to think too.

The front door pushed open and then I was locking eyes with much softer green ones. She was simmered down completely, a trench coat over her shoulders.