Because I love you.

Chapter twenty four: Taxi

I wake up to the smell of coffee. I open my eyes and look at Evan who is waking up too. His eyes flutter open and meet mine. He smiles and stretches, sitting up and moving to kiss me before getting up and putting sweats on.

"Morning." I say, watching him get dressed.

"Good morning." He says, sitting with me and running his hand through my hair.

"I'm jealous, you get woken up by coffee; I get woken up with alarms." I say, smiling softly.

"Yeah, the coffee maker is my alarm. You could always stay over, get woken up by coffee every morning." He suggests, smirking slightly. I roll my eyes but I can't help but smile. Evan kisses my forehead and leaves to the kitchen while I get up. I put on my underwear and I slip on one of his many white shirts. I put my hair back in a bun as I walk to the kitchen. I watch from the door as he pours his coffee. He smiles when he sees me, walking over he picks me up and sits me on his counter.

"I missed you." He says, kissing my neck softly.

"When, while you were making coffee or the past three years?" I ask. He smiles and shrugs a little.

"I'd say both. The distance from the bedroom is honestly way too far." He says dramatically. I laugh and run my hands through his messy hair.

"Do you have work today?" I ask.

"At one I have to go to uni, go to a lecture and hand in some work. Then I have work until eight." He says. I bite my lip and nod, moving my hands to his broad shoulders. I love my thumbs slowly along the curve of his shoulders and I sigh a little. "It's not that far, we still have a few hours." He says. I smile a little and nod; he goes back and fixes his coffee before drinking some.

"I have to text my mum that I'm alive." I say, sliding off his counter. He smiles and I walk to the bedroom, I text my mum quickly and I sit on the bed for a bit. When I said that last night wouldn't mean anything I was telling the truth but I thought it would make my decision easier. If anything it's made it harder. I still don't know what I want.

"So, want to do anything this morning?" Evan asks, walking in and going to the en suit bathroom on the other side of the bed. I smile and sit cross legged on the bed.

"Nothing specific comes to mind, what do you normally do?" I ask.

"Sleep or study nothing exciting really." He says and starts brushing his teeth. I roll over to his bed side table and I get the book on top of it. I flick through it as Evan brushes his teeth and admire at the amount of stuff he has to learn. "I don't think reading about infectious disease is going to be that fun on the morning after your birthday." He says, walking over and putting the book back on his table.

"Well I don't want to stop you from learning; it must take a lot of studying to be a doctor." I say looking at the book then back at him.

"One morning won't make me fail at becoming a doctor Lindy. At the moment we are focusing on the codes of conduct anyway." He says.

"Well then, you better learn it or you'll treat someone and fall in love with them like you did with me." I say with a slight smirk of my own.

"That doesn't count. I've loved you since I was thirteen." He says.

"So? Maybe this new patent is prettier than me." I say.

"No one is prettier than you." He says, raising his eyebrows, waiting for my come back.

"Well that's true." I admit. He laughs and I sit up on the bed. "But I want you to do well." I say and pout, shuffling forwards. He laughs and strokes the top of my head softly.

"I took care of you, and I treated you well. This morning is yours Lindy. I have other mornings to study." He says. I nod and he lays me back and holds himself above me, lowering down just to kiss the tip of my nose. "So, I'm all yours." He says. I smile and roll over so I'm on top of him, he smiles and I kiss him before sitting up. Even runs his hands up and down my thighs as I think.

"I want pancakes. Depending on how good they are, you'll get a reward." I say, smiling happily.

"Yes Ma'am." He says lifting me off him and laying me down before I chase him to the kitchen. Quickly, we have the batter ready and the pan is hot. Evan sits me on the counter as it's my birthday breakfast so he does everything as I watch.

"So, pancakes and cupcakes and alcohol; what would my doctor think." I say, shaking my head dramatically.

"Considering it's your birthday and red wine can be beneficial for your heart I don't think they'd mind." He says.

"I suppose you're right." I say.

"I'm always right." He smirks. I roll my eyes and he flips the first pancake and soon puts it on a plate. I put some syrup on it and take a bite. I swallow and Evan smiles as he sees my expression, that was the best pancake ever and I haven't even finished it.

"When I first moved out this is all I ate, I got very good." He says smugly.

"I will marry this pancake." I mumble as I continue eating it. He laughs and we eat as he makes them, taking turns as they're finished. We sit on the sofa when we are full and I laugh, rubbing my stomach.

"Food baby?" He asks. I nod and he kisses my stomach before blowing on it. I laugh and roll around, almost falling off the sofa before Evan catches me. He sits me on his lap and I rest my arms on his shoulders before kissing him sweetly.

"Thank you, it's been the best birthday I've had for a very long time." I say, remembering all the birthdays I've had where I either slept through it or was in hospital.

"It's been my pleasure; I've wanted to do something like this with you for years." He says. I smile and he kisses me, running his hand through my hair a bit before pulling it out of its bun to run his hand through it properly. I smile and he kisses my neck, it makes me moan slightly but this time he pulls back, kisses me sweetly on my lips and sits back in his sofa.

"What's wrong?" I ask, running my right hand through his hair slowly.

"Are you sure you haven't made a decision yet?" He asks.

"Evan." I say seriously.

"We've been so happy just us two and it's like we are in love again. Don't you see that this could be us forever?" He asks. I get off his lap and I go to the bedroom, putting my hair in a bun again. I take off his shirt and slip on my sweatpants. "Lindy, what are you doing?" He asks.

"I'm going home." I say, putting my shoes on and finding my tank top. I put it on along with my hoodie before getting my bag ready.

"Don't go; I'm sorry I said anything." He says, walking behind me.

"It's fine." I say, looking around, making sure I have everything I need. I get my phone and I have everything.

"Please don't go." He says sadly.

"I have to. Just tell me how to use your weird lift and I'll make my own way back." I say. He sighs and goes to his bedroom. I wait by the door and bite my lip. He comes back out, wearing a hoodie and trainers. He grabs his wallet and keys and opens the door.

"It's a long walk, I'll drive you." He says.

"I'll get a taxi, you can study or something." I say, walking into the elevator.

"Forget it, I'm driving you." He says. I sigh and we go down to the garage and get in his car. I fold my legs and look out of the window, leaning on it to be as far from Evan as I can. Watching the people and the cars, even watching the buildings change makes me sad. I just want to make my mind up and move on. This hurts, and it doesn't even hurt just me.

"Are you crying?" Evan asks as he pulls over by my place. I wipe my eyes quickly and clear my throat.

"Thanks for the ride, I'll see you around." I say as I un-strap myself, grab my bag and leave.

"Lindy, please." He says, rolling down my window.

"I'm sorry Evan. I realise I can't do this without a decision. I'm sorry for leading you on, but I promise, you'll be the first I tell." I say. He opens his mouth but it seems he can't find the words to say. I give him a small smile and I go upstairs. I need a nap.