If it hadn''t been for Aaron drugging her,
Evelyn never would have gotten involved with Charles in any way.
Brooks knew it well-ever since Evelyn agreed to date him, she''d been putting her heart and soul into their rtionship. For the past several months, she''d never once had any private contact with Charles.
His mother hadn''t epted her at first. Evelyn had tried so hard-bending over backwards to get his mother''s approval. She''d worked herself to the bone, doing everything she could to prove herself. And even though his mother never said it out loud, Brooks could tell she''de to recognize Evelyn''s capability, to ept her in her own stubborn way.
She just refused to admit it.
Everything had been going so well-until this ident, so out of the blue.
It tore him up inside.
He could only imagine how much worse Evelyn felt.
None of this was her fault. How could he ever me her for something she never wanted?
"Sis-inw, this is all my fault-every bit of it. Brooks had no idea what was going on. If you need someone to me, me me. Call the police, have me locked up,
I won''t say a word in protest. I was an idiot. I''m so sorry."
Aaron grew increasingly anxious as Evelyn stayed silent, wringing his hands, desperately apologizing.
He honestly wished he could fall on his knees and beg her forgiveness right then and there.
He hadn''t slept a winkst night either.
Seeing Brooks in pain, he felt nothing but guilt and regret. He''d never meant any harm—he just wanted to help his friend, but fate had twisted his intentions into something awful.
Watching Brooks, Aaron noticed his attitude toward Evelyn hadn''t changed in the slightest.
A man who could look past his partner''s intimacy with someone else he was either using her, or he loved her so deeply he could forgive anything.
Brooks was clearly thetter.
If, because ofst night, Evelyn broke up with Brooks-Aaron wouldn''t have the face to ever see his friend again.
"Brooks, where are you? I''m kind of hungry."
Evelyn ignored Aaronpletely.
After all, both she and Brooks were victims in this mess.
There was nothing to forgive.
Brooks'' unwavering support moved her deeply. With him, she''d always felt respected.
"Where are you? I''lle get you right now!"
Brooks'' tension melted away the moment he heard her voice.
He understood her answer.
"I''m at home."
"Alright, I''ll be there in forty minutes."
Brooks stood up as he spoke.
Once Evelyn hung up, he turned to Aaron, his voice cold: "Aboutst night..."
"Don''t worry, Brooks. I won''t breathe a word of this to anyone, I swear."
Aaron promised immediately.
"Brooks, whenever your girlfriend has the time, let me apologize to her in person."
But Brooks was already heading to
the bathroom-he needed to see Evelyn. He showered quickly,
ced into fresh clothes, and
drove straight to her ce
When he arrived downstairs, he spotted Charles'' car.
He ignored it, parking right in front of Evelyn''s building.
Just then, Evelyn came down, fresh from her own shower.
Brooks jumped out to open the door for her, shielding her as she got in. As he e leaned over to buckle her
seat belt, he couldn''t help but wrap her in his arms.
He was terrified terrified that afterst night, she''d retreat from him.
Evelyn would never know just how much she meant to him.
If she hadn''t protected him when they were kids, Brooks would have been lost a
long time ago.
Evelyn hugged him back, her own turmoil slowly easing.
Her actions this morning had been
deliberate a clear message to
Charles
she''d long since
go, that her heart belonged
hohim
Brooks.
She didn''t want any more unwanted entanglements because of an ident she never wished for.
A little way off, Charles sat in his car, watching the two of them embrace. His eyes were full of pain.
He realized now-in this reunion, the only one truly happy was Brooks.
Evelyn was really gone from his life, for good.
It was time he let her go, too.