Chapter 21: Don’t Run It
JULIA
+25 BONUS
I knew it was a bad idea to agree with what he had said. But then again, he made such an intriguing point–we didn’t have to see each other after this project.
Somehow, that made my heart hurt.
Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t because of me.
Yes, truly. You can even subject me to a lie detector!
It was because of Andy–my sweet, precious Andy who wanted nothing for his birthday except to meet his bastard of a father.
We were alone now, with no other person to interrupt the moment. Was this a good time to ask him to come to Andy’s birthday?
“You’re not looking at me again,” he said, causing me to snap out of my thoughts.
I lifted my head before turning to the canvas, seeing the painting of his face come together. I had been here for around half an hour, and I was already nearly done with his face.
I glanced back and forth between the painting and Evan, not being able to hold back my smile. It looked like him-
very much so.
I didn’t realize I was staring at it for so long. I only snapped back to reality when I heard Evan’s deep voice behind
- me.
“You’re still good at this,” he muttered, making me surprised.
I jolted and tripped on my two feet. Like any romance drama, I slipped into his arms. He held onto my sides and squeezed it tight to stabilize my posture.
“Careful,” he said, a slight annoyance heard in his voice.
1 gulped. “Sorry,” I muttered before glancing up. However, that seemed to be a wrong decision since it brought my forehead dangerously close to his lips.
His rough, warm lips hovered just right above my skin. The two of us didn’t move for a while, frozen in our spots. His grip on my sides tightened ever so lightly.
I looked into his eyes and saw that he was looking down.
Was it at my lips?
I gulped once more.
What the heck was this?
I felt hot all over as all of the times we had been together flashed in my mind. And no, they weren’t kid–friendly thoughts. They were the kind where he took me fully in his own apartment.
My cheeks flushed from embarrassment, and I quickly moved away from him. However, even with the distance, I still felt incredibly hot. I fanned myself with my hands and steadied my breathing.
“What?” he asked. “Why are you so red? Is it because of me?”
My fave preu
grew redder–if that was even possible. It was a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance now. Why was
26 BONUS
Chapter 21: Don’t Rum it
it that he still teased me so much for someone who claimed he never wanted to see me again?
“You’ve gotten cockler. I don’t like it,” I muttered.
He smirked and shook his head. “Well, a lot has changed since then, hasn’t it? Except you. You’re still the same. You wear your emotions on your face.”
I scoffed. “You think you know me so well.”
“I do,” he said.
My eyebrows raised.
It seemed like he was surprised by his words as he cleared is throat and stepped back.
Then, he decided to change the subject to my drawing. “So, how long until this is finished?” he asked.
I sighed and picked up the brush once more. “A couple more days, probably–if we continue to work on it continuously. However, with Heather’s schedule, maybe just right before the deadline.”
The deadline also happened to be just right after Andy’s birthday.
“That’s good,” he said, looking away like he was still embarrassed from his slip of the tongue earlier.
With Andy’s face in my mind, I suddenly had the urge to ask him a question.
Evan had changed. There was no doubt about that. However he wouldn’t have changed so much, would he? He wouldn’t be an asshole to Andy, right?
With that thought in my mind, I plucked up the courage to ask a question.
“Evander,” I said.
“Hmm,” he hummed, turning to me.
“Do you have anything to do at the end of the month? On a Saturday?” I meekly asked.
He frowned in confusion, not knowing where the conversation was going.
“Why do you ask?”
I was about to respond when his phone rang. He clicked his tongue and looked at the caller ID before sighing in
annoyance.
“Wait a second,” he said, raising his hand.
I pursed my lips and waited patiently for him to take the call.
“Dad,” he said, causing my blood to run cold.
Garyn Astor.
Somehow, even just the sound of his name sent chills down my spine. He wasn’t necessarily scary, but he was a man of unchanging principles.
I never knew if he was fond of me because he acted like I didn’t exist! His wife, though, was more welcoming, but even then, I never felt like I was a part of their family.
“What now, Dad?” Evan sighed.
I focused my attention on the painting, wanting to make myself busy while he talked with his dad.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 21: Don’t Run
Evan was silent for a moment, probably listening to his dad before he let out a deep sigh. “This again, Dad? How many times have we gone through this in the past weeks? Wait, no. You’ve been talking nonstop about this since I took over the company.”
I pursed my lips together. Was his dad still pressuring him Evan had always done his best, but it was never good enough for his father. I pitied him at times when we were still together, acting as a support system for him especially during his hardest times.
However, before I could pity him once more, his next words pulled me back to reality.
The reality that I had momentarily forgotten.
“I don’t want a child,” he angrily sighed. “I don’t care how many colleagues of yours have gotten children. Don’t compare me to them, Dad.”
“I don’t want to have such a big responsibility like that. I’m happy with Heather.”
“So, don’t ruin it for me with a child.”
