After almost a week, I was putting any effort in dressing up. Because all my belongings were still in Evan's house, I had to buy some clothes on urgent basis. I was planning on taking some clothes back with me after dinner tonight.

To be honest, the thought of seeing Evan was exciting me. Being away from him was not easy. Every night, I spend hours thinking about him before sleeping, imagining him instead of the cushion and cuddling with it. Life without him was boring and meaningless, and I had no idea how would I spend these days when each one feels like hell.

Today, after returning from the bakery, I took a long refreshing shower and then changed into a white off-the-shoulder dress. I dried my hair and let them loose over my shoulder. Applying light makeup on my face, I walked out of the room and found Nate sitting on the couch of the living room.

"Going somewhere?" He asked, assessing my preparation.

"Yeah, Evan invited me to dinner." I said shyly because I felt I was too weak. It hasn't been a week since he threw me out and I already gave in to his offer.

"Well, do you want me to drop you there?" He asked and thankfully, didn't comment anything about my decision.

"Thanks but I'll call an Uber." I said to avoid discomforting him.

"It's getting dark. Don't worry, I'll drop you." He said with his charming smile. Nate was adorable and really helpful, and any girl would be lucky to have him in her life.

"Okay," I smiled. He stood up and turned off the TV. I followed him to the parking lot of the building where his shiny car was standing in all it's glory. He opened the door for me like the gentleman he was and then slid in the driver's seat. He revved the engine and soon, we were off towards the place where I had left my heart.

..........

The car came to a halt in front of the huge house that was almost as big as a mansion. Hearing the voice of the car, Evan opened the door himself, with Cara in his arms. Her grin widened as she noticed me and she extended her arm to wave at me. Her leg was still covered in plaster, which was the reason why she couldn't walk properly.

Saying thanks to Nate, I walked towards Cara and Evan shifted her into my arms. She felt a lot lighter than before, probably because of the stress on her body due to the accident.

"Is it uncle Nate?" She asked in surprise when she noticed him sitting in the car. "Daddy, did you invite Uncle Nate too?"

"Um..." Evan's eyes switched between me and Cara. A frown appeared on his forehead and he gritted, "Yes, I invited Uncle Nate."

Hearing this, Cara waved at Nate as well. Realising the situation, he parked the car at a side and walked out. "Hey beautiful." He reached her and Cara jumped out of my arms towards him.

"I missed you Uncle Nate," she said, hugging him. "Did you bring Chocolates for me from Wa... Washington?"

"I did. But it's in my apartment right now." Nate pouted.

My eyes switched to Evan and he was looking at then with an annoyed look on his face. Nate was the last person he wanted to have dinner with him. Guess we don't always get what we want.

Together, all four of us walked inside. Kelly came to welcome us and I moved forward to hug her. I had missed her because since day one, she had been like a motherly figure for me in this house.

"Kelly, take them to the dining room. I'll go check the food." Evan said to Kelly and then stomped towards the kitchen.

While everybody else walked to the dining room, I made my way to the kitchen instead. Every part of this house made me nostalgic of the time spent here. Now, I was here like a guest and that didn't feel good at all.

With my sandals clicking on the floor, I reached the doorframe of the kitchen. The sight of Evan stirring the pan diligently caused a smile on my face. It was a rare sight and during my stay here, I had only been lucky once to eat his food.

"Smells good," I said and he raised his head to look at me. He looked adorable, with the polka dot apron covering his torso and his hair slicked back. The rolled sleeves gave a hint of his muscular arms that were enough to make anyone swoon.

"If only I could add some poison in Nate's plate." He mumbled under his breath but I heard it anyway.

"Sounds like you don't appreciate his presence here," I said and took a step towards him.

"Do I have to?" He asked with a frown on his face.

"Well, like you said, it was Cara who wanted me here. I don't think Cara would have any issue in having her uncle here as well." I smirked and used his words to taunt back at him.

Before he could say anything, I made my way out of the kitchen and back to the dining table. I sat beside Cara and assessed her injuries. She had still few bruises on her arms and the wounds on her head were still covered with bandage. I asked her if she felt any pain and to my relief, she told me that she was better now.

"When will you be back, mama?" She asked and I filled with immediate regret on abandoning her.

"Soon." It was Evan who replied for me. He was coming towards the table with a tray of roasted chicken in his hands. Behind him, Kelly was adjusting stirred vegetables and a bowl of lasagna in her hands.

I turned to Cara and repeated Evan's words. "Soon."

Evan sat down and then slid the try towards me. Giving him a brief glance, I served some roast in my plate and then some in Cara's. Everything smelled great and the appetising aroma increased my appetite. I took one bite and found Evan staring at me to check my reaction.

"It's good," I said to him. He smiled in return and took a bite himself. Throughout all this, our eyes remained locked together and although the shy person in me wanted to, I did not look away. I could feel in his eyes the guilt, the embarassment of saying those words to me but this time, I don't want to rely on just eyes. If he really want me, he will have to use his mouth instead.

"So Evan, is it true? Did you cook the food yourself?" Nate broke the trance and asked him with a teasing smirk on his face.

"Yeah, any problem?" Evan asked him dryly.

"Nothing. It's just... It's a little salty. I am sure Scarlet doesn't like bitter people... I mean bitter roast." Nate grinned at him and he just rolled his eyes in return.

"Well, too much sweet can give you diabetes. So she will have to bear with the salt to balance it out." Evan retorted in return.

"Wow, if you had studied biology in school, you won't have said that." Nate remarked and Evan just narrowed his eyes in return.

Both Cara and I observed their childish fight with silence. Nate wasn't usually an immature person but Evan brings out this side of him. And Evan was usually a very calm person but Nate knows how to trigger him. They both consider the other person their enemy but they were linked together by an invisible bond; the bond of love for the same person.

After the roast and vegetables in my plate finished, I cut a small slice of lasagna and tasted it. My eyes closed in relief as I enjoyed the taste of cheese, my top favourite thing in the world beside chocolate.

I turned to talk to Cara and found her yawning. It was almost 9 and she was usually asleep by this time. "Cara, are you feeling sleepy?"

"A little." She said with another cute yawn interrupting her. "But I don't want to leave yet. I want to sit with you."

"Come on, finish your plate. I'll come with you to bed then." I said and served some vegetables in her plate.

"Okay," she smiled excitedly and continued eating the food.

Evan and Nate had silenced by now and they both were finishing their respective plates. After the dinner ended, I took Cara to her room and helped her change in her pyjamas. Tucking her into the bed, I slid beside her and gently massaged her scalp.

"Mama, daddy miss you a lot." She said, closing her eyes. "Forgive him."

I smiled at this. I wish I could told her how much I wanted to. But I couldn't. As a woman, sometimes you have to realise your importance to people otherwise they won't take you seriously. And as someone who can easily give in, achieving this is a lot more difficult for me.

"Mama needs some time, Cara." I leaned down and placed a small kiss on her forehead.

I continued massaging her scalp until her harsh breathing turned soft and her eyelids grew heavier. She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into me. I stayed like this until I heard a knock on the door, after which Evan's face appeared through the door.

"Can I sit here?" He said, balancing the two cups of something hot in his hands.

"Sure," I said. He came near the bed and gave one cup to me. The liquid turned out to be coffee. He then walked to the opposite side of the bed and propped down beside Cara, his tall figure looking weird in the pink, barbie themed bed.

I smiled and took one sip of the coffee that refreshed my soul. I could feel Evan's heated gaze on me but I didn't acknowledge it. Because I knew if I did, I would give up. The sight of him few inches away from me was too charming to resist.

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