CHAPTER 17: CLARITY

[Evelyn’s Room—Carter Mansion]

The call had barely ended when Evelyn let out a soft sigh.

She set the phone aside on the couch table, staring blankly at it for a moment before realizing Patricia was watching her.

Evelyn turned, startled. "You were awake?"

Patricia smirked as she tugged the blanket around her shoulders. "You think I could sleep through your whispering?"

"I wasn’t whispering."

"Was that Alexander?" When Evelyn nodded, Patricia raised a brow. "So what did he say?"

Evelyn sighed, brushing a hand through her hair. "He was just checking in."

"Checking in," Patricia repeated with a teasing lilt. "You mean, the man whose face is all over the internet with yours is calling past midnight to ask if you are okay? Sounds more like checking up on you."

Evelyn shot her a look but the faintest smile tugged at her lips. "You are reading too much into it."

"I am not reading," Patricia countered as she sat. "I am observing and trust me, Evie, that man has it bad for you."

Evelyn frowned slightly but didn’t respond. She instead got down from her bed to pour herself a glass of water.

"I am serious, Evie. I have eyes."

Evelyn turned around slowly with the water glass in hand. "You are imagining things."

"I am not," Patricia got up and slowly approached her. "Don’t tell me you have never noticed."

Evelyn blinked, taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, please—" Patricia scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Don’t act innocent. I have seen the way he looks at you on those little group dinners, birthdays and charity events. Everyone’s chatting, laughing and there he is sitting quietly in a coroner pretending not to look but his eyes always find you."

"Again, you are imagining things," she tried to shrug off Patricia’s reasoning again.

Patricia laughed softly. "Oh please. I may have terrible taste in men but I am not blind. I caught him staring at you more times than I can count, especially that one time at Jack’s birthday dinner, remember? You were talking to Lucas about your project and Alexander was sitting across the table looking like he had forgotten how to breathe."

Evelyn pressed her lips together as she felt a strange tightness in her chest. "He is Jack’s brother, Pat. Whatever you are thinking is impossible."

"Are you really thinking about Jack right now? The guy, I highly doubt, ever took you seriously." When Evelyn gave her a look, Patricia started explaining. "Forgot your birthday twice? Left you stranded at that gala because he wanted to ’network’? Come on, Evie. You know what I mean."

Evelyn didn’t argue. She just sat there, staring at her hands.

"But Alexander—he is different." Patricia’s tone softened. "And you know what really got me? That ruby brooch."

Evelyn’s head snapped up. "What about it?"

Patricia smiled faintly. "You told me you had lost it back in college and you mentioned it once, casually, after a glass of wine." She excitedly snapped her fingers. "And months later—boom—Alexander gets you an identical one for your birthday and I remember thinking, that cannot be a coincidence."

Evelyn blinked, taken aback by the memory. "That was just a coincidence. I mentioned it once and he probably heard it." She tried to refute.

Patricia leaned forward. "Exactly, you mentioned it once and he remembered. Do you realize how rare that is? Most men can’t remember what you told them five minutes ago."

Evelyn’s breath caught for a second. "He said he just saw it in a collection—"

Patricia laughed softly. "He probably did after spending weeks looking for it. Don’t tell me that man didn’t listen. Meanwhile, Jack gave you a handbag," she scoffed. "That too from the last season collection."

Evelyn’s cheeks flushed faintly. "Patricia—"

Patricia exhaled dramatically. "You always downplay everything that is good for you." She placed her hand on Evelyn’s shoulder. "Look, I liked Jack, I really did most of the time but your relationship with him? It was off. You are steady, grounded and always the one holding things together and he was—well, Jack."

Sticking a finger out with each word, she continued, "Impulsive, reckless and charming for all the wrong reasons."

Evelyn’s lips curved faintly at that. "You make him sound like a child."

Patricia tilted her head. "That’s because he was and you deserved someone who saw you. Not someone who treated you according to their convenience."

Evelyn’s breath hitched faintly. She didn’t reply but Patricia could see the faint flicker of pain in her friend’s eyes. It was the kind that came from remembering too much.

"Alexander—" Patricia said softly, "He is not Jack. He is quiet, yes, but he listens. He notices things and when he looks at you, Evie, it’s like you are the only one in the room."

Evelyn swallowed, trying to deny the obvious. "Even if that’s true, it can’t happen. It would be too complicated."

Patricia smiled gently. "Maybe but complicated doesn’t always mean wrong. Sometimes the right things come tangled."

Evelyn sat beside her in silence and for a long moment, neither spoke.

Patricia reached out and nudged her shoulder. "I am just saying that it’s not such a bad idea, you know. As long as you are happy."

Evelyn didn’t answer. She just looked toward the window where the city lights blinked faintly through the curtains.

Patricia smiled faintly. "It’s time you stop paying for everyone else’s mistakes and maybe it’s time you stop thinking how others will judge you and start caring about your own happiness."

"Who cares if people talk?" Patricia scoffed. "I mean, they already are so what is the difference?"

"But—"

"I know you dated Jack for almost two years but I don’t think you really loved him, Evie." Patricia placed her hand over hers. "You were just trying to create a safe space with him but it never worked."

Patricia’s words lingered in the air long after she had finished speaking. Evelyn looked at her but silence followed.

"Alexander does really care," Patricia said softly, breaking the silence. "You heard it in his voice, didn’t you?"

Evelyn didn’t look up. "He was just being kind. That’s all."

Patricia gave a knowing hum. "Kind? Maybe but it’s not just that and I think you know that too."

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around her glass as her pulse quickened. She hated how easily her friend could read her.

Patricia tilted her head, watching her carefully. "You know, you don’t push him away as much as you think you do."

That made Evelyn glance up, startled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean—" Patricia said with a little grin, "You don’t repel him. In fact, you don’t even try. You act like you want distance but I can tell you are curious like you have always been."

Evelyn opened her mouth to protest but no words came. Instead, her silence betrayed her more than any confession could.

Patricia’s grin softened into something tender. "See? You didn’t deny it."

Evelyn looked away as her chest ached with confusion, guilt, longing, and something dangerously. "Even if I did feel something," she said in a voice barely above a whisper, "it wouldn’t matter. It’s wrong and it would never work."

Patricia leaned closer. "You have spent your whole life doing what is right, Evie but maybe it’s time you think about what feels right instead."

...