Page 28 of Happily Evan After

Marley

After making me come more times than I could count last night, Evan slept in my bed. And I slept the best I have in months, maybe years. I haven’t agreed to anything other than going on a date with him tonight, but it’s a step.

Maybe I can put myself out there and trust that he wants me more than his need to uphold some sense of duty.

I have been an obligation before. I don’t want that ever again. And I certainly don’t want it for my daughter.

It’s been a relatively slow day at the clinic, which is why I let the rest of the staff go out together for lunch. So I’m sitting up front when the guy walks in. He’s wearing dark sunglasses and what I think might be a leather coat, but that seems insane in the heat of the Texas summer. He’s alone, and he walks straight up to the counter.

I don’t miss the fact that he has no animal with him.

“Can I help you?” Maybe he’s looking for Lily’s side of the clinic, the big animal section.

He pulls off his shades in what feels like a practiced move. He levels his gaze on me and I’m met with thickly lashed green eyes that look oddly familiar.

“Looking for the vet. Marley something,” he says.

“That’s me.”

He stares at me for a beat, then nods. “Older than I would have guessed, but alright.” He reaches into his leather jacket and pulls out a stack of folded paper. “These are from my attorney. You can have your own read over them and submit any changes, but I think you’ll find the terms are fair.”

“I’m sorry. Who are you?” I ask, deliberately not reaching for the papers he’s holding out.

He frowns. “You don’t know who I am?”

“No. Should I?”

He releases what sounds like an annoyed chuckle. “Most people do. But I’m Abel Cartwright. I believe you know my brother.”

“Oh! You must be Evan’s twin. No wonder your eyes look familiar.”

That seems to annoy him, but he doesn’t say anything about my comparison.

I hold my hand out to him. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Abel. I’m Marley, Evan’s…” but I falter because what am I to Evan? Not his girlfriend. Just his pregnant hookup.

Abel smirks. “The woman who got herself pregnant. Yeah, I’m aware. What I want to know is how you figured out he’s my brother. Was it that damn article in People magazine from a few years ago? They were doing a special on famous people and their non-famous siblings. Our pictures were right on the same page as Ewan McGregor and his military brother.”

“I’m sorry. I truly have no idea what you’re talking about. How could I possibly know he was your brother if I have no idea who you are?” I say.

“I told you who I am.”

“Yes, Abel Cartwright.”

He shakes his head. “No, the Abel Cartwright.”

“Well, I’m the Marley Olsen. What do you want?”

“You’re going to continue pretending you don’t recognize me?”

I just stare blankly at him. Maybe Evan was waiting to tell me that his brother is a little soft in the head. Or at the very least, extremely egotistical.

“Oh, maybe this will help.” He takes a few steps back from the counter and lifts his shirt, exposing a perfectly honed abdomen and chest. It’s hairless and completely scar-free.

“Do you need me to call someone for you?” I ask him.

“Lady, come on! I’ve been on the cover of Men’s Health Magazine three times. I’ve been in fifteen major blockbuster movies, two of which are among the highest-grossing films of all time.”

“Congratulations,” I say.