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Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Starting Afresh 1

"How many boxes do you have?" Nate asks.

He's slipping on his shoes by the door. I grab my keys off the bar.

"Six, plus three suitcases and all my clothes on hangers."

Nate walks to the door directly across the hall and bangs on it, then turns and heads toward the elevators.

He pushes the down button.

"Did you tell Mom you made it?"

"Yeah, I texted her last night."

I hear his apartment door open just as the elevator arrives, but I don't turn to watch him walk out of it. I step in, and Nate holds the elevator for Evans.

As soon as he comes into view, I lose the war.

The war I didn't even know I was fighting. It doesn't happen often, but when I do find a guy attractive, it's better when it happens with a person I want it to happen with.

Evans is not the person I want to be feeling this for. I don't want to be attracted to a guy who drinks himself into oblivion, cries over other girls, and can't even remember if he screwed you the night before.

But it's hard not to notice his presence when his presence becomes everything.

"Should just be two trips," Nate says to Evans as he presses the button for the ground floor.

Evans is staring at me, and I can't quite judge his demeanor, because he still looks pissed.

I stare back, because no matter how good-looking he may be with that attitude, I'm still waiting for the thank you I never got.

"Hi," Evans finally says.

He steps forward and completely ignores unspoken elevator etiquette by stepping too close and holding out his hand.

"Evans Ansah. I live across the hall from you." And I'm confused.

"I think we've established that," I say, looking down at his outstretched hand.

"Starting over," he says, arching a brow.

"On the right foot?" Ah. Yes. I did tell him that. I take his hand and shake it.

"Adele Wilson. I'm Nate's sister."

The way he steps back and keeps his eyes locked with mine makes me a little uncomfortable, since Nate is standing only a foot away.

Nate doesn't seem to care, though.

He's ignoring both of us, preoccupied with his phone.

Evans finally breaks his stare and pulls his phone out of his pocket.

I take the opportunity to study him while his attention is off of me. I come to the conclusion that his appearance is completely contradictory.

It's as if two different creators were at war when he was envisioned. The strength in his bone structure contrasts with the soft, inviting appeal of his lips.

They seem harmless and welcoming compared with the harshness in his features and the jagged scar that runs the length of the right side of his jaw. His hair can't decide if it wants to be brown or blond or wavy or straight.

His personality flips between inviting and callously indifferent, muddling my ability to discern hot from cold. His casual posture is at war with the fierceness I've seen in his eyes.

His composure this morning contradicts his inebriated state from last night.

His eyes can't decide if they want to look at his phone or at me, because they waver back and forth several times before the elevator doors open.

I stop staring and step off the elevator first.

Cap is seated in his chair, ever so vigilant. He glances at the three of us exiting the elevator and pushes up on the arms of his chair, coming to a slow, shaky stand.

Cap is the buildings handy man and flight coordinator as he calls himself which in turn translates to he ensures people get a safe ride to their various floors on the elevator. He is a retired pilot who served most of his life in the army.

Nate and Evans both nod at him and continue walking.

"How was your first night, Adele?" he asks with a smile, stopping me midstride.

The fact that he already knows my name doesn't surprise me, since he knew what floor I was going to last night.

I look at the back of Evans's head as they continue without me.

"Kind of eventful, actually.

I think my brother might have made a poor choice in the company he keeps."

I look at Cap, and he's staring at Evans now, too.

His wrinkle lined lips purse into a thin line, and he gives a slight shake of his head.

"Ah, that boy probably can't help it none," he says, dismissing my comment.

I'm not sure if he's referring to Nate or Evans when he says "that boy," but I don't ask.

Cap turns away from me and begins shuffling in the direction of the lobby restrooms.

"I think I just pissed on myself," he mutters.

I watch him disappear through the restroom door, wondering at what point in a person's life he becomes old enough to lose his filter.

Although Cap doesn't seem like the type of man who ever even had a filter.

I kind of like that about him.

"Adele, let's go!" Nate yells from the far end of the lobby.

I catch up with them to show them the way to my car. It takes three trips to get all my things up, not two trips.

Three entire trips where Evans doesn't speak another word to me.