Davis, Liz - Slivers of Moonlight (Siren Publishing Classic) by Liz Davis Page A

Evan said, “You spoke to him last night. Was this before or after I called you?”
    “After, and the conversation meant nothing to me. He was the one who called.”
    “So what did you talk about?”
    “Not much, really. He asked me to move in with him, but I told him I didn’t want to.”
    “He just said you told him that you’d think about it.”
    “I only said that so he’d leave me alone. He wouldn’t stop bothering me.”
    Evan remained silent, his eyes fixed on some random point beyond the windshield.
    “I really like you, Evan, and I don’t want this to ruin things for us, so please don’t be upset with me.”
    She wanted him to turn his head and look at her, hoped he would decide to let this go and move on so they could begin a relationship, but something deep inside of her knew it wasn’t going to happen.
    “I like you, too, Maya. A lot. I like you so much that I’m unwilling to share you with anyone. And I’m not just talking about a physical thing here, but emotional connections. I saw the way you looked at him, and I could see that a part of you still cares for him.” A glimmer of jealousy passed through his eyes. “I’m not so sure we should continue seeing each other.”
    “So you don’t still care for any of your exes? Are you trying to tell me there isn’t a girl out there that you’ll always care for, someone who will always have a place in your heart?”
    “Of course there is, but that person is no longer a part of my life, and you know what? I don’t miss her. Sure, a part of me will always care for her, but she’s a part of my past, not my present. She’s not holding me back from who I want to be with, and I surely don’t still speak to her.”
    Giving a heavy sigh, Maya buried her head in her hands. She didn’t know what to say anymore, and she knew she was dangerously close to crying. How had things managed to get so monumentally screwed up?
    With sadness in his voice, he said, “I want us to be together, Maya. I really do.”
    “But?” she asked.
    Finally turning his head to look at her, Evan said, “When I’m with a woman, I’m there for her, fully and completely. It’s either all or nothing for me. I don’t play around with people’s feelings. I love very deeply and right now, what scares me is allowing myself to fall in love with you. Because if I did and you broke my heart, I wouldn’t be able to take it.”
    “I would never hurt you,” she responded.
    “There’s a chance you’ll get back together. I saw it in your eyes. You still care for him.”
    “No, that isn’t true.” She shook her head, wanting to say more, but the words wouldn’t come out. There was a lump growing in her throat, and she could feel tears threatening to fall. “Please don’t give up on me, Evan.” Her chin was tilted downward and her fingers picked absentmindedly at a thread on her pants.”
    “I’m sorry, Maya. I just can’t be that rebound guy.”
    She couldn’t speak anymore, and she knew that even if she did, it wouldn’t fix anything. His mind was set, and he wasn’t going to change it. She heard the sound of him turning the key in the ignition, and then the engine started up. Neither of them said a word on the drive home, as each was lost in their own thoughts and dealing with their individual emotions. But every now and again, she did manage to look over at him. She thought of how little time they’d spent together, and how these past few days she’d known him had been the happiest she’d felt in a while. They’d just barely been getting to know each other, and now, thanks to Dylan, it was already over.
    As they came closer to reaching her house, Maya felt her eyes grow wet, and her vision became clouded with tears. It wasn’t fair that it was ending this way between them, and she hated the fact that their budding relationship had been terminated so soon.
    As they arrived at her house, he pulled up to the curb and put the car in park, leaving the engine