Without You by Julie Prestsater

ex-boyfriend, the only man I had ever loved, was going to be my sidekick for a month. I wished I had that kind of confidence. If Michael’s ex came back to town and was going to be spending copious amounts of time with him, I would have been a little irked for sure. Or, maybe not. Maybe the fact that I probably wouldn’t be worried should have told me something.
    I put the thoughts aside as Genna and Evan came back into the living room and sat down. Evan didn’t say anything. He picked up his hardback book, a marker, and a pink-colored heart.
    “Madison?”
    Oh no. “Michael, I’m sorry.” Turning my head away from Evan, I said into the phone, “No. Not tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I ended the call without another word. If the man had wanted to see me, this might have played out differently. Since the night of the show, I had only seen Michael once and the entire time, he interrogated me with endless questions about Evan. He told everyone in his office that I knew Evan James, the award-wining singer slash songwriter. When I called him at the office, his secretary mentioned that Michael said he would get her an autograph. I wasn’t so sure that I had his autograph.
    “Boyfriend?” Evan asked.
    “Yes.”
    “What’s he like?”
    I couldn’t believe Evan truly wanted to know what Michael was like, but I tried to answer him anyway. “He’s a lawyer.”
    “Cool. What else?” He pressed for more, glancing my way every few seconds.
    “He’s from Southern California. Went to USC. Has never left.” What possessed me to mention that, I had no idea. It didn’t come out the way I intended.
    “Sounds like a nice guy,” he said.
    “He is. He’s sweet. And stable.” Oh my God. Did I really say that?
    “Stability. That’s that kind of stuff that tugs at the old ticker.” He patted his chest, mocking my relationship with Michael. With the details I shared, I couldn’t blame him.
    I hadn’t realized, but while Evan and I had been talking, the twins and their husbands had been packing up and getting ready to leave. How did he distract me so completely?
    “Sorry, sis, but we have to go. We need to get back to the kids.” Rebecca got to her feet and her husband followed. I was happy for the diversion. They placed what was left of their favors in the box Luke had been organizing before giving the bride and groom a hug goodbye. Melissa and her man followed suit. Both couples made their way around the coffee table to say farewell to Evan and me. “It’s great to see you home again, Evan. Don’t be such a stranger.”
    “Thanks,” he said. “I won’t.”
    Genna’s family shuffled out of the door, leaving the four of us behind. Just like old times.
    “Thanks so much for the help, you guys. Drive safely,” Genna shouted as she waved to them from her porch. “Well, that was fun. We don’t have much left. Let’s sample another drink before we finish.”
    Evan held up his right hand to stop her. “No thanks, Gen. I have to drive.”
    I pointed to her. “So do you, so you better think twice.” I took another swig of my Patron. It burned on the way down, but after my short conversation with my idiot boyfriend I’d take it.
    “Forget that. Evan can drive you home. I’m staying here for the night.”
    My eyes widened and I think my heart stopped momentarily. Did she just say what I think she did? Evan was going to take me home. “No, no,” I said, shaking my head. “He doesn’t need to do that. I wouldn’t want him to go out of his way. I’ll just stay here, too.”
    “Oh honey, you know the guest room is full of wedding shit. And I don’t want you to sleep on the sofa.”
    Why not, I thought to myself. All four of us could sleep on it and there would be enough room for twelve more people, but I didn’t say anything. If she wanted me to leave, fine.
    “It’s okay, Maddy. I don’t mind taking you home at all.”
    Turning my face toward him, my gaze caught his. His eyes were full of hope