The Things Everson Lost Read online

Eliana quirked up her mouth. Then why doesn’t she? “Anyway, I think there’s a way a woman, and man for that matter, can have the best of both worlds. Trust me, you’ll grow sick of seeing your wife with her hair done up in a ponytail, wearing sweats because she had to keep up with the kiddies all day. That’s why men cheat. After kids, their wives go from fab to drab, looking like candidates for makeovers while the men go to work and see these good-looking businesswomen and daydream about the days when their wives used to look that hot. Or when she had dreams. Goals she wanted to accomplish. Now, her only goal is sleeping through the night without someone crying for a bottle or afraid that the boogeyman is hiding in their closet.”

  ‘‘That’s an awful thing to say.”

  “Awful, but true. That’s the way the cookie crumbles. I’ve seen it happen to too many women. It happened to my friend. Left her completely devastated.”

  “So, her man was a jerk. A lot of men don’t know what it takes to keep a woman. And let me drop some knowledge on you, shortstop.’’

  She giggled. “Shortstop. Okay. Drop some knowledge.”

  “Men don’t cheat because he thinks a woman looks better than his wife. That’s not the case at all.”

  “Well, school me, then.”

  “In most cases, men cheat because an opportunity presents itself and they’re too weak to resist the advances.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. Really.”

  “And what about you, Everson?”

  “What about me?” he asked, looking at the ground as the gondola lowered then circled back up again.

  “Do many opportunities present themselves to you?”

  He grinned. “This is not the conversation I thought we were going to have.”

  “Oh, come on. You said you were going to school me. So, school me.”

  ‘‘Okay. Yes. I’m a successful black man. I get hit on by women all the time—some who make it blatantly obvious they want me, but I don’t bite. Opportunity or not. Some things are just not worth it.” Everson looked around again then glanced at his watch. “How long is this ride?”

  “I think this is the last time around.”

  “Good.” The sooner we get off this thing, the faster I can call June.

  “You’re not getting dizzy are you?”

  “No—just have other things to attend to.”

  “Oh. Hey, can I ask you something?”

  “You haven’t been withholding anything else you wanted to ask. Fire away.”

  “Okay. Why did you wait so long to get married?”

  “I got married at thirty. You think that’s a long time to wait?”

  “Ummm...” she tapped her fingers on her purse. “Okay, maybe not for a man but definitely for a woman.”

  “No, it’s not. You should get married when you know you’ve found the right one—your soulmate—not when society tells you to marry. Women put too much unnecessary pressure on themselves trying to live by society’s standards.”

  “I think it has more to do with child-bearing ages than it does with society.”

  “Okay, so why aren’t you married?” Everson inquired.

  “I thought I answered that already.”

  “No. You told me about your standards and all that, but never a real reason.”

  Eliana inhaled a breath like she had to mentally prepare herself in order to respond truthfully to his question. “Honestly, I was still hanging on to a past relationship—one I couldn’t get over. I’ve been trying to find someone who could make me forget him, but so far, I haven’t been able to.”

  “No?” Everson asked with raised brows. Surely a woman of her caliber could find a suitable man to date, fall in love with and eventually marry. Maybe even someone at her company.

  “Nope,” she said, over-enunciating the word. “Not one.”

  “Then you’ll need to let go of this guy from your past in order to move on.”

  “And yet, here I am in such close proximity to him.”

  Everson frowned. Puzzled. He was him? The man she couldn’t get over? No way. “You—you can’t be talking about me?”

  “Who else am I in close proximity to right now?”

  His head flinched back. “Wow. Eliana—I’m not understanding.”

  “Then I’ll break it down before this ride stops because I may never have the courage to do it again,” Eliana said, her heart beating ferociously in her chest. She adjusted her position on the seat, angling her body in his direction. “Everson, the day my family moved away from Wilmington was the day my heart broke. I was in love with you, and no one, I mean no one, has ever come close to what we were. You were my Evy, and I was your Elly. Remember?”

  Still having a hard time believing this, he waited before responding to her. Waited for her to slap his leg and tell him she was joking. That never came. She wasn’t joking. He looked at her. She was serious. “Eliana, we were young.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You were my first love. They say you never forget your first love, and I never forgot you. Never. Maybe I wasn’t your first love because it was so easy for you to move on.”

  “It wasn’t easy. Nothing about that night—the last day we saw each other—was easy. I was just as torn up about it as you were, but that was fourteen years ago. Life had to go on at some point and it did whether we wanted it to or not.”

  “You’re right, and life did go on, but it was never the same. I could never find the same connection with a man that I had with you.”

  Everson shook his head. “Whatever the case, we’re different people now, Eliana. I’m not the same eighteen-year-old boy I was back then, and I’m sure you’re not the same girl. We grew up. Our lives went on and took us in different directions. Maybe it was supposed to be that way. All I know is, I wished the best for you and finally moved on.”

  “You said, finally. Does that imply that it took you a while?”

  “It did,” Everson admitted. “Years.”

  “Then I’m not crazy.”

  “No one said you were crazy, Eliana, but you do need to move on. I thought you would have by now.”

  “So did I, but it’s tough. You’re hard to let go. That’s all I’m saying,” she said as the ride slowed to a stop.

  Like the gentleman he was, Everson assisted her off of the gondola, holding her hand. When she was safely on the ground, she squeezed his hand tighter, not wanting to let go.

  Everson wiggled his hand to break away from her. “I think we should call it a night.”

  She smiled sheepishly and forced herself to agree with him. “Yeah. I’m tired so...”

  “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  “No. I’ll be fine. I’m parked right over there.”

  Everson looked to where she pointed. She was only a few steps away at the parking lot adjacent to the SkyWheel. “Alright. Have a good night, Eliana.”

  “You, too,” she said not even looking at him, feeling embarrassed about what she’d admitted. He must’ve thought she was foolish for claiming to still have feelings for him after so long. Ashamed, she simply turned and walked away.

  Everson watched as she crossed the pavement to her car, wondering how in the world this woman could possibly be hung up on him after more than a decade.

  Chapter 2

  They parted ways, true, but they were staying at the same hotel. It had been her idea, of course, one he foolishly went along with. He couldn’t blame his actions on her because only he could control what he did. That’s why, standing in the shower, he thought about this in detail.

  What are you doing here, Everson? Why would you lie to June to come here and spend time with Eliana?

  The water could wash away dirt but not the filthiness that stained him the most – guilt. Even though he hadn’t laid a hand on Eliana and hadn’t planned on touching her, it was the thought that, if he tried to, he knew she wouldn’t stop him. She’d been putting off vibes at dinner and confessed, on the SkyWheel, that she’d never gotten over him. Finally, when he c
ouldn’t take it any longer, he suggested they go their separate ways even when he knew she wasn’t ready to call it a night.

  Stepping out of the shower and drying his body with one of the hotel’s thick, cotton towels, he eased on a pair of sweats and sat on the bed with his cell phone in his hand. It was time to call June. Pulling in a breath, he forced away guilt and waited for her to answer.

  “Hey, there you are. Finally,” she said. “Where have you been?”

  Everson could hear the relief in her voice. “Hey, sweetheart. I’m sorry I missed your calls. This deal isn’t going the way I expected it to.”

  Deal? Yeah. Right. If you can refer to Eliana Simmons as a deal…

  “Aw…what’s wrong?”

  “It’s nothing for you to worry your pretty, little head about, sweetheart.”

  “Did you receive my text message?”

  “I did. I know you were worried. I’m sorry I couldn’t get back to you at the time.”

  Like, really…who doesn’t have time to send a ten-second text?

  “It’s okay,” June said. “I am worried about you, though. You sound stressed out and that’s not like you.”

  “I am a little strained, but this ain’t my first rodeo. You’ve been with me on some of these meetings. You know how these managers get sometimes when you tell them their system isn’t operating as effectively as it could. I mean, they hire me to diagnose these things, and when I do, it’s a problem. And the manager at Seaton—”

  “Seaton?” June interrupted him to say. “Weren’t you just there for two weeks?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I thought you had finished up there?”

  “I thought so, too.”

  “So, what exactly is the problem?”

  “Um…uh…” Now the lie snowball effect was beginning. Crap! “Th-the manager wants a second analysis of their database. He thinks I went through it too quickly.”

  June laughed. “Then he must be an idiot. Two weeks? Come on.”

  “I know. I tried to tell him. He wouldn’t listen, so here I am. Stuck here in Atlanta all by my lonesome.”

  “So, you’re not coming home Monday?”

  “Not sure. I know it won’t be tomorrow. Maybe Monday evening depending on how quickly I can get this work done. I should be able to give you a better idea when I get to the office on Monday.”

  “O-kay,” June said skeptically. He’d never had a problem giving her updates before. Now, he couldn’t give her a precise estimate on when he would return.

  “What have you been up to?” he asked, changing the subject.

  “Hanging out with the girls.”

  “Oh, yeah? How’s that going?”

  “Good. Oh, by the way, Garrison came over here with Junior looking for you. Did you forget to tell him you were going to be out of town this weekend?”

  “I did. I’ll call him.” He sighed. “Jeez. I can’t believe I forgot I made plans with him.”

  “Oh, Everson, I wish you would just come home, baby, so I can take care of you.”

  “I’ll be alright, June. I’m a Blackstone.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know. You’re a Blackstone. You’re strong, dedicated…blah, blah, blah…I know the mantra, but some things are not worth you sacrificing your sanity over. Plus, I miss you. I want to spend more time with you and maybe do a beach trip or something. If you were in town, we could’ve done a couples thing with Barry and Cali.”

  “Where’d they go?”

  “To Myrtle Beach for the weekend.”

  Everson’s throat tightened like someone was strangling him. His insides churned. His palm was so sweaty the phone nearly slipped out of his hand. “They’re in Myrtle Beach?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Right now?”

  “Yep.”

  He frowned. What if they saw him with Eliana? Not likely, especially since Myrtle Beach was a pretty, large place with too many hotels and restaurants to be running into folk. At least that’s what he told himself to avoid panicking.

  “Everson?”

  “Yeah, baby?”

  “Oh. Just making sure you were still there. You get quiet on me all of a sudden.”

  “I’m here, babe, but I do have to go. I have a long day ahead of me.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll call you tomorrow. Get some rest.”

  “I will.”

  “I mean it, Everson. When I talk to you tomorrow, I don’t want you to sound so out of it.”

  He cracked a smile. “Okay. I’m sure after hearing your voice, I’ll sleep like a baby tonight. Hold down the fort until I return.”

  “As always. Love you.”

  “Love you too, June. Bye.” He placed the phone on the nightstand and rubbed the sweat from his palms onto his pants. Then he fell back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, feeling awful for lying. But June couldn’t know where he was. It was for her own good.

  Chapter 3

  On Sunday, Everson stayed put in his room for the morning. Eliana had called him several times, and she’d come by once knocking, but he didn’t open the door. He just stared at her through the peephole, admiring her beauty while telling himself that coming here was a mistake. Men were strong physically, but when it came to a woman, it was the mental strength that one could call into question. Married or not, men were suckers for pretty faces and figure-eight bodies, especially Everson Blackstone. He was a ladies man before he met June, and she was well aware of that. His brothers – the whole family were. What they didn’t know was why. Why was he the guy who would date a woman and cut things off when the woman caught feelings? Why couldn’t he settle down and love somebody?

  She was why.

  Eliana.

  He never forgot her. She was his first love, and they were inseparable for years. In high school, they’d decided that they would get married after graduating and would attend the same college. That didn’t happen. Now, the past was staring him in the face because he had accepted the invitation down memory lane. Now, he wished he hadn’t RSVP’d.

  After staying cooped up in his room all morning, he left the hotel to take a walk, to gather his thoughts. When Eliana moved away all those years ago, he was heartbroken, as was reflected in his grades. He graduated by the skin of his teeth and had a rough start as a college freshman since he lacked the motivation to fully apply himself. How could he when a part of him was missing? That’s why he swore he’d never love again. What was the point of love when it could be so easily snatched away?

  True to his word, he threw love by the wayside and dated with no intent of settling down. He didn’t care who he hurt. That’s just the way it was. It wasn’t his fault if women were starting to catch feelings. It’s not like he didn’t forewarn them that there was no room for anything serious in his life. If they didn’t heed that warning, whose fault was it? And, like he knew he would, he had those women who thought they could change him. Thought they had what it took to turn a player into a husband. Each time, he proved them wrong.

  Then he met June – the only woman who made him question everything he said he didn’t want, proof that when the right woman came along, a man would change his ways no matter how many times he said he wouldn’t. He met her at a business seminar in Wilmington. She used to work for a medical practice and was presenting a thirty-minute portion of the seminar regarding the flaws in the computer program that companies were using to submit medical services for reimbursement. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her the entire session. She was just too beautiful to ignore. Her light skin had him tasting the caramel iced coffee that had been long gone since breakfast. She had her cinnamon brown hair sleek and straight, hanging down to her breasts. The knee-length, royal blue dress she had on was just the right convergence of professional and sexy. Even the black, four-inch heels made her legs appear well toned. He made it his mission to meet her, and when he did, when he locked his eyes on her bright, hazel ones, he knew he was in a world of trouble.

  They dated for two years, taking the t
ime to get to know each other, then married shortly after with over six-hundred guests attending their wedding. Most attended just to witness a player bite the dust at the hands of true love. The ceremony gave all kinds of women hope that one day, they too could get their man to pop the question.

  Everson smiled, reflecting on that day. He had long forgotten about Eliana by then. His heart was healed, available to love again, and he loved June dearly. But when he ran into Eliana at Seaton Data, the memories of her flooded his mind – how they would skip school to get ice cream and lie on a bed of summer-green grass beneath the weeping willow tree where they’d carved their initials, complete with the infinity symbol.

  E.B. and E.S. forever.

  Back then, Eliana was the girl of his dreams and had him so in love, other girls were invisible to him. But that was high school. He’d moved on. She hadn’t.

  Nearing his room, he saw Eliana standing at the door – the door to his room – wearing a black and gray striped dress that stopped to her ankles. She wore black sandals that allowed her toes freedom and her hair was done differently than yesterday. Beautiful, nonetheless. She had it in loose, spiral curls. Had on makeup. Pink lipstick. Blush that accentuated her cheeks. She definitely wasn’t high-school-Elly any longer. She was grown-woman-Eliana. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he approached her, forcing away thoughts of what they could’ve been if he’d gone to find her after graduating.

  “Hi, Everson,” she said smoothly, staring into his eyes, looking for a sign that he was okay with her presence, especially after they’d gone their separate ways last night. She needed that—his approval.

  Everson forced a smile. Even the way she said his name sounded seductive. “Hi, Eliana. What are you doing standing at my door? Stalking?” he joked, attempting to keep things light. To kill the tension.

  She laughed all cutesy, blushing, too. “No, I’m not stalking. I came by this morning looking for you. I figured, this time, I’d wait until you returned, especially since you weren’t answering your phone.” Eliana’s attention quickly went to the sound of his ringing phone at the belt clip on his shorts. “I see it still works.”