Seventeen ~ Evelyn

This is not how I pictured meeting his sister.

I grab Ade's t-shirt and wipe any remaining cream from his face.

"Do you mind if I hide upstairs and come back down when I'm more presentable?"

Ade nods at me, clearly amused by the bizarre situation.

"Coming!" He yells, strolling to the door as I scamper up the stairs.

Closing the door safely behind me, I breathe a sigh of relief.

That was close.

I head to the bathroom to assess the damage.

A shower will have to wait, so I run the tap and go over any creamy patches of hair before splashing my face.

Stripping off, I select a white skater dress with a halter neck. It's adorned with navy and rouge flower outlines, creating a more casual look.

Looking back through the boxes, I'm beyond shocked to find a white strapless bra. Is there anything Angela didn't think of?

I quickly get dressed.

Once again, I'm flawed by how well the dress fits my curves. I twirl in the mirror, half admiration fuelled, half checking for whipped cream.

Creeping down the stairs, I see Adrian on the sofa with his sister.

She's stunning.

Her hair is a deep brown flowing in loose curls. Her long legs are crossed at the ankles and she's flaunting her figure in a grey bodycon dress.

Adrian catches sight of me on the stairs and gives me an encouraging nod.

He's somehow found a chance to put a clean t-shirt on.

As I approach the sofa Adrian turns to me completely.

"Liz meet Evelyn, my girlfriend." There's no hesitation in his rich voice and I can feel colour pooling in my cheeks at the bold remark.

Liz jumps up and runs around the sofa to take my hands.

"It's wonderful to meet you!" She sings taking me in, "I was starting to wonder whether my brother was capable of such emotions!"

"It's lovely to meet you too." I giggle at her enthusiasm.

Without releasing my hands, she walks us back round and sits me next to her.

"Tell me everything! Then I might forgive you for leaving me in the dark." She directs the last part at Adrian.

"Evelyn was one of the medics who helped me when I got shot. I bumped into her several weeks later and asked her out. And now, here we are with you harassing her." He glances at my hands held tightly in Lizzie's lap.

"Sorry." She loosens her grip but doesn't let go, "Adrian told us how wonderful you all were, thank you for looking after this idiot."

"It's nothing, I'm sure he could've walked it off if we had let him." Thank yous can be a bit awkward as we're just doing our job and nothing overly special.

The whole hero conversation will quickly have clinicians running. We're just humans doing our jobs.

"Well you must've done something right, it took me a beat to recognise him with his new attitude." She gives him a knowing look and he dismisses her with a shake.

"What was he like before?" Genuine intrigue takes over.

"A complete grump! Unless it was work or family related, he didn't have the time."

I'm probably wearing a look of complete disbelief.

It's hard to picture my gentle giant, who has offered me nothing but time, as a workaholic grouch.

"Unfortunately, she's not wrong. Then someone decided to give me a lecture whilst I was bleeding and couldn't escape." Ade gives me a cheeky wink.

Had my frustrated words really meant that much?

Most patients take the temporary relief and fall straight back into bad habits.

"Adrian tells me you work in fashion?" I shake myself back into the room.

"Yes. We should go shopping sometime, I know all of the best kept secrets." Her smile surpasses her eyes. "Just let me know when you get fed up of him!"

He was right, her social skills are next level. I already feel at ease around her.

"I promise, next time I need some retail therapy, I'll let you know."

"Great, now was there a real reason for your surprise appearance today or have you been gossiping with Angela?" Adrian drums his fingers against the seat cushion.

"You're such a spoil sport! I stopped by the office and she mentioned Evelyn appeared from your room when she arrived." She turns to me, giving my hands a squeeze, "I had to see for myself that you were real."

Now it's Adrian's turn to look surprised.

He sends me a questioning look, but when I shrug and smile back, he refocuses on Lizzie.

"I should've known better, you two may as well share a brain."

"What do you expect? I've known her since primary school." Lizzie taunts his poor judgment.

Now I'm making the connection, it seems obvious that they'd be close. They're both extraordinarily bubbly and fashion minded, from what I've seen of my new wardrobe at least.

"What are your dinner plans for tomorrow night?" She shakes my hands looking expectantly between me and Ade.

"Calm down, you'll give her a heart attack!" Ade warns.

"Sorry, but I need to get to know the girl who's bewitched my brother!" She grins at me before scowling at Ade, "You know I'll bring take out here."

"Fine." He huffs before standing to usher her out.

She once again pulls me along with her before enveloping me in a hug at the door.

"It was lovely to meet you, see you tomorrow night." I can't help but replicate her contagious smile.

"Yes, I can't wait. I'll text Adrian the details."

Lizzie hugs her brother and heads out.

"Sorry." Adrian mouths as he closes the front door.

"Don't worry about it, I think it's cute." I giggle.

His sister clearly cares a lot about him, it's sweet.

"When did you get a chance to change?" I ask eyeing his black tracksuit bottoms and grey top.

"She looked at me like I had reverted back into a caveman and demanded more clothing like a civilised gentleman." He rolls his eyes as he recalls the encounter.

Ade sits in one of the corner-like areas of the U and I collapse next to him.

He wraps a strong arm around my shoulders and I snuggle into his side.

"You know you don't have to perv, you could just ask rather than watching me while I sleep?" Adrian suddenly spits.

"But I timed your sleep schedules and everything." I play along and Adrian smiles to himself as he shakes his head.

"So, what were you doing in my room?"

"I heard shouting, so I went to check on you." I explain casually, "Once you had calmed down, you trapped me in a bear hug. So, I gave in and went to sleep."

His turquoise eyes become laced with grey.

"I'm sorry." He shoves his hand through his tousled hair.

Reaching up, I cup his cheek.

"Why are you sorry?" I softly press a kiss to his shoulder, "I get nightmares too, there's no need to be ashamed."

He kisses my forehead as he runs his hands though my hair.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I brush my thumb back and forth over the stubble on his jaw from yesterday.

He's usually clean shaven and well put together, it feels intimate to see this side of him.

His hair is cut in a short gradient on the back and sides. His longer section of hair on the top has broken free into a curl.

"Not yet." He grumbles through gritted teeth.

I silently nod as I twirl a ringlet around my finger.

Cuddling up to him, I rest my leg over his and he holds my thigh tightly in place.

His warmth seeps into my body, coaching my eyes closed.

I hadn't noticed how tired I was.

The smell of lavender, lemon and cream tuck me into a peaceful rest.