**I'M SORRY FOR ANY CONFUSION - I ACCIDENTALLY PUT THIS CHAPTER UNDER LOHO AT FIRST?? Idek, I'm running off of 3 hours of sleep rn. The picture below pertains to the chapter *wink wink*. DON'T ASK HOW SCAR DOESN'T KNOW POPPY BECAUSE THAT QUESTION WILL BE ANSWERED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. Also, I finally finished my summer chemistry course and I've never been more happy in my life. I'd like to thank not only God, but also Jesus. I hope you guys like the chapter!**

Evan's POV

"You should go." I urged in a hushed whisper before pushing him towards the door by his back.

"Where's he going? Why don't we all sit down and have breakfast together?" My mom called innocently from her spot in the living room, but I knew her intentions were anything but pure. She'd learned how to be devious and cunning from my father over the years, something that really screwed with us kids as we got older and into more trouble.

"Mom, he's, uh, he's really got to get to work." I replied, stumbling over my excuse. Scar's eyes widened comically at the mention of her being my mom before the shock wore off and a shit eating grin took over his face.

"Actually, baby, I think I can be a little late today. The guys won't mind." He reasoned before pecking my forehead and sliding past me to offer out his hand for my mom to shake. She did so and blushed as he placed a soft kiss against the back of her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am." He charmed before looking at me over his shoulder. "Baby, are you just going to stand there or are you going to join us?" He asked in a sickly-sweet tone. I wasn't sure what the fuck he was up to, or what his motive was, but I was going to find out and when I did Lord help him.

I crept towards him, my eyes narrowed in his direction before switching my gaze to my mom. "What're you doing here?" I asked. She smiled at me before pulling out a large stack of papers from her purse.

"I just needed to stop by and get your signatures on these papers to finalize all of the details of the diner. Imagine my surprise when I show up and you're actually...preoccupied. I was a little worried about you still holing yourself up in your apartment on your own, but I guess I don't have to worry about that anymore, now do I?" She stated knowingly. I blushed furiously before pushing Scar towards the kitchen and muttering that we'd whip something up for us to eat.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing!" I whisper yelled before slamming my cupboards around while looking for something to make.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, dear." He said dramatically, feigning ignorance to everything that'd just happened minutes ago.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, you dick! And you're never getting morning head or fucking my tits ever again if this is how you repay me!" I growled under my breath.

"Woah, woah, woah, let's not get hasty here. Why are you so upset that I want to meet your mom? I do have to admit, though, talking to her is a little weird and uncomfortable." He said as his nose scrunched up in distaste.

"What? Why?" I questioned, completely ignoring his comment about wanting to meet my mom and instead focusing on the part that I knew wouldn't make me as mad.

"Because you look exactly like her minus about ten years. Maybe that's why I feel like I've seen her before." He stated while looking deep in thought.

"Why is that weird?" I asked in confusion as I began heating up my stove. He didn't respond for a few minutes as he watched me cook. After I finished whipping up some eggs and adding veggies and cheese into the mixture, I poured it into a pan before I turned to face him with my hands on my hip and a raised brow.

"I came all over your tits and face this morning. Do I need to justify myself any further?" He asked crassly before helping me as he began preparing some toast for the three of us. I chose not to answer him as I fiddled with the loaded scrambled eggs I was making. Letting the concoction simmer for a little bit, I sighed while rubbing at my forehead as I felt a headache coming on. He pulled me into his arms and lifted my chin, kissing me deeply and causing all my worries to melt away in that moment. There was just something about his kisses that were so addictive, I couldn't bring myself to push him away. Running my hands over his t-shirt clad chest, I moaned as he bit my bottom lip before plunging his tongue back into my mouth and dominating the kiss. He grabbed my leg and hoisted it up around his waist before grabbing my ass and massaging it.

"The food is burning." My mom suddenly said from the entrance of the kitchen. I shot away from Scar, scolding myself for letting the kiss get carried away to the point where I didn't hear her approaching. I removed the pan from the heat before transferring the food onto a big plate and getting out three smaller ones. Dishing out Scars first and handing it to him, my mom just laughed while keeping her mouth shut.

"Please, not now. I just want to eat my food before all hell breaks loose." I pleaded. She raised her hands in the air in surrender before getting her own plate of food and sitting on the couch across from Scar. Note to self, buy a bigger dinner table.

"This is delicious, honey." My mom complimented with a soft smile, most likely trying to ease the tense, awkward atmosphere. I nodded and smiled as a thank you before stuffing my mouth so she wouldn't try asking me any questions. Scar's phone began to go off in his pocket, catching us all off guard.

Checking the caller ID, he got up mumbling, "Excuse me, I have to take this." Before leaving the room. Here comes the questioning.

"Evan." My mom said in a no nonsense tone. Setting my fork down, I wiped my mouth with my napkin before meeting her expectant gaze.

"Yes mom?"

"Is there something you'd like to tell me? Because I really don't think it was a great massage he was giving you in the shower." She said matter of factly. I groaned before cradling my face in my hands.

"Seriously mom? Did you have to put it that way?" I exasperated. She just shrugged her shoulders, still waiting for my answer to her earlier question.

"I don't even know how it happened. Grandma came over the night Ellie officially moved out because I was having a hard time with everything and then next thing I know I'm at a bar on the sketchier side of town having a drink. I bumped into him, he called me a bitch, one thing led to another and..." I trailed off, letting her fill in the blanks on her own. I expected her to be sporting a disappointed look on her face, but she just looked amused.

"I don't regret it." I blurted, trying to fill the deafening silence. "We don't know anything about each other, sure, but I happen to really like him. I don't know what it is about him, I just can't stay away. I've tried telling myself no, but clearly you see how well that's worked out." I grumbled. She laughed before getting up from her spot and gracefully sitting on the cushion next to me.

"I knew your relationship with Brandon would never last. He was much too clean cut for you. A pretty boy, if you will. I've often thought about what would've happened had I let my father have his way and marry me off to some corporate drone, and every time I do the situation ends the same way. Me unhappy with someone I couldn't possibly love and can't stand. Sure, this boy might be a little rough around the edges, but honey, take it from me - the ones who need a little work and guidance are always worth the trouble you go through to love them." She mumbled before giving me a motherly kiss on my head and enveloping me in a warm hug. I was overwhelmed with how much I loved my mother in that moment. She always knew the exact right thing to say to make me feel better.

"I raised you better than to jump in bed with the first person who calls you pretty, so I know this boy has to have something about him that made you give him the time of day - whether you know what exactly that something is or not. And for the record, those kinds of boys are always the best in bed." She said playfully as I gagged and shoved her teasingly. She laughed at me as she handed over the papers I needed to sign before putting them back in her purse and making her way to the front door.

Sticking her head back in right as she was about to leave she called my name. "Just for the record, I expect you to tell your father within the week. You've seen what happened with Ellie and I just can't go through that again. He deserves to know." She said sternly before blowing me a kiss and leaving as if she didn't just drop the biggest shit bomb ever on me.

"Why do you look like you're going to pass out? And where did your mom go?" Scar asked as he reentered the living room.

"Because she just told me I have a week to tell my dad about you which directly translates to: tell your father before I do. And she left to meet with our lawyer and give him some paperwork to file. Who was that on the phone?" I countered back with my own question. 

"A buddy of mine that I'm doing a project for. He was asking if I was coming in today, apparently the project was bigger than we anticipated. One of our rookies just screwed up and I'm needed desperately to fix it ." He said with an annoyed eye roll.

"What is it you do exactly? Besides illegally beating the shit out of people for fun." I said, distaste in my tone which he chose to ignore.

"I run my own construction and renovation company. Kreuger has a bachelors degree in business or some shit like that, so he's kind of a silent partner as he helped me start it all up awhile back." He explained offhandedly as if it wasn't a major accomplishment to have your own clearly successful, if his apartment and the way he dresses was any consolation, business at his age. Wait, what is his age?

"How old are you?" I asked, a piece of me was afraid of what his answer might be.

"Just turned twenty-six a couple weeks ago." He answered while distracted by whatever text he was sending. I mumbled a quiet hmm before picking up all the dirty dishes and setting them in the sink, telling myself I'd do them later even though I probably wouldn't.

Following him back to the front door where he slipped a key into my hand before kissing me soundly on the lips. "I want you at my place when I get home. You can cook or order take out, I really don't give a shit, but I won't be off work till probably around 5:45." He explained as the light metal felt like it weighed 100 pounds in my hand. I hadn't said anything in response, which seemed to irk him.

"Evangeline." He snapped, demanding an answer.

"Sure, okay." I breathed, a flutter of butterflies swarming in my stomach from intense happiness. I was caught off guard by my own emotions as he smiled that beautiful, rare smile at me. I took it upon myself to kiss him this time, something that seemed to take him by surprise before kissing me back. A thought popped into my head that I'd been meaning to ask him for a while now.

"Why do you always call me by my full name? Everyone just calls me Evan."

"Because your name is beautiful and shouldn't be shortened. Now, I gotta get going, bye baby." He breathed against my lips before finally making his exit. I stayed rooted in my spot as I ran my fingers over my lips as a happy giggle bubbled from my chest, replacing my earlier worry about telling my father.

**

"I'm so glad you could finally make it. I swear, you were avoiding me the past few weeks." Tansy laughed as she picked at her chicken salad. I'll admit, I did feel bad for avoiding everyone, but I just wanted to be alone. Apparently, that was a crime nowadays.

"To be fair, I was avoiding everyone, not just you." I teased while voicing my thoughts. She scoffed in mock anger before chucking one of her baby tomatoes at me from across the outdoor patio table. Before I fell into my post-breakup rut, we used to come here at least once a week just to catch up.

"So, since we haven't talked in awhile, has my mom let up on you about finding someone to settle down with?" I asked while taking a big bite of my pesto pasta.

"Ugh, what do you think?" She grumbled.

"Of course not." We both said at the same time, causing us to burst into a fit of giggles. It was incredible how well Tansy and I got on. It was a bit awkward introducing her to people as my aunt and best friend, but it's not like she was old or anything. She was only four years older than Ellie and I were.

"I swear she almost lost her head when she'd found out I had sex with Robby after we broke it off. I mean, being with only one person your whole life is great and really romantic, but it's hardly practical. People have sex with their partners all the time before they finally find the right one and settle down. It's like buying shoes. You have to try a few on before you know which style fits you the best before you make the commitment to buying it. There's nothing wrong with trying one on and loving it, but there's also nothing wrong with trying a few on, too." She reasoned.

"I don't know how you did it, but my God that analogy works." I joked before finishing off my food. I took a sip of my wine as I decided whether I should tell her about Scar or not.

"Alright, who is he, how long have you been seeing each other, and I wanna hear about the sex because it's clearly good." She demanded in an excited tone. I didn't question how she knew, I just laughed with a big smile on my face as I thought about him.

"I met him at a bar about four days ago. I don't even understand myself how it ended up being what it is now, because we certainly didn't start things off on the right foot, but he stole my apartment key from Brandon and he calls me his, so interpret that as you will because we haven't clarified what this is while thing is officially. We don't know anything about each other, either." I confessed, a light blush tinting my cheeks.

"You dirty dog! You screwed after four days?" She squealed as I shushed her when people started to stare.

"Keep it down!" I laughed as she was practically bouncing up and down in her chair.

"Oh my god, this is so exciting! Wait, so you've officially lost your V-card then?" She said while leaning towards me across the table and staring intently.

"Oh no, I didn't lose it. I know exactly who has it - and no, it wasn't after four days. Try, like, an hour." I whispered before finishing my glass of wine off in three big gulps. Finally looking over at her, her jaw had practically dropped to the floor.

"You're messing with me. This has got to be a joke. You dated Brandon for almost a year and barely ever messed around with him let alone do the dirty, but this guy got you into bed in an hour? How does that even happen?" She gawked.

"I don't know. I never expected to lose it that way. I always wanted it to be with someone I was in love with and had been with for a while, but when it came to the moment I didn't want to stop. I had this need to, you know, with him. I still don't regret it. And holy shit Tansy, I can't even tell you how good." I drawled while giving her a knowing look.

"That good?" She said with astonishment.

"Better. We went at it all night. I could barely walk the next morning, and even then, we still managed to go another round in the shower." I admitted, laughing as she danced like an idiot.

"Wait, more importantly, is he big?" She asked, face a controlled mask of seriousness.

"Huge. I can just barely get my hand wrapped around him and he's got to be at least ten inches." I whispered as the old ladies eating next to us gave me a dirty side eye.

"Please tell me he has an older brother?" The begged comically. I just laughed and shrugged my shoulders.

"I couldn't tell you. I do, however, plan to find out tonight. Like I said, he gave me his key and said he wants me there with dinner ready when he gets home." I explained, knowing this was going to make her lose her damn mind again. She took a huge gulp of her wine before wiping the edges of her mouth.

"You've got to stop with all this big info, girl. You're going to give me a heart attack. Although, that last tid-bit there kinda makes him sound like a misogynistic asshole." She admitted with a concerned look on her face.

"He didn't demand that I cook the food myself, per se, he just said he wanted dinner ready for when he got home. And to be honest, it turns me on when he's pushy and domineering. I don't know, Brandon was never the type to order me around or anything of that sort so I never really knew any different but now...I've gotten a taste of being dominated and I don't think I could ever go back." I admitted with a flush to my cheeks. It may have seemed like a TMI topic, but I needed to talk with at least one person about it and get it off my chest.

"Ugh, you're so much like my sister it makes me sick. Bleh." She said dramatically before finishing off her own glass of wine. I just laughed at her before flagging our waitress over to get our check. I wanted to find something sexy to wear tonight for Scar and I was running on limited time, so I needed to get going.