"What's that on your shoulder, Evie?" Alexander Sterling stared at her shoulder, his brow furrowed.
"What?" Evelyn Vance turned her head to look at her right shoulder. Nothing was there.
"A woman's hand. Pale. Bloodless. It was resting right on your shoulder." Alexander described it vividly.
"Ah!" Evelyn shrieked in terror.
The next second, she lunged at Alexander. She threw her arms open, plopped down on his lap, and asked in a trembling voice, "Where is it?"
"Oh, my mistake! It was just a trick of the light!" Alexander replied with a grin.
Evelyn lifted her head to look at him. Tears streamed down her face.
"I was just joking with you. Why take it so seriously? I'm right here, aren't I?" Alexander set down his chopsticks. He comforted her, wiping away her tears.
"Wah... I'm going to tell Mother Sterling. I'll tell her you bullied me!" Evelyn pouted, her voice full of grievance. The next second, she burst into loud sobs.
She wasn't sure if she was scared by Alexander or just feeling wronged.
Alexander panicked. He soothed Evelyn, promising never to scare her again.
"What if you do it again?" Evelyn asked, choking back tears.
"Then you can scare me back," Alexander responded.
"What are you most afraid of?" Evelyn sniffled and pressed on.
"I'm not afraid of anything!" Alexander said, avoiding her gaze.
"How can you not be afraid of anything! Oh, I know. You're terrified of mice, right?" Evelyn remembered that day on Elmwood Lane. Alexander's face had changed the moment he heard it was mouse meat.
"Do you think I'd be afraid of that?" Alexander leaned in close to Evelyn and asked lightly.
Evelyn stared at him. Finally, she shook her head, as if under a spell.
She figured it out. Alexander was such a big, strong man. How could he be scared of mice!
"You're washing the dishes later!" Evelyn suddenly declared.
"You don't mean to tell me you were crying just to get out of washing the dishes!" Alexander sighed and asked.
"I'm not that childish!" Evelyn blushed.
After a long moment, she realized she was still sitting on Alexander's thigh. Embarrassment flooded her.
She lowered her head, pried open his hands, and tried to return to her original seat. After a moment's hesitation, she sat down in the empty chair next to him. She bent over, grabbed her chopsticks, and lowered her head to continue eating her noodles.
As she ate, she felt a little creeped out. She scooted closer to Alexander. After a while, she moved again.
She was practically sitting right on top of him.
"You might as well just sit on my lap like you did before," Alexander said, half laughing, half crying.
"No way!" Evelyn said, but she still stayed glued to his side.
"I didn't know you were this timid!"
"I'm not timid. You scared me!" Evelyn retorted.
"So, it's my fault then!"
"Yes, it's your fault!" Evelyn shot back.
"Fine, fine. I'll make it up to you tonight with a good performance!" Alexander said with a smile.
"What performance?" Evelyn turned her head, confused, and looked at him.
"Taking good care of you!" Alexander winked at her.
Evelyn was stunned for a second. The next moment, she understood. "Pervert!" she blurted out.
She didn't get to say anything else. Alexander kissed her.
Hadn't they agreed before? Every time she called him a pervert, he got to kiss her once.
Because he had scared her.
After they finished the noodles, Alexander washed the dishes. Evelyn didn't dare to leave his side. She followed him everywhere.
Alexander turned to look at her. Evelyn felt a little embarrassed, but she still held onto the hem of his shirt and followed him.
"You really are this timid!" Alexander sighed again.
"Well... no, I'm not!" Evelyn insisted, her mouth as hard as a duck's beak.
"Alright, I won't scare you anymore. Can you let go of my shirt? You're going to ruin it!" Alexander said with a smile.
"No, it's just a little wrinkled!" Evelyn glanced at the hem she had been clutching.
"Just as long as you're happy!" Alexander finally gave in.
After washing the bowls, Alexander went to lock the front door. Evelyn followed.
Alexander went upstairs. Evelyn wanted to walk in front of him, so she went upstairs too.
Alexander had to put his hand on her shoulder and guide her up.
While they rested in the living room on the second floor, Evelyn watched TV. Alexander read the newspaper.
Later, Evelyn kept glancing at him.
Alexander turned to her and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Evelyn immediately looked away and continued watching TV.
After a while, Evelyn couldn't help it. She turned her head to look at Alexander again. This time, he caught her. "Come on, what is it?"
"I... I need to use the bathroom!" Evelyn blushed.
"Go ahead!" Alexander said.
She didn't need his permission!
"I don't dare to go alone!" Evelyn said, her head hanging low.
Alexander was stunned for a moment. The next second, he understood. He immediately started laughing.
Evelyn felt even more embarrassed.
Alexander put down the newspaper, picked up the remote, turned off the TV, and pulled Evelyn into the bedroom.
He turned on the bathroom light, looked at her, and asked, "Do you need me to go in with you?"
"Can... can you just stand at the door and wait for me?" Evelyn asked awkwardly.
"Sure," Alexander replied.
Evelyn walked in. After two steps, she turned her head to look at him, afraid he would run away.
Alexander looked at her with a wry smile.
"Turn around!" Evelyn said.
Alexander turned his back, still smiling.
Evelyn sat on the toilet and looked at Alexander. She still couldn't pee.
"Need some help?" Alexander asked after a while.
"No!" Evelyn answered, her face red. After a long moment, she finally couldn't hold it anymore. She started to pee.
Hearing the sound of water, Evelyn didn't even have the courage to lift her head.
She couldn't help but curse Alexander in her heart. It was all his fault. If he hadn't scared her, she wouldn't be so embarrassed to go to the bathroom right now.
After she finished, she flushed the toilet, washed her hands, and came out with a sigh of relief.
At that moment, Alexander walked into the bathroom. "What are you doing?" Evelyn asked in dismay.
"I need to pee too," Alexander said calmly.
Evelyn was stunned for a moment. Then she understood. She lowered her head, walked around Alexander, went to the sink, and started squeezing toothpaste. She was ready to brush her teeth, wash her face, and go to bed.
Alexander was the worst!
Hearing the sound of water coming from the bathroom, Evelyn didn't even have the courage to turn her head.
She brushed her teeth with her eyes closed.
After a while, she felt someone standing beside her.
Evelyn immediately opened her eyes. She saw Alexander and breathed a sigh of relief.
Alexander looked at Evelyn in the mirror. He realized he had really scared her tonight.
Even now, she was still a little nervous.
"Evie, there are no ghosts in this world. And even if there were, there's nothing to be afraid of. After all, the human heart is far more terrifying than any ghost," Alexander said calmly, holding her shoulders.
Evelyn looked at him in dismay.
Alexander let her go, took the toothbrush, and started squeezing toothpaste.
It was as if he hadn't said anything at all.