The cherry smell of lotion was unmistakable, a comforting yet distracting scent that filled the air as Evan walked toward the bathroom door. Even Cam could smell it faintly from where he stood, and it sent a small, familiar wave of concern through Evan. He hesitated for a moment before he reached for the door.
"Roxy?" Evan called softly, but not too loudly. He knew better than to overwhelm her. "You okay in there?"
Inside, the bathroom was steamy, the air thick with the scent of the cherry lotion and the sound of water running from the shower. Roxy was in the middle of drying off, but Evan could tell she was still processing everything, maybe more than she was letting on.
Cam had always been the one to joke around, but this moment was different. He glanced at Evan with a quiet, serious look on his face. "She’s really nervous about this physical, huh?" Cam asked, his voice low, as if Roxy could somehow overhear.
Evan nodded. "Yeah, she’s been putting it off for a while. I think she’s scared of being judged—of anyone poking into things she doesn’t want to talk about. It’s not about the doctor; it’s about the vulnerability. She thinks a doctor’s gonna see all of her scars, ask too many questions."
Evan ran a hand through his damp hair, his eyes momentarily flicking to the hallway where Roxy had been. "And the whole thing with the crosses? It’s complicated. We don’t talk about it, but she got this class ring last year, with the stone shaped like a cross. She said it was just a design thing, but I think it means something to her. I can’t push her on that, though."
"Does she ever talk about it?" Cam asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Not really," Evan replied, his voice soft. "She doesn’t want to seem like she’s weak. But I get it. She’s always hiding parts of herself, and I think the only time she feels like she can be herself—really herself—is when she’s with me."
There was a long pause before Evan added, his voice thick with emotion, "She’s been through so much. And she doesn’t want to be vulnerable in front of anyone—especially not someone she doesn’t trust."
Suddenly, the bathroom door opened slightly, and Roxy stepped out, wrapped in a towel. Her hair was damp, curling slightly from the humidity, and she avoided eye contact with Cam as she passed him, her movements quick and almost embarrassed. It wasn’t uncommon for Roxy to shy away when she knew someone might see her like this—her towel wrapped around her, with the subtle shame of vulnerability.
Evan’s gaze softened as he noticed the cross-shaped ring on her left middle finger. He knew it was a class ring, but it was more than just a piece of jewelry for her. It was a reminder that there were things about her past she carried with her, things she didn't talk about but that lingered in every part of her life.
He stepped forward, his voice gentle, almost like he was treading carefully around her fragile emotions. "Hey, it’s ridiculously hot outside. How about I grab you some clothes?"
Roxy glanced at him, her lips pressed tight. She wasn’t used to the attention, the caring gestures—though she never seemed to fully reject them.
"I’m not—" she began, but Evan cut her off, knowing she didn’t want to argue.
"Come on, just let me get you something comfy," Evan said, grabbing a black skirt and a green tank top from her room. "I can’t have you walking around in that towel all day. It’s too hot for that."
He handed the clothes to her with a slight hesitation, looking into her eyes for any sign of discomfort or resistance. "And, uh, I grabbed you some new underwear, if you want. Just… thought you’d be more comfortable with something fresh." He held out a pair of blue whale-tail underwear with a matching blue bra. "You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to, but I figured it might help."
Roxy took a deep breath, not quite meeting his gaze, but she nodded, her fingers brushing lightly against the fabric. She couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips, though she tried to hide it.
"You know I never—" Roxy started to say, but Evan interrupted gently.
"You don’t have to explain," Evan replied softly, his voice firm but full of tenderness. "Just take your time. I’ll be right here, okay?"
As she stepped back into the bathroom to change, Evan stood quietly by the door, his mind racing. The whole day was turning into one of those moments where everything felt more than it really was—too many emotions, too many things unsaid.
Cam, ever the observer, leaned against the wall and looked at Evan. "You think she’s ready for this?"
Evan swallowed, his throat tight. "I don’t know. But I have to make sure she feels safe, at least for today. She deserves that much."
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