Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Still obsessed, I had more questions. “What did Evan say to you when he pulled away from the kiss?”
“I don’t remember the exact words, but it was something about him not seeing me that way, and he didn’t want to cross the line with someone who was like family.” She paused. “When I asked him if it had anything to do with you, he denied it.”
That hurt a little. “Well, that makes two of us who got rejected by Evan, then.” I laughed. “He’d turned me down before I went away to school.”
“Really? What happened?”
“I’ll tell you the story another time.” I closed my eyes in shame.
Reducing my relationship with Evan to the moment he’d turned me down, though, wasn’t a fair portrayal. Fawn would never understand the bond he and I had developed back then. And I certainly couldn’t explain it in one phone call.
She chuckled. “I’m shocked that Dad knew Evan’s moving out had anything to do with me. Mom must’ve told him after I confessed to her that I’d scared Evan away. Anyway, since you’ll see him tonight, you should smack him upside the head for both of us.” She sighed. “Kidding.”
“He’s actually turned out to be a really good guy, Fawn. You should see how he is with his daughter.”
“So you’re telling me nothing has changed?”
“What do you mean?”
“You still have it bad for him…”
I chose not to respond to that. Instead, I changed the subject and told her about my breakup with Scott as I started the car and resumed driving.
By the time I hung up with my sister, I was already parked in front of Evan’s. I was grateful to have reached her. If I hadn’t, I might not have gotten any sleep tonight. Now I just had to hope Evan’s story matched hers when I asked him about it—as soon as possible.
Chapter 21
* * *
CHLOE
Evan and Effie were in the kitchen finishing up dinner when I walked in. I suppressed the urge to immediately address the Fawn situation. It would have to wait until later.
“Chloe!” Effie squeaked. “You missed it. We had hot dogs for supper. Daddy can make you one if you want.”
“That’s okay, sweetie. I’m not too hungry tonight.”
Evan examined my face. “Do anything interesting today?”
I glared. “Why ever would you ask that?”
“Just a hunch.”
“I did, in fact.”
Evan smiled proudly. “I knew it.”
“How so?”
“Because you always liked to get them over with so you didn’t have to spend the week worrying.”
“I’ll fill you in later,” I said in a low voice, pulling up a seat next to Effie.
“I missed dinner, and I’m not super hungry, but there’s always room for dessert.” I turned to Evan. “What sweet treat do we have?”
“Funny you should ask. I just so happened to have picked up some maple walnut ice cream.” He winked.
Holy crap. He remembered that was my favorite. “Good call, Ricci.”
“Consider it a reward.”
“Oh, I will.” I leaned back in the chair and tried to relax.
Evan served Effie and me each a bowl of the ice cream. We ate while Effie talked our ears off about her school’s upcoming book fair. Evan had apparently told her she could buy five books, but she was making an argument for seven.
Effie liked to move from subject to subject at warp speed. She began telling me about some dance school drama next.
“There are three solos in the dance routine this year. I want one of them. But the teacher hasn’t decided who’s gonna get them yet.”
I scraped the bottom of my bowl. “Well, you think you can do it, right?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe you should talk to her, explain why you believe you deserve one of the spots. If you show her that you believe in yourself, that might help her believe in you, too.”
Effie looked up at me, ice cream around her mouth. “You think that will work?”
“If you’ve been trying your best and showing up to practices on time, you’ve already been proving yourself. But it can’t hurt to sell yourself. At the very least, it shows confidence.” I shrugged. “The worst she can say is no, right?”
Effie nodded, seeming to ponder my advice as she finished the last of her ice cream.
Then she changed the subject again and announced, “I want to buy a bra, but Daddy won’t let me.”
My lips parted. “Do you need a bra?”
“She doesn’t need a bra.” Evan groaned.
“I just want one,” Effie explained to me. “Not the kind with the padded boobies inside, but one for girls with flowers on it.”
I turned to him. “What’s the harm?”
Evan glared. “The harm is that she’s too young.” He gritted his teeth. “It would be one thing if she needed it. Clearly, she doesn’t.”
“Well, it’s only a matter of time,” I said. “Maybe another year.”
“We can wait until then,” Evan snapped.
“I tried,” I mouthed to her.