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)
After he slowly pulled out, he hovered over me, resting his head on my neck. “You good?”
“I’m great.” I felt more relaxed than I had in a while.
Evan took my mouth in his. As I raked my fingers through his hair, I almost felt ready for round two.
“You forgave me for acting like an ass,” he said. “Now I think we should take one day at a time, not overthink anything. I want to enjoy my time with you, whether it’s for three months or forever.”
That was the first time he’d ever indicated that there might not be an end to this, that forever was a possibility.
Reaching for his chin, I positioned his face to look at me. “I can live with that.”
Before we left to go pick up Effie, I opened the drawer in Evan’s kitchen and took out the same neon pink sticky note pad he’d used earlier.
With a black marker I wrote: Tell Effie about us.
After I handed it to him, he looked down at it for a while, speechless. I knew he’d have a lot of trepidation about it. But it was important to me not to have to hide what we meant to each other for whatever amount of time we had left together here.
“I know you haven’t wanted to tell her that we’re more than friends,” I said, my voice wavering. “And I understand that. But she’s not stupid. She’s asked me straight out if I’m your girlfriend, and I’ve continued to maintain that we’re merely friends. And while we’ve never had a discussion about a name for whatever’s going on between us, it’d be nice to hold your hand when she’s around and not have to feel like we’re hiding.” My heart raced as I waited for his response.
He looked up from the note. “It’s not that I don’t want her to know. I just don’t want to get her hopes up when you said yourself that you don’t know what’s gonna happen.” He looked into my eyes. “That said, I think you’re right. I don’t give her enough credit for how smart she is. If she’s asked you about it, that means we haven’t done that good a job of hiding it. And I owe her honesty.” He nodded. “So yeah, let’s tell her.”
I let out a relieved breath. This challenge was a little selfish, my way of gauging where things stood at a time when I needed direction. “It doesn’t have to be tomorrow,” I assured him. “Just when the time feels right.”
Evan kissed me on the forehead. “Deal.”
Since Drew’s was on the way to the storage unit where my car was parked, we decided to pick Effie up first. That way I’d also get to say hello to her.
On the drive over, I continued to feel much calmer than I had earlier in the day.
But it was short-lived.
Millie called about a mile before we got to Drew’s house.
“Is everything okay?” I asked when I answered.
“I’m so sorry, Chloe. I tried to wake your mother up to eat, but…I think she’s gone.”
Chapter 39
* * *
EVAN
Despite a brief Thanksgiving Day reprieve at Drew and Maura’s, the remainder of that week was spent making arrangements for Judy’s service.
We’d arrived at the funeral home two hours ago on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and I hadn’t taken my eyes off of Chloe. Whenever it looked like she needed me, I rushed to her side, getting her water or whatever she required to get through the wake. I’d made sure I was never too far away.
A voice from behind me interrupted my guarding her.
“It’s been a long time, Evan.”
I turned to find Chloe’s dad standing there. I hadn’t seen him in ages. He’d gotten grayer and older, but overall, he seemed to be in good shape.
“Indeed, Phil.” I offered my hand. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
He shook with me. “I don’t deserve your condolences, son. If you’ve spent any amount of time with Chloe, I’m sure you already know that.”
“I don’t see things that way,” I told him. “You and Judy were married for a long time and shared a life together. Despite things you could’ve done differently, this has to be very difficult for you.”
He looked over at the casket, his voice shaking. “Judy certainly deserved better than the way I disappeared in her last days. I just didn’t know how to handle it. And that guilt is something I’m gonna have to live with for the rest of my life.”
I honestly didn’t know what to tell him, since I agreed on all counts. There was a hell of a lot he could’ve done better, but now wasn’t the time to unload my feelings about that.
He placed a hand on my shoulder. “I see the way you’ve been supporting my daughter. I want you to know that I appreciate you being there for her. Not just today, but ever since she came to town.” He paused. “How is your daughter?”