by Abby Brooks
“I don’t know, Izzy.” A grin blossomed as I spoke. “I think, after reading the book, I think he chased me away on purpose, like George from Harry and the Henderson’s. I don’t know. This sounds crazy. I just…I need to see him.”
“He’s leaving tomorrow, first thing. He’ll be gone for weeks.”
“I better get a move on, then.”
Amelia looked up from the book, eyes wide. “You’re going to Wildrose tonight?” Izzy echoed the question.
“I have to.” I shrugged. “I have to see him and at least thank him and I have to do it before I think better of it so yeah. I’m going to Wildrose tonight.”
Chapter Forty-One
Alex
My phone rang with a call from Izzy. We hadn’t talked as much as we used to since Evie left. I assumed she was mad at me for chasing away her new friend. She had every right to feel that way. I was mad at me for chasing Evie away. I accepted the call.
“Alexander Prescott.”
I flinched from the gravitas in her voice. This was not the traditional family greeting of bellowing each other’s names from the entry. Her greeting dripped with accusation. Disappointment. I wasn’t in the mood.
I sighed. “Speaking.”
“Did you Harry and the Henderson’s Evie?”
“I’m sorry.” I pinched my brow. “Did I what?”
“Harry and the Henderson’s. That stupid movie mom used to make us watch when we were kids. Remember the part when John Lithgow thought Harry would be better off without him so he said terrible things and hit Harry to make him leave?”
I did remember the movie and that was exactly what I did, but discussing it would do more harm than good. “I’m sorry, Izzy. I’m drawing a complete and utter blank here.”
“No. You’re being obstinate to keep me from reaching my point, but never fear, we share the same genes, which means I can be every bit as stubborn as you. You made Evie think you were an asshole to make her leave.”
I huffed a breath, crossed my arms over my chest, and shuffled into the kitchen.
Izzy loosed a dramatic sigh. “You did! You giant, self-absorbed idiot!”
“Self-absorbed?” I stopped and leaned my head against the wall. “I literally chased away the woman I loved so she wouldn’t suffer the way Mom did.”
“The way Mom did?” Genuine confusion tightened Izzy’s words.
In the biggest infodump of all infodumps, I dropped it all on my sister. My realization that I was just like Dad. Candace’s accusations. Mom’s revelation. “It all hit home one night while Evie and I were at dinner. She was just sitting there, at the table, basically alone even though I was across from her. I was ignoring her because I was working, after I vowed never to be like that.”
“You think you’re just like Dad.”
“I know I’m just like Dad.”
“Then you know nothing, Alex Prescott. You stop in to see me every day, or at least you used to before you chucked your life in the garbage.”
“Yeah, for genius nuggets.” I did my best to smile.
“Bullshit just for genius nuggets. You make sure I have what I need, stop and talk with me, ask me if I need help with anything. You take the time to cultivate a relationship with me, your sister, because it’s important to you. Dad wouldn’t do that.”
“Yeah, but…”
“You visit mom every day. You sit with her while she goes on about her social circles and nail polish choices even though you don’t care two hoots about any of that. You aren’t a surface level guy, but you are for her, because you know she needs that. Dad wouldn’t do that.”
I stared at me feet and searched for something to say.
“You adopted Morgan and I have never met a more spoiled dog in my life. He’s sweet, but come on, this dog gets daily walks on the beach because he loves the water. And your cat? The one that’s now living with Evie? I don’t even know when you got him, but have you ever met a more loving feline? Let me break it to you, cats don’t come like that out of the box. They have to be shown love to give love. Dad would make an asshole out of a cat. You didn’t. You’re nothing like our father.”
“But I ignored Evie in favor of work.”
“Did she care?”
The question took me off guard. “What?”
“Did she care?” Izzy carefully enunciated the question.
“Of course she cared…” The image of her sad face at Overton’s popped into my head.
“She said this to you. She said, ‘you’re spending too much time at work and I resent it.’”
“No. But Evie wouldn’t say—”
“Stop talking for a minute and listen to me. Evie’s a writer. My guess is, knowing her, she completely understood you needed to disappear into your work because she has to do the same thing. The only way I see you being just like dad in this situation is because you decided you knew what was best for everyone involved and acted on it.”
I looked at the dog who stared at me like the sun rose and set on my shoulders. I thought of all the time I spent making sure Mom didn’t feel alone. Every time I put my notes away to spend time with Evie. The daily walks with Morgan and laser pointer marathons with Larry.
“Maybe you’re right,” I practically whispered. “Maybe I’m not like Dad.”
“Ya think?” Izzy huffed a laugh. “You don’t sound super convinced.”
“I’m only overcoming years’ worth of programming and negative self-talk, so pardon me if it takes some time to adjust to this wicked about-face in the way I see myself.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Have you talked to Evie lately?”
“I have. She finished her book. All in all, she’s doing well.”
She’s doing well. I smiled to hear it.
“She read your book, Alex.” Warmth spread through Izzy’s voice. “It left her a little gobsmacked, but she loved it.”
If Evie read the book and hadn’t reached out, then she must not have seen what I’d hoped she’d see. I tried to smile, but it felt like my heart was breaking in half. Like I’d failed in my mission. I checked my watch. I had to meet my agent in an hour and I was a long way from presentable.
I ran a hand over my mouth. “Hey. Listen. Thanks for taking the time out of your day to call me an asshole.”
“I didn’t say you were an asshole. I said you’re stupid. Vast difference.”
“Not exactly.” I stroked Morgan’s ears. “I have a meeting. At Overton’s. As much as I’d love to hang around and let you bully me some more, I’m going to have to ask you to say goodbye and hang up already.”
Izzy snorted a laugh. “I love you, you big, stupid asshole.”
“See! I knew it. The asshole was in the subtext.”
With a quick laugh and a sharp retort, my sister said goodbye and ended the call.
It took me longer to get ready to meet Brighton than I wanted. Thoughts of Evie collided with scraps of the conversation with Izzy and kept my brain from fully processing any of it. I took longer choosing an outfit than I needed. Slicked some gel into my hair then thought better of it, only to realize what was done was done and I didn’t have time to wash it out.
I parked the Range Rover in the parking lot at Overton’s. A brisk wind rustled my hair as I strode up the sidewalk toward the entrance, and warmth and the scent of good food made up for it all as I pushed inside the restaurant. Brighton stood, her full, red lips stretching into a smile. Her trim figure was encased in a dress that begged for attention and giant heels put her nearly at eye level with me. I wrapped her in a hug as she purred her greeting and Bridget the hostess looked like she didn’t know if she wanted to punch me or break into tears while she led us to my table at the back of the room.
Chapter Forty-Two
Evie
The drive to Wildrose happened in the blink of an eye. My manuscript sat in the passenger seat, the pages printed out and shoved into a binder. On top of that sat Alex’s book, but the most important thing in the car was the sense of expectation
.
I didn’t know what would happen when we saw each other, only that I needed to see him. I needed to ask him why he’d pushed me away. And I hoped…
“Let’s not get too far ahead of yourself,” I muttered to the windshield. “Just focus on seeing him. We’ll deal with any hope after that.”
My phone jingled with a text, which I checked at a red light.
Izzy: Alex is at Overton’s. Just thought you’d like to know. He’s also missing you a lot. Thought you’d like to know that, too.
The goofiest of grins brightened my face and I adjusted my course, smiling even bigger as I pulled into the lot and parked next to his Range Rover. I’d had sex in the back of that car. We’d eaten burgers and talked about dreams and stared at stars, then steamed up the windows at Makeout Point. How could I not smile at the sight of his vehicle?
With both our books clutched to my chest, I pushed through the doors, smiling like an idiot. Bridget’s mouth formed a surprised O, and she practically jumped out from behind her podium to block me from getting any deeper into the restaurant. “Evie! Hi!” Her overly wide eyes told me she was not glad to see me in the least.
“Hello…” The answer started on autopilot and ended in shock as I glanced over her shoulder to Alex’s table.
He was there all right—with a gorgeous woman laughing at something he said. His smile was genuine and their body language said they were comfortable together and I was halfway out the door before I stopped myself.
I came here to thank him. To show him my book and tell him I appreciated the way he ended his. I came here to see him and I would not let myself run away from the situation because it wasn’t what I expected. So, he was on a date. That was okay.
I was Evie McAllister, and I was fearless.
“I’m so sorry,” Bridget began. “If it’s any consolation, it’s the first time I’ve seen them here together.”
“It’s okay.” I put a hand on her arm. “But if it’s all the same, I’m still gonna go talk to him.” I didn’t wait for a reply. I stepped into the restaurant before I could lose my resolve. My heart thundered in my chest and that woman sitting at Alex’s table got more beautiful with every step.
Turn around, said fear. Turn around and walk away before you make a fool of yourself. He’s better off with someone like her and he made it pretty dang clear he didn’t want you and you’re only going to regret this for the rest of your life oh and you’ll probably die, too—
“Hi.” I stopped directly in front of Alex.
Shock stole his smile as his fork dropped from his hand. His eyes misted with emotion, joy and hope tugging at his lips. “Evie…”
“I won’t stay long. I promise. If I’d known I was interrupting a date, I probably wouldn’t have come at all, so I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t know because it feels really good to be here again.” I turned to the woman across from Alex. “I’m Evie McAllister and, well, he’s a wonderful guy and I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.”
Shaking his head, Alex scooted back from the table. “Evie—”
I held up a hand. “I just came to say thank you. To tell you I got your book and that it’s beautiful and I’m sorry for barging into your office that day and saying all those terrible things to you about the character. I let fear speak for me and you didn’t deserve that. Okay, maybe you did deserve it because you didn’t tell me what you had in mind and it was kind of a shock—”
Alex started to speak but I held up a hand.
“I know I’m rambling, but if I don’t get it all out now, I might never get it out at all. I loved you, Alex Prescott. I loved you in a way I didn’t expect and I miss you every day, but I am so grateful to have had you in my life, even for the heartbeat of time we were together.” I jostled my binder out of my arms and handed it to him. “I wrote a book and I think it might be good. Okay, I know it’s good and you’re in there just as much as I’m in here.” I held out his book, then realized I had no idea where to go from there.
In the car, I’d stopped myself from speaking about what I wanted out of my trip to Wildrose Landing. I’d hoped to show up and say something magical that would bring Alex and me back together.
I didn’t know how to handle the fact that he was on a date and the entire restaurant watched me pour my heart out, only to walk away with my tail between my legs. Because the truth was, I didn’t want to walk away. I loved it here. I loved the people, the places…
I loved Alex.
“Anyway, I guess that’s all I have to say.” I blinked as tears started to form. “I’m sorry to have interrupted your date, though I’m sure everyone who follows Greta’s Facebook page will be thrilled for the update.”
I turned to leave just in time to see Greta herself whip out her phone, her thumbs flying over the screen like a madwoman.
A chair scraped against the floor as I beelined for the exit. “Evie!”
I turned as Alex caught up to me, pulled me into his arms and kissed me until I forgot to breathe. Cheers went up throughout the restaurant. Applause broke out. Someone screamed, “Yes!” while others laughed in delight.
Chaos erupted around us, but the only thing that mattered was his lips on mine. My heart beat a triumphant rhythm, and I pressed my hands against his back, until Alex broke the kiss and leaned his forehead to mine.
“I don’t think your date is going to appreciate you making out with another woman,” I whispered as my breath heaved through my lungs.
A low rumble of laughter sounded in his chest. “Brighton’s my agent. I’m leaving on a book tour in the morning and—”
I didn’t let him finish his sentence. I kissed him so hard, so full, so deep because if he wasn’t on a date than I’d been right to come see him. I’d been right when I read his book and heard, “I love you, Evie” in every single beat, chapter, and scene.
“I am so sorry for everything I said. I didn’t mean it.” Alex’s hands stroked my face and his eyes begged me to understand. “I thought you’d be better off without me, but I’m nothing without you. I love you. I need you.”
“I love you too.” I placed my hand on his chest and smiled up at him. “But please, for the love of everything holy, never do anything like this again. I get to decide what’s right for me.”
“It’s a deal, beautiful.” He swept me into his arms again, his fingers threading into my hair. Another cheer went up through the restaurant, but it didn’t hold a candle to what was happening in my heart.
Chapter Forty-Three
Evie
Six months later
“Izzy Prescott!” I pushed through the doors of Sweet Stuff and pulled up short to find Jude leaning on the counter and Izzy blushing from head to toe. The second she saw me, she bolted and wrapped me in a hug.
“How’s my favorite writer?” she asked, her eyes wide and her heart pounding so hard I didn’t know how she didn’t drop dead on the spot.
“I’m fine,” Alex said as he stepped into the shop behind me.
Izzy rolled her eyes and slapped him on the arm. “I wasn’t talking about you. I was, in fact, talking about Evie.”
“You wound me, sister.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “Who’da thought I’d be so easily replaced?”
“Don’t act so surprised.” Jude studied the wall of gummy candy. “Evie is way nicer than you. And her book is sitting one step above yours on the New York Times bestsellers list.”
Alex wrapped an arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze. When my debut novel launched like a rocket, he’d been so proud of me, he’d just stare at me with this goofy grin on his face. Two days after my book hit the bestsellers lists, Drew Stephens released a new book.
It flopped.
Hard.
Critics questioned if it was even written by the same person and an ‘anonymous’ tip leaked the truth of what he did to me. He went down, kicking and screaming while my book steadily climbed the ranks.
“Since when did you care about that kind of stuff?�
� Alex asked Jude.
“Since our sweet Evie started whoopin’ your ass.” He pounded Alex on the arm, dropped me a wink, and said a quick goodbye to Izzy before he disappeared out the door.
She sagged against the counter as soon as he was out of sight. Her attraction to him was so obvious, I had no clue how neither Alex nor Jude seemed to notice.
“What can I do for you two lovebirds on this fine summer day?” She held up a hand. “Wait, wait, wait. Lemme guess. Genius nuggets. Two bags?”
We laughed as the door pressed open again. Jack stumbled through with three shrieking children running in circles around him. He gave an apologetic glance to Izzy and broke into a wide grin when he saw Alex. “Fancy meeting you here,” he said, though the rest of the sentence was devoured by an adorable little girl launching herself onto his back and begging him to be her pony.
I use the word adorable lightly, mind you.
Izzy plucked the wild child off his back and Jack raked a hand through his hair. “I told them I’d reward them for not killing today’s sitter. Seeing as she only threatened to quit, and hasn’t actually told me where I can shove my money, it seemed like the best course of action was to load them up on sugar before dinner.”
Alex gestured. “I’d ask how things are going, but—” He trailed off as one of the little boys loudly pretended to shoot his brother with an imaginary machine gun.
“Connor Cooper! Quiet down this instant! We’re in public, for goodness sake!” When the child kept belting bullet sounds, Jack excused himself to crouch in front of the child and covered his mouth. “Hush now.”
Connor scowled and skulked and Jack looked devastated as he came back to stand with us. “I hate having to yell at them, man, but I get so embarrassed when they act like this. I constantly feel trapped between a rock and a hard place. I just wish Natalie was still here. She was such a good mom. They were angels with her. Not like this…” He ran a hand along the back of his neck.