Possibilities

by Michelle Grotewohl

  “If you want to head out, I’ll wait for the washer to finish. I’ll go after I switch the laundry to the drier.”

  His eyes lifted to hers from the book he was reading. “Anxious to be rid of me?” His tone was bland, but she thought she heard anger beneath it.

  Assuming he was joking, she smiled. “Not hardly.”

  His gaze narrowed slightly. “How long does the washer take?”

  “Forty-five minutes, an hour at most,” she said with a shrug.

  He leaned toward her, very slowly, letting her adjust to his approach. When she grinned seductively and began lying back on the couch, he dove for her.

  Sex that last time might not have been a good idea, Drake thought as he headed toward the highway later. He’d prepped himself after the shower, told himself that he would be okay without her. He knew now it was a huge lie. He’d never get over her, never move on. He wanted Evie, and only Evie.

  Though he’d kept his voice and actions slightly distant when they were leaving, he knew he could have done better. He wanted her too much, loved her too much, to really block any emotion from his speech. And she’d picked up on it, especially when they’d kissed goodbye after loading their vehicles. He’d poured all of himself into it, hoping she’d change her mind about not seeing him. But she’d said nothing, only gave him a big smile and climbed into her car.

  He’d gotten into his own, waited for her to back out, and followed her to the expressway. As soon as he could, he’d stepped on the gas and flown past her, hoping speed and the wind through the open window would blow her out of his system.

  When he pulled into his driveway three hours later, he knew without a doubt that would never happen. He carried his luggage inside, put everything away, and then went back down to the kitchen to make himself some dinner.

  He considered his options as he prepared a box of macaroni and cheese, and decided he wanted to go out with one of his female ‘buddies’. If he couldn’t have Evie, he reasoned, he would have everyone else.

  Chapter Nine

  Evie had been home for three days. Drake hadn’t called her once. He hadn’t texted, or emailed, and as far as she could tell, he hadn’t said a word to his brother about their relationship. If he had, no doubt Leon would have mentioned it to Vicki, who would have called Evie immediately.

  She could only assume that meant he’d lied when he said he loved her. Why else would he ignore her immediately after leaving the cottage? The knowledge hurt, but what could she do? Nothing, that’s what.

  Except maybe catch him in the lie. She didn’t know what purpose that would serve other than to make her miserable, but she wasn’t exactly thinking straight when she picked up the phone and dialed Leon’s number.

  “Hello?” Leon said, and his voice was close enough to his brother’s that a slice of pain crisscrossed her heart.

  “Hey, Leon. It’s Evie.”

  “Oh, hi. Hold on. I’ll get Vicki.”

  “No, I wanted to talk to you.”

  “Oh. Okay…”

  Now that she had him on the line, she didn’t know how to start. Just say it, she thought. “Um, Drake likes blondes, right?”

  “As much as any other woman, I suppose.”

  Not exactly what she wanted to know, so she rephrased. “But he always goes for blondes, right?”

  “Well… No, actually. He used to date almost all brunettes until about, oh, maybe two years ago.”

  In other words, she thought, about the time he’d met her. So why was he ignoring her?

  “Why do you ask?” Leon asked.

  “Uh… I was thinking about setting him up with a friend from work. But she’s blonde, and if he prefers brunettes than never mind.” As if she’d set anyone up with him when she herself was in love with him… But he didn’t love her as he’d claimed, so what did she do?

  He was quiet for a moment. “Oh. Okay. Did Vicki tell you about Fourth of July?”

  “What about it?” Evie asked, though she didn’t care at the moment.

  “We’re doing it at the cottage, fireworks and all. You coming?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there.” And I’ll out your rat of a brother for the liar he is…

  “Alright, great. I’ll let Vicki know to expect you. Talk to you later.”

  “Bye.” She hung up, and began plotting.

  On the other end of the phone, Leon closed his cell and stared at it for a moment. He wondered what had happened between his brother and Vicki’s sister at the cottage for those two weeks, but Drake had said nothing. Neither had claimed anything negative about the experience, so he could only figure they’d managed to become friends. That made sense, if Evie was considering setting him up with one of her friends.

  Vicki might be disappointed that nothing more had happened between them, but since he was glad they were friends instead of quiet enemies, he figured it was good enough, and put it out of his mind.

  The next two weeks passed slowly for Drake. He worked his ass off to keep his mind busy, came home to eat and pass out, then did it all again the next day. It was the best he could do to get by without completely losing it. He missed Evie terribly, couldn’t stop thinking about her, and wanted to see her like he wanted his next breath. But she’d said their time was over, and he was trying to respect that.

  He’d been invited to the cottage for the Fourth of July weekend starting the next day, but had told Leon he wouldn’t be there. He had work, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to see the cottage yet, or Evie for that matter.

  But the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to go. He could prove to himself that he was strong and being in the house wouldn’t affect him. Besides that, he doubted Evie would be there anyway, since she’d taken two weeks off before and likely wouldn’t be able to get this weekend, too. He could leave any work to his foreman, or give the guys on his crew the weekend off. That would make him pretty popular, though most of them liked him already.

  Decision made, he began to pack and make arrangements so he could leave after work the next afternoon.

  Late the following afternoon, Leon and Vicki stood in the kitchen at the cottage, preparing to start dinner for everyone. Evie was there, already downstairs in the shower after her earlier swim, as were Vicki’s parents and Leon’s mother. Vicki mixed potatoes, cheese, and bacon in a glass pan, while Leon seasoned steaks for the grill.

  “I forgot to ask: Is Drake coming?” Vicki asked.

  “Can’t,” Leon answered. “Work.”

  “Oh. That’s too bad.”

  Just then, the door to the garage opened, and Drake walked in.

  “Hey!” Leon exclaimed. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

  “I changed my mind. Gave my crew the weekend off.”

  “That’ll put us behind schedule on the Butterworth house,” Leon warned mildly.

  Drake shrugged. “We’ll make it up. I needed to get away.” He set his bag down and walked over to kiss Vicki on the cheek. “Hey, gorgeous.”

  “Hey, yourself,” she said with a smile, bumping his hip with her own. “Glad you could make it.”

  “Me, too. Where do you want me?”

  “Downstairs. C’mon. I’ll walk you down,” Leon said, rinsing his hands before grabbing Drake’s duffel and leading him to the basement.

  When they’d reached the living area, he turned and headed right, instead of left to the room Drake preferred while visiting.

  “Why not that one?”

  Leon glanced over at the closed door. “Evie’s in that one.”

  Drake stopped. “Evie’s here?”

  Leon continued to the other room. “Yeah. We invited everyone. Why wouldn’t she be here?” He turned after putting the duffel on the bed, found Drake missing and he was talking to himself. Frowning mildly, he left the room, and saw Drake was gone and Evie’s bedroom door was slightly ajar.

  With a curiously lifted brow, he went back upstairs and told his wife what had happened.

  Vicki gasped. “Do you think
something did happen while they were here?”

  Leon shrugged. “I don’t know. But he was gone, her room was open, and I can’t see any other reason for him to barge in like that.”

  From below them, a terrified scream filled the air, and they gave each other a look. Then Vicki shot her fist into the air. “Yes!”

  Drake went in to Evie’s room and closed the door most of the way behind himself. He heard her in the shower and made his way toward it, feeling a funny sense of déjà vu as he walked in.

  Without warning, he pulled back the curtain, and she let loose a scream as she spun that would have put any horror movie victim to shame.

  She took a breath and rolled her eyes when she saw it was him. “Drake, what are you doing?” He noticed she didn’t bother to cover herself.

  “I had to see you. This is familiar,” he added with a grin.

  She squirmed a bit, like she wanted to cover up, but was resisting the urge. “You couldn’t have waited until I got out?”

  “I’ve seen you naked before.” Now his grin went cocky.

  She started to smile back, and then frowned. “Yes. Then you never called me.”

  His face fell. “You told me not to!”

  She frowned. “No I didn’t.”

  “Yes, you did,” he argued with conviction. “You said playtime was over, and real life was coming back.”

  “No. You said let’s stay longer, and I said we had to go back to real life with work and stuff, and that vacation playtime was over. I did not mean we couldn’t see each other anymore.”

  He blinked as his face cleared. “Oh. Well, you should have been clearer. I thought you didn’t want this anymore,” he said, waving a finger between them.

  Her gaze softened. “I did. I wanted it all. I wanted everything with you.”

  His face fell again. “Wanted? So, you don’t anymore?”

  She took a tentative step toward him. “No, I do. I meant it when I said I love you.”

  His eyes closed on a sigh, and he grinned happily. “Me, too,” he said when he opened his eyes. He reached down, undoing his shorts.

  “Now what are you doing?” she asked with a knowing smile.

  “Joining the woman I love for a shower.” He stepped in, his glorious nakedness making her body heat instantly.

  She grabbed him and pulled him under the spray for a kiss as his hands molded to her back, holding her tight against him.

  “I love you, Evelyn,” he whispered, putting his forehead to hers.

  “I love you, too, Drake.”

  “Marry me?”

  She gasped softly, and then chuckled huskily. “Yes.”

  He grinned and dipped his head down to seal the agreement with a kiss.

  Epilogue

  Christmas-

  Evie stood at the counter in the cottage, helping her sister prepare Christmas dinner. The entire family- Drake, Leon, her parents, the guys’ mother- was in the living room, watching a football game. She suspected her mother and Drake’s were discussing baby and wedding plans rather than actually watching the game, but they were in there.

  She glanced over at her sister’s belly, small but obviously five months pregnant, and smiled.

  Leon came in, walked to stand behind Vicki as she made a salad. He put his hands on her hips and pulled her back against him, then kissed her head. Vicki smiled but kept working on the salad. He took a half-step back and began rubbing her shoulders. “Want some chips?”

  “Always,” Vicki said with a smile.

  Behind her back, Leon made a fist and pumped it victoriously. “You know, according to the internet, if you crave salt, you’re gonna have a boy.”

  Vicki grinned. “Oh, really?”

  “Mm-hm.” The idea obviously pleased him. “How’s your back? Need to sit down? How are your feet?” He bent to the side a little and looked at her ankles himself.

  Vicki chuckled. “I’m fine for now. Go watch your game.”

  With a final kiss to her temple, he left the room.

  “That is so sweet,” Evie said wistfully, cutting tomatoes to go in the salad.

  Vicki gave her a look. “I’m sure Drake will be the same way.”

  “Shh!” Evie hissed, but too late. Drake had walked in, looking wonderful in a dark blue sweater and khakis, catching the end of the conversation.

  “Drake will be the same way about what?” he asked, grabbing a black olive from the relish tray and popping it into his mouth.

  Evie glared at her sister, whom she’d only told her news that morning and who made a mostly sincere ‘Oops!’ face. She looked back at Drake. “I have to talk to you.”

  Drake lifted a brow. “Okay…”

  She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him into the Blue Room. When she’d closed the door behind him, she stood facing him, fidgeting nervously.

  “Is everything okay?” Drake asked.

  Without looking at him, she said, “Yeah. I think so.”

  “You think so? Evie, what’s going on?”

  She bit her bottom lip, and then released it. “You love me, right?”

  He half-smiled, wondering what she was getting at. “Yes.”

  “And you’re gonna marry me, no matter what?”

  His smile widened. “In seven agonizingly long weeks, yes. Why?”

  Her lip found its way between her teeth again, and she could see him losing his patience.

  “Evie, what is it?! What’s wrong?”

  She took a deep breath, but before she could say anything, he became very concerned.

  “Seriously, you’re scaring me. Are you sick or something?”

  He looked so afraid that she had to grab him and hold on. His hands came up to grip her, and she felt them shaking. Guilt hit her hard. Just tell him. “No. I’m fine. I’m just-” She pulled back to see his face. “-I’m pregnant.”

  He blinked, his face clearing and draining of all color. “You’re pregnant?”

  “Yes.”

  His hands slid from her back to hang at his sides. “As in-” He swallowed audibly. “-pregnant?”

  She could see the freak out in his eyes, and took pity on him. “Yes, Drake,” she said softly.

  He started breathing heavy, and she thought for sure he was having a panic attack. Then he smiled, and the deep breaths turned slowly to laughter. “You’re pregnant!”

  She laughed, too. “Yes!”

  “God, that’s amazing!”

  “It is?”

  “Yes. Come here.” He grabbed her again, kissed her hard before hugging her tight. “How could you think anything but?”

  Still against him, she reasoned, “Well, we never really talked about kids, or when we would have them…”

  He seemed suddenly impatient. “Kids, yes. When, now.” He stepped away from her. “God, I’m so excited!” He kissed her once more before running out of the room. She heard him go toward the living room. “We’re pregnant!” he said loudly.

  His announcement was followed by raucous cheering.

  Evie smiled and looked through the bedroom door at Vicki. “I told you,” her older sister said.

  “Shut up…” Evie muttered, leaving the bedroom. She looked toward the living room, saw Drake surrounded by people and being congratulated. She grinned and joined him. “Couldn’t wait for me?”

  He shook his head. “No. Sorry.” He put an arm around her waist, pulled her close, and looked at her with eyes full of emotion. “I love you.” He brushed his fingers lightly over her belly, including the life they’d made in his declaration.

  Evie put her hand over his on her still-flat belly. “We love you, too.”

 

 

 
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