Chapter Thirty-Six
Liam
Three weeks.
That’s how long it had been since we heard from Evie’s attorney about Kyle.
My fists itched to remind her ex what kind of man he wasn’t. True to his word—or maybe his lack of follow-through—the custody case had been dropped. But Evie’s attorney had been smart enough to ensure he couldn’t pull that stunt again.
If Kyle thought he’d gotten off scot-free, he was in for a surprise. Turns out, the courts don’t look too kindly on wasting their time and money.
His little charade had backfired, and the cherry on top? Kyle would now be footing Evie’s legal fees, adding another brick to his mountain of debt.
Not that any of that mattered today.
Today, we were up north, tucked away in a cabin I’d rented for the weekend. Snow blanketed everything as far as the eye could see, the pine trees bowing slightly under its weight. The sky was a soft gray, and the air was crisp enough to make you feel alive.
Evie, Hayden, and I were bundled up like marshmallows, the day's excitement bouncing between us. I’d rented snowmobiles, and the plan was to spend the day exploring the trails, making snow angels, and maybe seeing if I could finally beat Hayden at a snowball fight.
“Okay, who’s ready to rip it up?” I asked, slapping the side of one of the snowmobiles as Hayden practically vibrated with excitement.
“Me!” he yelled, raising his gloved hands like he’d just won the Super Bowl.
Evie laughed, adjusting her scarf. “Let’s maybe start with a nice, safe pace before we go all Evel Knievel, huh?”
I grinned at her. “Safe? What’s that?”
She rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips.
God, I loved that smile.
“Alright, champ,” I said, crouching down to Hayden’s level. “You’re riding with me first. I’ve got the need for speed.”
Hayden’s eyes widened. “Yes! Mom, did you hear that? He said speed!”
Evie planted her hands on her hips, giving me a mock glare. “If you two end up in a snowbank, don’t come crying to me.”
“No promises,” I shot back, winking at her.
As I helped Hayden climb onto the snowmobile, I couldn’t help but glance at her. She was standing there, bundled in a red jacket that made her cheeks glow and her eyes sparkle. She looked so at home out here in the snow, with Hayden giggling and her teasing me.
“Alright, hold on tight, dude,” I said to Hayden, starting up the engine. The machine roared to life, and Hayden whooped in excitement.
Evie climbed onto the second snowmobile, giving me one last warning look before we took off down the trail.
By the time we stopped for lunch, my face hurt from smiling.
Hayden had screamed in delight every time we hit a bump or zipped around a corner, and Evie? She’d been right there behind us, laughing as she tried to keep up.
We’d found a clearing surrounded by trees, the snow untouched and glistening in the weak sunlight. I pulled out the thermos of hot chocolate and passed the cups around.
“Okay, who won the snowmobile race?” Hayden asked, sipping his drink like a seasoned negotiator.
“Obviously me,” I said, raising my hand.
“Uh, no,” Evie cut in. “I totally lapped you on that last stretch.”
“Lapped me?” I feigned shock. “Evie, you were so far behind, I thought you’d stopped for a nap.”
Hayden snickered, his hot chocolate nearly sloshing over the edge of his cup.
“I was pacing myself,” she retorted, taking a dramatic sip of her drink. “It’s called strategy.”
“Strategy or excuses?” I teased, leaning closer to her.
She nudged me with her elbow. “Careful. I’ve got a snowball with your name on it.”
“Oh, it’s on,” I said, setting down my cup and grabbing a handful of snow.
Within seconds, chaos erupted.
Hayden was pelting both of us with snowballs, Evie was laughing so hard she could barely aim, and I was doing my best to dodge while tossing snowballs in every direction.
At one point, Hayden managed to nail me square in the chest, and I dropped to the ground in mock defeat.
“You got me,” I groaned, clutching my chest like I’d been mortally wounded.
Hayden stood over me triumphantly. “I win.”
Evie shook her head, brushing snow off her jacket as she helped me up. “You’re such a good sport.”
“Hey, anything for the kid,” I said, brushing the snow from my gloves and flashing her a grin. “Besides, I’ve got to keep my title as the favorite adult, right?”
She rolled her eyes, but a softness in her gaze made my body ignite.
When we returned to the cabin, the warmth welcomed us with the coziness we needed after a day in the snow. The fire I’d left, crackled in the stone fireplace, and the scent of pine filled the air.
Hayden kicked off his boots and flopped onto the couch, grabbing the TV remote like he’d just run a marathon.
“Alright,” I said, ruffling his hair. “You chill here while your mom and I make dinner.”
“Okay,” he said, his attention already on the cartoons.
Evie followed me into the kitchen, pulling off her gloves and scarf.
“What’s on the menu?”
“Well,” I said, opening the fridge with a flourish, “we’ve got steak and potatoes.”
“I have to say,” Evie teased, leaning against the counter while I chopped the potatoes, “I’m impressed. But I must know—how much of this is pure guesswork?”
I paused, knife hovering over the cutting board, and glanced at her sideways.
“Guesswork? Evie, this is a highly calculated process. Precision. Expertise. Years of instinct honed in kitchens across the globe. Just because I went to the urgent care once doesn’t mean I’m inept.”
She snorted. “Across the globe, huh? I seem to recall you asking me if ‘a pinch’ of seasoning was actually a measurable amount.”
“A good chef consults the experts. I was being thorough.”
She rolled her eyes as a smile spread across her lips.
“Sure, Liam. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
I went back to chopping, but not without muttering,
“Thoroughly underrated culinary genius over here, and she’s questioning it.”
Evie stepped closer, peering at my work. “You know, those aren’t bad. A little uneven, but I’ll credit you for the effort.” She brushed her soft lips along my neck, and I nearly fell to my knees.
“That’s not safe,” I muttered, turning to look at her.
“Am I too intoxicating for you?” she teased, stepping back.
“Something like that.”
I tossed the potatoes onto the baking sheet with a touch of exaggerated flair.
As I slid the sheet into the oven, she crossed her arms and watched me, amusement lighting her face. “I hope you know how amazing you are.”
Her words took me aback, but I knew what she meant. I felt the same about her but couldn’t let this moment slip by.
“Evie, they’re just potatoes.”
She snickered.
“Just potatoes, huh? Is that what we’re calling it now?”
We stood there for a second, the teasing banter easing into something quieter. She glanced up at me, her gaze lingering long enough to make my pulse kick another notch.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said softly, her voice losing its teasing edge. “You didn’t have to go all out like this.”
“I wanted to,” I said, my voice low. “You deserve it.”
The moment stretched, charged with an energy I couldn’t get enough of. Her cheeks turned slightly pink, and she glanced away, breaking the spell.
“Better check the potatoes,” she said, her tone light again.
“Still have twenty minutes,” I said, not moving but grinning anyway.
As we moved around the kitchen, prepping the meal, I couldn’t help but watch her. The way she moved, the way she laughed at my terrible jokes—it all felt so natural, so easy.
When we sat down to eat, Hayden joined us, his cheeks still rosy from the cold. As we dug into our meal, I looked around the table and felt something I hadn’t felt in years: contentment.
This—this was what I’d been searching for.
And as Evie smiled at me from across the table, her eyes sparkling with warmth, I knew without a doubt that she was the one.
I just hoped she felt the same way.