25. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Calista

T he last two weeks have sped by faster than I wanted them to. During the day, Evan had a few doctor appointments, which cut into our alone time. He’s been cleared by his doctor and is starting physical therapy. After proving he could manage around the house, I ran out of excuses to stay. Today Cody made a big deal about helping me move back to my own place.

Sneaking around at night once Skye is in bed seemed easy at first, but it started to wear on us both. He asked me every night to stay in bed with him, but I insisted on going back to my room. Last night, he followed me. He said if it’s our last night together, he was going to spend every minute with me. In short, neither of us got much sleep.

I don’t want to go, but he hasn’t asked me to stay. Now, with everything in me, I want him to ask me again. This last week showed me right here is everything I want. But I told him earlier I wanted to get him out of my system. I said this was over when I went home. It’s what I thought was right. But in the last two weeks? All that has changed.

He seems so set on the two-week timeline. Now I’m feeling he’s changed his mind. And it sucks. With my brother here helping me move back and shooting the shit with Evan, it’s not like I can bring it up.

I already decided I’m going to use the excuse of Kaylee needing me to get out of family dinner this weekend. It’s just too fresh and I won’t have my wall up enough to sit in the same room with him. Though I haven’t told anyone about me missing dinner, yet I know Kaylee will cover for me at a moment’s notice.

“Looks like this is the last bag. I swear your things multiplied while you were here,” Cody says, holding my duffle bag.

“Why don’t you take that to the car, and I’ll do one more sweep of the house?” I’m hoping to have even just a minute alone with Evan.

“Skye, why don’t you go help Uncle Cody?” Evan asks.

Fortunately, she doesn’t ask questions, but runs over to Cody, takes his free hand in hers, and they head to my car.

Once they leave, I go upstairs to the room I was using with Evan close on my heels. He walks in behind me, closes the door, and then pins me to it.

The heat in his eyes has my heart racing with the hope he might say something. Maybe he will ask me to stay or at the very least say he isn’t ready to end this. His eyes search mine and I try to tell him without words how I feel. That I want him and all that entails. But it’s like there is a wall, and he isn’t getting the message.

“One last kiss,” he whispers before his lips land on mine.

I want to cry. There’s no way I want this to be our last kiss. I want to yell that I changed my mind, but Cody is downstairs, and Evan seems pretty set on his choice. This is the bed I made. Now I have to sleep in it, as my mom would say.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I put everything I have into that kiss. I don’t want to leave anything on the table. When he breaks off, we are both breathing heavy. It’s my last chance to say something, but I chicken out. I’ve always been one to let the guy take the lead, and I never chased anyone. So to be the one to make the move and say I changed my mind isn’t something that comes naturally. Instead, I let the moment slip by.

“I’ll go check the laundry to make sure you didn’t forget anything.” He opens the door and slips into the hallway.

When I check my room and the bathroom, I find a hair scrunchie and a necklace.

As stupid as it is, I leave the necklace in the bedroom. Maybe it will be a reason for him to call me. An open line of communication. If not, it’s a reason to call him in a few days saying I think I left it. It’s stupid and Kaylee would tell me not to, but I leave it anyway.

When I get back downstairs, I find Evan out front talking with Cody, so I join them.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” I tell Evan.

“Thank you for everything,” he says, pulling me into a side hug.

“I don’t want you to leave! Who will do my hair for school?” Skye says, pouting.

“Well, I taught your dad a few tricks. And when picture day comes around, call me and I’ll meet you at school to do something fancy,” I say. Then I scoop her up into a hug.

I’m going to miss this little girl just as much as I’m going to miss Evan. She hugs me tightly, and I hug her back. Then the tears I’ve been holding back finally hit. Evan reaches out and wipes them from my face with a look I can’t quite read on his face. When I pull away from Skye, I force a smile that I don’t feel.

“Alright then, I need to head out as Kaylee is expecting me,” I say, going to my car.

“Text me when you get there,” Cody says, and I nod.

Growing up with protective parents and four brothers, they always want to know where I’m going and that I made it there safely. So now when I get where I’m going, it’s second nature to text them. Even so, they still say it and it still makes me feel cared for every time.

The drive back to my apartment is a blur. Grabbing my tote bag, my duffle bag, along with my purse, I head upstairs, collapsing on the couch.

“Did you tell him you changed your mind?” Kaylee joins me with a margarita in each hand, giving one to me.

“No, he kept saying one last time. Though there was one opening just before I left, but I chickened out.” I take a huge gulp of my drink before setting it aside. Getting drunk just doesn’t hold any appeal to me tonight.

“And Cody still knows nothing?” she asks.

“Nope, and I’m glad he doesn’t, since it looks like it’s over. It’s just better this way.” I’m trying to convince myself as much as her. “Distract me?” I almost beg her.

“Well, I had my meeting with Jack this morning.” She stops, pausing to take a sip of her drink.

Today she was going to come and help me, but Jack insisted on meeting this morning, so I told her to go that I’d be fine.

“And?” I ask her and she smiles.

“He was amazing, Cal! Even though I can go back home tonight, I thought I’d stay and do a girl’s night and go home tomorrow?” She says it as more of a question.

“Sounds perfect. I have no desire to be alone tonight.”

“That’s what I thought,” Kaylee says, nodding her head, sipping more of her drink.

“Well, Jack also got the charges dropped. Apparently, Evan did a bit of digging and found out one of the rookies was working with Calvin. The rookie planted the drugs in the house, so they were there when Calvin told them to go look. Apparently, they were in a box of frozen peas.”

“Evan knows you hate peas,” I laugh.

“Exactly, so I knew I didn’t buy any. Plus, trying to get Calvin to eat any kind of veggie, well you’d have a better chance of winning the lottery! But it really was Evan who saved my ass. The rookie is now in jail and I’m free to go.”

I didn’t even know Evan was working on the case. He never said a word. I assumed he wasn’t talking to me about it, but also when did he have time? Every moment Sky wasn’t there, we were all over each other. When Skye was home, he was focused on her. Still, he found time to get work done. Fuck! I find the perfect guy who can balance me, his kid and work, and I just let him walk away. Of course I did. What the hell was I thinking?

“Okay, no more moping! Let’s get changed into our pajamas and have some girl time. We are going to put on face masks, eat ice cream, and watch some movies until we pass out!” Kaylee giggles.

I’m happy to let Kaylee take charge of keeping my mind busy. Just like she did with my last breakup.

Only this one hurts so much worse. I feel numb to everything. But when I think of Even, then it’s a stabbing pain… right in my chest.

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