Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
EVERLEIGH
“I have to go,” I whisper to him as he bends his head to give me another mouthwatering kiss. My hands come up to grip the front of his shirt as I listen to the birds chirping in the background. He finally lets go of my lips for just a second before coming back and softly pecking them. “You need to stop doing that.” My eyes finally flutter open as I stare at him, taking him all in. His hair is all over the place from my hands running through it.
“I don’t want you to go,” he admits, and my heart surges in my chest because I don’t want to go either.
“You have to go and be a dad.” I smile. I kiss under his jaw, the bristles from his beard pricking me. “Call me later if you can.”
I slowly slip out of his arms and jog slightly to my car, not slamming the door, afraid I’m going to wake Saige up. I start the car, hoping that it doesn’t make noise, before I drive away with a last wave. I look in the rearview mirror until I get to the stop sign at the corner of his street. I see him standing there in shorts that are hanging on his hips. Shorts he slipped on about five minutes before he walked me to the door. Opting to lie on his bed next to me in his boxers, even though I made it one thousand percent clear to him that we were not going to do anything that would require either of us getting naked. So instead, we made out like we did when we first started dating, dry humping each other, and it was magnificent.
My phone beeps as soon as I get home with a message from him
Brock: Text me when you get home. I’m waiting for you before I go into the shower.
Me: I’m home, but why don’t you go back to sleep?
Brock: I’ve been rock hard since you lay down next to me. I need to go and jerk off.
I can’t help but laugh.
Me: Um, same.
I laugh as I get out of the car, the phone beeping in my hand.
Brock: You are going to jerk off in the shower?
I smirk as I walk up the two steps and then stop.
Me: No, I’m going to get naked in my bed and get my vibrator out.
I’m hoping that it drives him as crazy as it’s driving me. Opening the door quietly and stepping in, the phone buzzes as I kick off my flip-flops.
Brock: That isn’t helping.
I see the light on top of the stove is on, as always, as I walk over to the steps and slowly creep upstairs, my eyes on the hallway where my mother’s room is. I really do feel like I’m in high school again, and I’m sneaking in.
I tiptoe until I close the door behind me and then slip into bed. I don’t get naked like I told him I was going to. Instead, I turn on my side and fall asleep with the smell of him on me. When I wake up, I grab the phone and see that it’s a little past 10:00 a.m.
I blink the sleep out of my eyes, about to text Brock, when the phone rings in my hand, and I see it’s Autumn. “Hello,” I mumble, turning back to my side and closing my eyes.
“Ugh,” she groans, “please tell me that you did not just get up.”
I smile at her tone. “Okay, fine, I didn’t just get up.”
“I was up at four thirty when Mr. Man over here thought it was a good time to start the day.”
“I really hope the Mr. Man you are talking about is your son and not Charlie.” I turn on my back and look out the blinds, seeing the sun shining high in the sky.
She laughs. “Yes, Landon William. What are you doing today?”
I wish I was hanging with Brock and Saige , I almost say. “I am actually going to the bakery, and
I’m going to paint.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun,” she replies. “Want some company?”
“Are you sure you want to spend your Saturday painting?” I ask, and she laughs.
“That sounds like a perfect day. I’ll be there in about an hour.”
“Why don’t we head out to the diner for some lunch for you and some breakfast for me, and then we can start?”
“See you then,” she confirms, and I hear her yelling Charlie’s name as she hangs up.
Getting out of bed, I head to the bathroom and wash my face before I head downstairs to make myself coffee. The sound of emptiness lets me know my mother is not home. She’s no doubt out and about with Oliver. He’s been holding her at bay, telling her she can start working part-time in two weeks, but in the meantime, she’s been going to all these estate sales trying to find decorations to tie into the new place. So far she’s found a lamp that is now in our living room since she loves it so much.
I get dressed in a pair of old jeans and a tank top before heading out. Autumn is sitting at a table when I get there. We both order breakfast, and forty minutes later, we are spreading the plastic tarp to cover the floor before she starts on the baseboards. “I can’t believe how quickly this was done.”
“I know,” I answer her from across the room, the paint roller in my hand as I roll it up and down on the wall. “The whole town came through for Mom.”
“Gotta love the small town.” She laughs. “What are you going to do when it’s done and your mother is back at work?”
The question in itself makes my stomach turn. “I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “I thought I would come back and just leave after.”
Autumn laughs. “Girl, same.” She moves on her knees as she dips her paintbrush in the paint. “Now here I am with a thriving business, a husband, and a child.” She smiles when she says it. “How are you and Brock?”
I look over at her. “Is there talk about us?” I ask, and she side-eyes me. “Shit… really?”
“He threw down with you in the middle of the parking lot with about twenty people there listening. It’s not like he was keeping it to himself.”
I exhale. “I don’t know,” I finally admit to her. “I mean, I do know. I never stopped loving him even though I convinced myself all these years that I hated him. I think it was easy since I didn’t have to see him every single day. But the minute I finally laid eyes on him in the flesh, I knew I didn’t really hate him. I also knew that I never really hated him to begin with.”
“How are you going to handle that?” she asks, and I shrug. Even if I did, I wouldn’t be able to answer her. “You still have a ways to go anyway.”
“Do I?” I ask, not really sure. “And what is that going to do? More time spending it here. More time spending it with Brock. More time for me to see my life is empty without this.” I open my arms. “I know two of my neighbors,” I admit to her, “and one because we sometimes bang.” She snort-laughs. “The other one because she complains my wind chimes that I keep outside wake her up at all hours of the night, so I had to bring it inside my bedroom near my window.” I roll the paint roller in the paint. “I haven’t been to my apartment since I came here, and I don’t think anyone noticed. Not one person even texted to check on me or ask me how I am doing.”
“I’m so sorry,” she says softly. “I had a friend when I left here. She sort of saved me, and I will be forever grateful for her.”
“I’m sorry,” I reply quietly, “for turning my back on you when you needed me. For how everything went down.”
“I’m sorry too, for not being brave enough to tell you guys what was going on with Waylon. For not?—”
“Hey,” I snap, “you don’t have to apologize for anything. You were not driving that truck. Don’t let him continue to have a hold on you. That was his decision. I knew he wasn’t all there. I mean, I didn’t know he was drinking that night, but he was always so pissed off and reckless. We all knew deep down inside, and none of us said a word.”
She shakes her head. “Now I have to know”—she raises her eyebrows—“have you been with Brock since you’ve been home?”
I think about lying and keeping it more to myself, but it’s been so long since I’ve had a girlfriend to talk about these things with, all I can do is smile shyly. “Yes, and before you ask, even better than before.”
Her mouth opens. “I know, shocking since it was like out of this world before, but now it’s like kablam.” I shake my hands and some of the paint drops on my pants. “Like he just got better with age, which is not fair, by the way. He was supposed to get older and have saggy balls.”
She throws her head back and laughs. “I never want to picture Brock and his balls again in my life. Thank you for the visual.” It’s my turn to laugh. “Word on the street is that he’s smiling now and not all grouchy and shit. Grunting instead of using words. It’s a phenomenon, really.” I can’t help but laugh a bit. “We are all saying that it looks good on him.”
I look down at the wall and then back at Autumn. “Anything looks good on him,” I admit. “He was always too handsome for his own damn good.”
“We’ll agree to disagree on that.” She makes me laugh as we switch topics, and she asks me how I’m going to decorate the shop.
We paint for a good couple of hours before there is a knock on the window. We look over to see Landon with his balled-up baby fists in his mouth as his face goes into a gummy smile, looking at his mom before he finally shrieks out in a high-pitched squeal.
“There is my man,” she says, putting down her paintbrush and wiping her hands on her pants before reaching out and grabbing him. She pulls him to her and kisses his neck. “Did you miss me?”
“We did,” Charlie confirms, leaning down and kissing her lips, “so, so much.” I smile at the three of them having their moment.
“This is perfect timing,” I say, putting the paintbrush down, “because I am done for the day.” I clap my hands together.
“I’m going to clean up and then head out.”
“Oh no,” Charlie says, “why don’t I clean up for you two, and you guys can go to the bar and take a load off?”
“Isn’t he the best?” Autumn asks, looking at me and then looking up at Charlie.
“He’s something,” I reply, trying not to laugh at them.
“Are you sure?” I ask, and he nods. “Fine.”
I walk out with Autumn. “Are you sure he’s okay?” I ask, turning my head. I don’t even look where I’m going and almost run into something.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry,” I finally say, looking forward and coming face-to-face with Karla. My stomach literally sinks down to my feet. It was bound to happen; the town isn’t that big.
“Well, well, well,” she snips with a sickening smile on her face, “I heard you were back.” She folds her arms over her chest. “Didn’t really believe it until my daughter said she hung out with her dad’s friend.” She chuckles. “It was no big secret who that could be, considering he doesn’t really have any friends.”
It’s my turn to smirk at her. “I guess you don’t know him like you think you know him.” Her grin turns into a glare.
“I knew him enough to have his child and marry him.”
I put my hand to my stomach to hold in my laughter as Autumn gasps beside me. “Oh, yeah, you would have to know him enough to spread your legs for him.” I put my finger to my chin and look to the side. “And how was the marriage? From what I heard, it was so good it lasted a whole what… six months at that.”
“Fuck you, Everleigh,” she snaps.
“Now, now.” I shake my head. “Must have touched a nerve.”
“I don’t want you around my daughter,” she finally hisses.
“Well, it’s a good thing Brock is a good father, and he also gets to decide who is in his daughter’s life.” I wait for her to tear him down as a father, and I know if she does, I’m throwing hands. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go and have a drink. You have a blessed day, Karla.”
“Enjoy my sloppy seconds.” She thinks she’s taking a parting shot at me.
“Oh, trust me, I will.” I smile big. “Considering he was mine before he was yours, and well, I think we all know that he never really did move on, even if he fucked you.” I look over at Autumn, who is trying to hide her smile behind Landon’s head. “Shall we?”
“We shall,” Autumn agrees. “Also…” She looks at Karla. “How fucking sad is it that you used your daughter for any of this?” I don’t even wait for her to answer. I just pull Autumn away from her.
When we are in the bar, she looks over at me. “Walk all the way to the end and go to my office, now.”
“I’m fine,” I say even though deep down I’m not fine. She puts her hand in mine and drags me to the back to her office.
“Now, you can let it out,” she urges me, and I actually put my hands on my knees.
“I shouldn’t let it get to me,” I tell the floor. “It’s not like I didn’t sleep with anyone after him.” Autumn doesn’t say a word. She knows I have to talk this out with myself. “I have a neighbor who I fuck monthly. I’ve had a couple of guys who I’ve hooked up with. It shouldn’t fucking bother me.” I get up and feel the tears. “Why does it fucking bother me?”
“Because you love him, and the thought of him with someone else is just too much,” she says. “Just like I’m pretty sure if you told him that you have a neighbor you fuck monthly, he would probably burn down your building.” I can’t help but laugh at that. “I know how you feel,” she finally shares softly. “Charlie pretty much fucked the entire town.” I gasp. “Yeah, so you have only one woman; I have them on every single corner.”
“What is going on?” Charlie walks into the office and sees us.
“Nothing. I was telling her what a womanizer you were.” She glares at him, and I have to roll my lips. “And I’m constantly face-to-face with all the women you banged.” His face goes white. “Yeah, exactly. Don’t think I don’t see them batting their eyes at you.”
“What happened from the time you left the bakery until now?” He puts his hands on his hips. “And how did it become my fault?” He looks at me, and I fill him in. “He never loved her,” Charlie reveals quietly, “not for a second, and everyone knew it, including Karla. She just didn’t want to see it.”
“We all have our pasts.” I look at him. “The question is, can we get past them?”