Chapter 3
Chapter
Three
GABE
Gabe watched Evie discreetly from across the room, noting the dark circles under her eyes and the slight slump of her shoulders. She looked utterly exhausted, barely able to keep her head up as Iris droned on about parking arrangements. When Asher nudged her awake, Gabe felt a twinge of sympathy.
He knew running a small business was challenging enough without personal drama complicating matters. The town gossip mill had been working overtime lately with news of Adrian's latest plans. Gabe couldn't fathom how the man he’d once thought of as a friend could be such an idiot.
He risked alienating both his ex-wife and his son by deliberately whisking Ollie away for Christmas and leaving Evie to spend Christmas alone, when he should be doing his damndest to ensure the status quo and starting their new co-parenting relationship on the best possible course.
As the meeting dragged on, Gabe found his attention drifting back to Evie repeatedly. There was something compelling about her quiet determination, the way she straightened her spine and forced herself to focus despite her obvious fatigue. He admired her resilience.
He’d always admired her, in fact, and his friendship with Adrian had quietly waned the more her ex had maligned her.
Gabe hadn’t wanted to associate with a man who openly said the derogatory things about his wife that Adrian had.
It felt too much like he was supporting his friends backwards thinking.
And when Adrian had admitted to his affair with Brandi, Gabe had told the man to choose…
but he hadn’t for one moment expected Adrian to walk out on his family.
That was a guilt he still lived with, even though, logically, he knew it wasn’t his fault.
That Adrian was responsible for his own decisions.
But Gabe did wonder if he’d kept his mouth shut, whether Adrian’s relationship with Brandi would simply have run its course, and his friend would have come to his senses, leaving their family still intact.
It had left Gabe feeling an odd sense of responsibility towards Evie.
Liar! That’s not what you feel at all.
Nope - not going there. The woman had barely been divorced for six months.
When Iris finally wrapped up, Gabe made his way over to where Evie was gathering her things. "Quite the marathon tonight," he said lightly. "I was starting to wonder if we'd make it out before sunrise."
Evie looked up, seeming startled to find him there. "Oh, um, yes. Lots to plan for this year's festival." She managed a tired smile. "Did you need something?"
Gabe hesitated, suddenly unsure why he'd approached her, except that he used to see a lot of her at one time. The sympathy he felt warred with his usual pragmatic nature. "I just wanted to check if you're alright," he said finally. "You seemed... distracted during the meeting."
Evie's shoulders tensed slightly. "I'm fine," she said, her tone polite but distant. "Just a bit overworked with the holiday rush at the bakery."
He nodded, knowing there was more to it than that. The dark circles under her eyes spoke of sleepless nights, likely spent worrying about her son and the mess Adrian had created. Gabe felt a familiar surge of anger towards his former friend.
"Listen," he said, lowering his voice. "I know things are tough right now. If you need any help with the bakery or... anything else, don't hesitate to ask."
Evie looked up at him, surprise flickering across her features. For a moment, Gabriel thought he saw a hint of vulnerability in her eyes, but it was quickly masked by a practiced smile.
"That's very kind of you, Gabriel," she said. "But I'm managing just fine." She zipped up her bag with a finality that signaled the end of the conversation.
Gabe felt a flicker of frustration. He'd never been good at offering comfort, and Evie's polite rebuff left him feeling oddly wrong-footed.
Sod it, he just needed to be direct, like he normally was. “Evie, I hope you know that after all these years, I consider you my friend as much as Adrian. Maybe more, in fact, since Adrian’s gone and doesn’t seem all that interested in keeping in touch.”
He provided that last truth so she’d hopefully understand he had no loyalty to Adrian as much as it was the truth. More than the truth, since he’d been attracted to Evie from the moment he met her, before he even knew she was married.
Evie opened her mouth to respond, undoubtedly with another polite brush off he didn’t want to hear, when a deep voice interrupted.
"Evie! I was hoping to catch you before you left."
Gabe turned to see Shepherd Lawson striding towards them, his broad shoulders filling out his stylish wool coat in a way that made Gabe acutely aware of his own slim build and conservative business suit.
What the heck? Since when did that sort of thing bother him?
The handsome local barista’s perpetual scowl made Evie tense, so Gabe deliberately stood his ground instead of giving them privacy.
"Shepherd," Evie said, her voice cautious. "What can I do for you?"
"I noticed the bakery side of the front step is a bit wobbly.”
The bakery and the coffee shop were side by side, with the doors adjacent and a shared step.
“A bit of a hazard with the craziness of the coming holiday season. We wouldn’t want anyone to trip.”
Evie’s shoulders slumped so much, Gabe was surprised she didn’t fold in on herself completely. He was about to intervene and tell Shepherd to back off when she spoke up.
“I’m sorry. I’ll add it to my to-do list…”
Shepherd’s scowl deepened. “I’m not sure what’s going on in your head, Evie, but I was actually stopping by to tell you I planned to deal with it on Sunday. I just wanted to let you know because we’ll both need to keep off it for the day, and I wasn’t sure if you planned to visit the shop.”
Frosted Sugar was closed on a Sunday, but Gabe knew Evie usually set her ovens up the night before.
Evie flushed and closed her eyes, and Gabe felt the weirdest urge to hug her. She looked like she could do with one.
“Oh fudge! Sorry - again. It’s been a crappy day, and I’ve reverted to thinking the worst, I’m afraid. I apologize.”
“Ah, I guess I didn’t make myself very clear,” Shepherd muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
And the habitual glare didn’t help matters either, though Gabe didn’t say as much.
“Thank you,” Evie continues, her sudden, relieved smile brightening up the whole room. “I appreciate it.”
“The step is a joint responsibility, Evie.”
“You’re absolutely right, send me half the bill.”
Shepherd shrugged. “I’m doing it myself with stuff I have on hand, so there won’t be one.”
Evie considered for a moment. “Then come by and grab a couple of pastries on the house,” she told him, a hint of a tease in her voice, which Shepherd didn’t seem to know what to do with.
One that rubbed Gabe decidedly the wrong way, since he wished it was aimed at him, instead of the very proper facade she always threw up between them.
Shepherd managed what might pass as a smile, though it was closer to a grimace, then tipped his head in farewell before striding off. Evie looked at him over her shoulder as he left. Was she checking out his ass? Damn it all, he was going to miss his chance with her if he wasn’t careful.
Shaking himself, Gabe turned back to Evie.
Not wanting the conversation to end, he scrambled for something to say, looking around the room for inspiration.
He saw Iris, Marigold, and Bee in hushed conversation, throwing conspiratorial glances in their direction.
What the hell were they up to now? Still…
“I’m surprised you agreed to play Santa’s elf at the grotto this year.
I thought you’d have enough on your plate. ”
Evie looked at him blankly. “What?”
Gabe raised his eyebrows, but before he could respond, Evie’s bff came scurrying over.
Posy gave Evie an effusive hug. “You saved me!! You have no idea how grateful I am!”
Evie still looked nonplussed, but he had no idea if it was in response to his comment or Posy’s.
“I did?” Evie tipped her head to one side, her eyebrows scrunching together.
“Yep. Mom was gearing up to make me the default elf if no one else agreed, and with the best will in the world, there’s no way I’m donning a spandex elf costume.”
“Pretty sure you saved us all. That’s not a sight any of us want to see.”
“Victoria…” Gabe warned his ex-girlfriend as Evie glared, and Posy looked thoroughly taken aback before she pulled on a hasty mask of nonchalance.
“What?” Victoria shrugged as if she had no idea what the problem was. “It’s not like I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”
Posy grimaced, and Evie looked like she was about to go into battle, except Victoria Stirling, as usual, didn’t know when to stop. “Although I’m not sure Evie’s ass is going to look so great in an elf costume, either. But at least your ass is only half the size.” Evie’s mouth dropped open.
“Evie will look curvilicious,” Posy countered, rushing to her friend’s defense. Gabe liked the way they had each other’s backs.
“Whereas Posy would just look like the Goodyear blimp.”
“Hey, don’t talk about people like that,” Gabe interjected, letting Victoria know his displeasure. Victoria had been actively trying to get on his good side. Gabe knew she wanted them to get back together, but this was exactly why they’d broken up; because he couldn’t stand her bitchy nature.
“God, it’s not like it isn’t the truth,” Victoria declared with a huff. “Posy sees those kids in school every day. They do not need to be traumatized by seeing Miz Caldwell looking like she’s lost an argument with a clingwrap machine. She’ll look more like a bauble than an elf.”
“That’s enough!” Gabe snapped, while Posy looked away in embarrassment, and Evie took a step towards Victoria, fury sparking in her expressive brown eyes.
Both Evie and Posy were what Gabe would call ‘real’ women, rather than stick insects, like Victoria.
Evie was all delicious curves, a delightfully spankable ass, and tits that would overflow your hand, and while there was no denying Posy was…
round, Victoria was way out of line, and one look at his face ensured she was aware of it.
Posy was also one of the nicest people he knew. It annoyed him that anyone so much as hinted that either woman’s worth should be based in any way on their figure or how they dressed. He also knew society was fickle and placed far too much importance on looks and size.
Oh, and money. Mustn’t forget that one.
He hated it.
Victoria rolled her eyes, muttered under her breath, and stomped off.
“I’m so sorry,” he apologized when she was out of sight.
Evie shook her head, still glaring into the thinning crowd where Victoria had disappeared. “It’s not you who should be apologizing.”
Posy sighed, her usually bubbly character subdued. “Well, it’s not like I couldn’t stand to lose a little weight.”
“Mike absolutely loves you exactly the way you are, Posy.” Gabe felt the need to remind the grade school teacher of how smitten her fiancé was.
And it was worth it just for the appreciative look Evie gave him.
He wanted her to think of him as someone she could rely on, not Victoria’s ex.
Not Adrian’s friend. After all, there was another reason he and Victoria had split up, not long after Adrian and Evie divorced.
“What he said,” Evie echoed, and Posy threw her hands up. “I know, I know. Still don’t want to embarrass myself in an elf costume.”
“But it’s okay if I do?” Evie speculated, her eyebrows raised.
“You, my dear, can pull it off in a way I’d never be able to, and even Gabriel can’t deny that.”
Gabe was just thankful the pair were back to their usual banter.
Evie huffed out an exaggerated sigh. “Yeah, yeah. And never mind that I owe you for all the times you take care of Ollie for me.”
Now it was Posy’s turn to scowl, and Gabe’s turn to leave.
“You know I don’t expect anything in return for helping out with my godson,” Posy began, but Gabe interrupted.
“If you’ll excuse me, ladies…”
They said their goodbyes, and he made his exit, forcing himself not to look back. But he wasn’t quite out of earshot when he heard Posy - god bless her ‘teacher voice’ and the way it carried - say, “Are you checking out his ass?”
Gabe grinned all the way back to the Evergreen hotel.