Chapter 38 Eve
THIRTY-EIGHT
EVE
Fleeing the house in the most epic of mismatched pajamas—part mine and part Cole’s—to walk the dog isn’t my finest moment.
But neither is getting caught in bed naked with my boyfriend by my dad. No one needs to experience that, especially on Christmas morning.
A fresh wave of mortification drowns me. I scrub a hand over my face, wishing it could erase the awkward memory from my mind.
I promised Cole I’d stay in the guest room, but it kept replaying in my head.
I had to get out of there, powerless against the impulse to move.
Panic almost got the best of me when I found Mom baby talking Bauer when I went down to get him for our escape, but she bought my excuse to take him for a walk without question.
When I’m two blocks from the house, I stop in my tracks. I’ve got enough steam to power walk across town if I don’t pay attention. Bauer barks to get me to move.
“Okay, shh. Don’t wake the whole neighborhood. Let’s go this way.”
We turn the corner to circle the block. I sigh, getting lost in my thoughts once more.
I was ready to end this last night. No more secrets. No more sneaking around. I wanted to tell Dad today, but I didn’t expect it to be like this.
Dad’s never been that enthused with the guys I’ve dated, least of all the ones like Shawn. It would break my heart for him to look at Cole with disappointment and disapproval, even though he’s nothing like them.
Not only that, he holds Cole’s job in the palm of his hand. He gave it and he can just as easily rip it away. A sting irritates my throat. Cole loves being a coach more than anything. My jaw clenches.
No. I won’t let Dad do that.
What am I doing out here? Cole’s the one that taught me I can’t run from problems when things get hard. I need to face this with him together. Face Dad.
I have to go back and tell him myself. He doesn’t get a say in who I fall in love with, and I won’t let him punish Cole for being with me.
With a fire burning in my stomach, I spin around. Cole’s there, jogging to reach me. His thick brown hair is windswept and his green eyes are bright.
“This is where you got off to.”
“You tracked me down.”
“Of course I did. Always will.”
He seems in good spirits. I lick my lips, glancing past him as my stomach flips with nerves.
“Is it over?” I ask tightly.
Am I too late?
“Having to be together in secret? Yes.” He cradles my face, giving me the tender smile that wraps my heart in warmth. “But us? No, sweetheart. We’ll never be done. We’re in this together, aren’t we?”
My heart clenches. “Yes. I’m sorry I rushed out, but I’m going to give Dad hell if he thinks he can ruin what we have or mess with your job. It's an abuse of authority if he fires you for whatever you choose to do in your personal life, and I’ll go over his head to argue with whoever I need to.”
Cole chuckles. “I always want you fighting in my corner. HR wouldn’t know what hit them.”
Bauer runs around our feet, clumsily ramming his head into our legs. Cole kisses my forehead, holding me and breathing with me until my head stops rioting with information to plan out what I’ll tell Dad.
Once my thoughts slow down, I process what he said belatedly. “Wait. What happened when you talked to him?”
He pulls back, lips quirking into a lopsided curve. “That’s why I came out here to get you. Everything’s fine.”
“Fine?”
“Completely. He’s not mad. As long as you’re happy, he is. Oh, and your Mom’s apparently known about us since summer. We weren’t as sneaky as we thought, kissing behind the camper.”
“Oh.” I’m sapped of my fierce determination.
Without it to distract me, embarrassment flickers back to life, for what happened this morning and for running out of the house being dramatic over something that wasn’t as big of a deal as I’ve been dreading. I worry my lip with my teeth.
“Are you ready to head back, or do you want to take another lap or two around the block until you feel better?”
A flutter fills my chest. He knows me better than I know myself. More than that, he understands what I need.
Blowing out a breath, I lean into him. His arm drapes across my shoulders.
“It’s cold.”
He rubs me. “That’s because you left without a coat. I’ll warm you up.”
“Let’s go back. It won’t stop feeling awkward until we move past it.”
He steers us around, laughing when Bauer keeps going the opposite way before reaching the end of the lead. With a click of his tongue, our puppy dashes to follow us.
“Your dad’s sorry for what happened. I think he’ll wait after knocking now.”
I cover my eyes. “Don’t remind me. I haven’t recovered from the humiliation yet.
Probably never will.” I tap my temple. “It’ll always live up here, ready to haunt me when I least expect it.
Obviously, we’re never doing anything in the same house as my parents again.
I don’t know how Jess and Benson handle this. ”
“You weren’t complaining when I took you upstairs in the middle of the party. Or that time you answered the phone. And this morning was all you.”
My nose wrinkles. “That was before we got caught. I think it’s time for me to look for a new place. No more…unfortunate incidents for me to add to my anxiety-before-sleep memory rotation if I don’t live at home. Or ten feet from my parents.”
He squeezes me, kissing my cheek. “So move in with me. I already think of it as our home. When you’re not there, it’s just empty space for me and Bauer.”
My steps falter, gaze snapping to him. His eyes bounce between mine as he clasps my chin between his fingers.
“What do you think?”
A delighted laugh leaves me. “Wait, you’re really serious?”
His head dips, leaving barely a millimeter between us. “Are you surprised? You’re my girl, Evie. My world doesn’t spin without you in it. I want you with me when I wake up. When I go to sleep. In the middle of the week. Every—” Kiss. “—single—” Kiss. “—day.”
“I’d like that,” I murmur.
The walk back is short.
“I have another surprise for you,” he says when we reach my street.
“You already asked me to move in with you and got Dad’s approval. What else is there?”
His arm drops from my shoulders to take my hand. “Everything. I’ve told you before, anything you need? I’ll be the one to give it to you.”
“You’re such a sap,” I tease.
“For you, baby. Only for you. Now close your eyes.”
“Okay, but make sure I don’t trip.”
His hand squeezes mine. “I’ve got you.”
I let him guide me because there’s no question he’s the one I trust with my heart.
“You’re about to reach the driveway. Morning, guys,” he says as we start up the incline.
I keep my eyes shut. “Is everyone outside?”
“Freezing our asses off for you,” Benson confirms. “Except Mom, she’s inside with the baby watching through the window. Wave to them.” He snickers at my attempt. “You’re waving to the bushes.”
“Your mom’s only inside with Gracie because you won’t let her out in the cold for more than two seconds. She’d be fine out here.”
Jess’ sarcastic retort drifts over from somewhere beside us as Cole murmurs directions. I smirk at them bickering about Benson being an overprotective dad.
“Not peeking?” Cole checks.
“Nope.”
“Here, Benny, take Bauer’s leash. Evie, come right over…this way.” He moves behind me, holding my shoulders. “There, now you can open your eyes.”
Cracking them open one at a time, I find myself before the camper. Dad, Benson and Jess are next to it with secret smiles.
I twist to look at him. “The camper?”
“I know how much it bothered you that it wasn’t done in time for your first market. I recruited Benson and your dad to help me finish it.”
“You have?”
“Go look inside.”
He kisses the top of my head and nudges me forward. When I open the door, I gasp.
It’s finished. The paint, the fluffy rug I bought but have been waiting to open, the cozy chair, the display shelves stocked with the small amount of earrings, stickers, and stationary I brought home from the market.
In the corner, there’s the little library I wanted. I lay a hand over my thumping heart and drift to the book cart decorated with fairy lights and magnets I’ve designed.
“Cole.” It comes out soft and emotional. “You did all this?”
“Don’t give him all the credit,” Benson says from outside. “Dad and I helped when he asked us to.”
I poke my head out. “Thank you.”
I bite my lip when Dad catches my gaze. Neither of us have to say anything. I step down to hug him and he crushes me the way he has since I was a kid. The awkwardness slips away. Benson pats my shoulder.
“I love you guys. Thanks for doing this.”
“That’s what family is for,” Dad says gruffly. “No matter what.”
I nod, understanding he’s letting me know in his own way that he’s happy for me. Benson pinches my cheek when I pull back. I swat at him and he laughs.
Cole follows me back inside. He leans in the doorway, forearm braced above his head while I wander the finished space, touching everything he put together to complete it.
“You like it?”
“I love it. This is perfect. It’s exactly how I pictured it. How did you even—? It’s like you pulled it right from my head.”
He taps his temple. “I know what you like.”
I rush to him, colliding against his chest. He catches me, keeping us steady like always.
“Thank you,” I mumble into the neckline of the Heston U Hockey sweater he pulled on.
“I’m glad it made you happy.”
I pull back to meet his eye. “You make me happy.”
His eyes crinkle before he dips to kiss me. “Not as much as you make me.”
“Are you going to fight me on this? I’ll win.”
“I will,” he insists. “I’ll out-stubborn your competitive streak every time, sweetheart, because no matter how much you love me, I’ll love you back harder.”
“Why are we like this?” I ask through laughing so hard my sides cramp.
“Because this is us,” he murmurs before kissing me again.
When we first matched on Love Struck, I thought the universe was hating on me by showing me everything I wanted that I couldn’t have in him. It turns out, it was showing me how much I needed him. How much we needed each other.
We’re a match in every way.