Chapter 27 #2
“I have it,” Iris says, pulling out her phone. She taps the screen a few times and lifts it to her ear. When she frowns and drops it away from her face, something heavy sinks in my gut. “She’s not answering.”
“I’ll check the stalls and then down by the dock.” Em takes off at a jog.
“Call me if you find her!” I yell at his back.
“I’ll check the ladies’ again,” Iris adds, marching back that way.
I weave my way through the remaining crowd, the revelers now gripping cups in one hand, moving to the beat of the music. I push through sweaty, moving bodies, head swiveling as I scan the crowd for Evie. This doesn’t exactly feel like her kind of thing, but I’m checking regardless.
Having scoured the crowd twice and coming up empty, I pull out my phone.
A text from Iris.
“Nothing. She’s not here but there’s a light on at the library. Heading that way now.”
I push from the crowd and break into a run toward the library.
My phone buzzes.
Em.
“She’s not down at the dock, that I can see. But someone’s been on your boat, Cal. You should come see this.”
Fuck.
Fuck me.
Not now. Evie comes first. If some motherfucker wants to screw with my boat, I’ll deal with them later.
For fuck’s sake, people. Build a bridge and get the fuck over it.
I round the library’s eastern side and slide to a halt as I come up on Iris too fast. “Shit, Irry.”
She smiles, grabbing my arm and turning me to face the library’s lit-up foyer. Inside, a small table is set up. Evie sits behind it, head down, scribbling in a book. She’s signing it?
“Told you she was famous,” Iris says, her smile stretching her face.
I run a hand over my jaw.
Well, shit.
Evie looks up, handing the book back to the teenage girl in front of the table, who promptly squeals and jumps on the spot before snapping a selfie with Evie in the background.
Evie’s smile fades at that, and I brush Iris’s grip off and walk into the library.
I bypass the long line of folks waiting to see their favorite author.
Gaze glued to my girl, I don’t notice the shoulder until I run right into it.
A skinny guy, around thirty, with a cap pulled down over his face waits in the line, standing a little to one side, his stare burning into Evie.
In his arms is a stack of what I assume are Evie’s books, something blue poking out of the top of one.
His stare breaks briefly as he gives me an annoyed look.
I reach the table, and Evie’s face blooms under a tired smile.
Fuck, she’s been here since the restroom? How long was I fucking asleep?
“Baby, you gotta tell a person when you disappear to go be famous,” I whisper into her ear as I lean into her side.
A tentative chuckle turns to a yawn as she stands briefly for a hug. Her hands are cold and her eyes are weary. She didn’t look tired on the ride to the mainland. I guess wandering Bay Shore for an hour and trinket shopping with Iris will do that to a person.
“You don’t have to stay here for every one of these people. We can go home.” I release her as she drops back to the chair.
“A few minutes more. Then we can go.”
I spy Sherry from earlier behind the library loans desk. My guess is she cornered Evie in the restroom and talked her into this. Or dragged her here.
Most likely the latter.
Evie signs a few more books and then stands. “I’m sorry, you guys. But I can come back Monday?” she says, glancing at me.
I nod and give her a smile. “Sure, Monday works.”
“Thank you so much for waiting for me.” She says to the dwindled line and grabs her belongings.
“What if we won’t be here Monday?” the skinny guy in the cap says, and I swear something like annoyance lines his words.
I step forward. “Then you miss out, buddy.”
Evie huffs a strained breath.
He stares at me, his pasty skin and thin lips making him look like some kind of nerd villain. After he’s taken his time sizing me up, he turns on his heels and marches from the library.
Sherry slithers up by Evie’s side. “Thank you so much for doing this for us, Eve.”
“It’s no trouble. I didn’t realize you had so many copies of my books here.”
“Actually, we got a surprise donation a few weeks ago. We don’t have shelving space for an entire carton, so we decided to sell the extras, just a little bonus for the library.”
“Hold up, doesn’t Evie get a cut of those sales?” I grind out.
“Um, usually. But we?—”
Evie holds up a hand. “It’s fine. Keep it. Maybe we can arrange a commission next time.”
“Thanks, sure,” Sherry chokes.
She had no intention of doing any such thing. Fucking hell.
Evie yawns again as she leans into my side and glances up. “I think home is next on the book tour.”
Sherry waves us off as I guide Evie from the library. Iris waits outside, her hands clasped together.
“You scared us, sweetheart. But I’m so excited to see you in action!”
Evie chuckles. “Sorry, I should have texted. Sherry was relentless.”
“I bet,” Iris says, beaming. “Take her home, Cal.”
“Aye aye.” I wrap an arm around Evie’s shoulders, and she rests her head on mine. We wander back to the marina where Em waits for us, his face pulled into a frown. The boat is ransacked, cupboards open, the radio pulled out, everything floating in the water.
“Oh no!” Evie gasps.
Fuck. “She still seaworthy, Em?”
He passes me a handheld radio. “Yeah, starts and runs fine. Probably just some kids pranking the first boat they found. I’ll check the security cameras tomorrow. But you’re good to go.”
I board and wait for Eve to follow. After checking she’s safe and sound in the cabin, I fire up the old girl and we head home under the clear, star-riddled night sky.