Chapter 2
Chapter Two
EVIE
“What are you doing here?” I reach for my suitcase on the baggage carousel, but Everett grabs it before I can.
“What do you think I’m doing here?”
He rolls the suitcase outside, and I follow behind.
Forget that I’m over a decade younger than my oldest brother. That’s not what separates us. It’s that I’m still living near our hometown while the rest of my siblings are scattered around the country.
We grew up in the Midwest, and I’m still there—or I was before I hopped on a plane.
I’ve been working and studying in Ohio, a few hours away from our hometown.
Everett, my oldest brother, is practically on the other side of the country.
He lives in sunny San Diego, and… well, that’s where I am now, with him.
I considered staying with my other brother in New York, but he’s married. I could have gone to my youngest older brother, but he’s up in Canada. My last brother is in Washington, practically as far away as Everett, and…
Staying with Everett is the right choice for a few reasons. I could use a little sunshine right about now.
By the time I was born, my parents had run out of names. They recycled my oldest brother’s name as if we were twins rather than being fifteen years apart. In a way, I think sharing a name made us closer. He’s always been protective of me, and that never changed.
Our other brothers would question and lecture me about my irresponsibility, but I know Everett won’t. He’s even generous enough to pick me up from the airport, which is always unpleasant.
“I told you that you don’t have to pick me up.” I start to roll my suitcase out of the airport, but he reaches for the handle, wordlessly taking it from me.
“Too late.”
“Airport traffic is always impossible! I could have taken an Uber. I would have even let you order it for me if it made you feel better.”
He scoffs. “It’s not like we’re at LAX.”
“Thank God for that.”
The San Diego International Airport is a small step up from the chaos of LAX—then again, most places are. I was happy to avoid flying there; it works for both of us. My brother didn’t have to drive as far to pick me up, but he shouldn’t have come at all. He’s already doing too much for me.
Everett and I have the same light hair and blue eyes, but he stole all of our father’s height. In our family home, if you look at the faded pencil marks that charted our childhood growth, there’s evidence of his growth spurt continuing long past mine.
Evie, 16—4’11
Everett, 16—6’0
And he kept growing. I didn’t.
On the other hand, I take after my mother, an average five-foot blonde with too much attitude.
Not only did he have the audacity to steal all the height in our family, but he stole whatever gene creates success. I’m still stuck in the Midwest, and he’s a recently retired professional surfer living in a gorgeous city.
I’ll catch up to him eventually… or maybe I’ll be stuck sleeping on his couch forever.
It’s a lovely couch, as far as I can remember. I haven’t had time to visit him in a few years.
Everett takes me to his new beachside home in La Jolla. It’s not as messy as most single forty-something-year-old men’s would be, and it’s suspiciously well-decorated. The soft blue colors match the beachside feeling; he even has a beach-themed welcome mat.
Whalecum, with a blue whale underneath it. Very classy.
The last time I visited, he lived in an expensive apartment, but it was unlivable. He left his wetsuit hanging on the balcony, countless dishes in the sink, and his dirty bong was out for everyone to see. The bong is still there, but it’s cleaner than I remember. I guess some things never change.
In the corner of his living room sits a massive amethyst cluster. I run my finger across the pointed, purple stones. It must have cost hundreds of dollars—maybe thousands. “Looks like business is going well?”
“It’s not been bad.” He shrugs. “Summer is coming, so surf lessons are about to go crazy.”
“And they’re learning from the best.” The corner of my lip tugs up. I drop my bag on the couch, but a click of Everett’s tongue stops me before I can settle in.
“Oh, no. You’re not sleeping there.”
I lift a brow. “I’m not?”
“Hell no. You think I want you crashing on my couch for an undetermined length of time? Come on.”
He leads. I follow. That’s another thing that hasn’t changed, I guess. It feels like I’m young again, with my teenage brother leading me through the convenience store, a theme park, or a crowded family party.
But it’s not like that at all. We aren’t saving quarters to buy slushies anymore.
He really stepped it up with this home. Everett has always been a one-bedroom kind of guy—a testament to his bachelor lifestyle—but things change. Everyone is changing, and I’m the same.
He has a guest room now. I wouldn’t believe it if I weren’t witnessing it. Even the hallways speak of his success, with medals and trophies hung for all to see.
I step into the little bedroom, which is more sparsely decorated than the rest of the house.
It smells like fresh laundry, and the queen-sized bed is perfectly made up with pristine, white bed sheets.
I dig my toes into the salmon-pink carpet.
Even with the window closed, I can hear the ocean crashing against the sand.
It’s better than my little apartment, but I’m giving up my hopes and dreams to be here.
“Do you have a secret girlfriend?” I ask bluntly, narrowing my eyes.
“What?” He laughs aloud. “No! Jesus.”
I poke him in the side. “Liar! Why are you lying to me?”
“Why are you grilling me? You just got here. Shouldn’t we pretend to like each other before we start fighting?”
“I don’t understand how this place is so clean. Where are they?”
His secret partner must be around here somewhere.
“I know how to clean,” he mutters under his breath.
I place my hands on my hips and stare him down. “No. You don’t.”
“Fine!” He throws his hands in the air, giving in. “I pay a housekeeper—and I pay her well, thank you very much. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
This news is as strange as hearing that he has a secret girlfriend. It’s not that he didn’t have the means for a housekeeper before, but he never cared enough.
I sit on the edge of the bed and bounce, testing the mattress. “I didn’t know you were living so large.”
“I’m not living large—living medium, maybe. You haven’t seen the houses down the street.”
“Don’t undermine yourself. It’s ten times better than where I was living before.”
He leans in the doorway, crossing his arms. “What happened with that place, anyway? Black mold?”
So much for running away from my problems. My smile drops. “Close. Eviction.”
His mouth falls open. “What? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I would have helped.”
Of course, Everett doesn’t understand. I shake my head. “How was I supposed to tell you over the phone?”
“The same way you said it right now.”
“It’s not a big deal. Like, I had to make it through the semester. Now, I have all summer to decide what comes next.” I shrug, playing off the stress that’s been following me around like a dreaded raincloud.
“You’re going back?” he asks.
“Of course.” I scoff. “I need to finish my degree. Giving up isn’t an option.”
Paying for tuition is another story. Financial aid only covers part of my expenses, and years of working at bakeries have given me great experience, but… well, it has led me to where I am now. No matter how much I loved working there, it would never take care of me like I needed it to.
“Well, this room is all yours.” He gestures. “I know it’s not much, but you can stay here as long as you like. Decorate it. Get comfortable.”
“There’s no need for all that. It’s just for the summer.” I squint at the suspiciously dust-free shelves. “Are you sure you’re not seeing anyone?”
“What do you mean?” He laughs. “I’ve been single since Sarah and I broke up. Scout’s honor.”
Everett and Sarah broke up eight years ago. That’s a long time to be alone—poor guy.
“Just checking,” I mutter. “It really is a housekeeper. I knew you couldn’t clean this well.”
He groans and leans off the wall. “You’re a brat.”
“I know.” My dirty shoes hover over his pretty carpet as I sit on the edge of the bed. I should have taken these off at the door. “But thanks for letting me stay anyway.”
It’s a serious change in conversation and the energy shifts—just slightly—even as his smile remains intact.
“Don’t mention it.” He steps back, his hand landing on the knob. “Take your time, settle in. I’ll figure out dinner. Sound good?”
“Sounds good.” I bounce on the edge of the bed and turn to look out the window. It’s not the best view in the house, but I can make out the sandy shores.
“Everything will be fine, Evie. I have your back.”
Letting someone have my back is the hard part, but for a moment… it feels better to know I’m not alone.
How am I supposed to live like this?
I wasn’t thinking straight when I called Everett.
He was always the partying type, the first on the dance floor at family weddings and the last to leave.
I’m not—definitely not. It would have been too easy for me to be the party animal of the family, considering my parents’ low expectations, but I never had that drive in me.
Maybe I’m being dramatic. The party isn’t like one of his ragers from his younger years—which I obviously wasn’t invited to. This is a barbecue with his friends, but I’ve only been here for two days! I need more time to settle in. My brain is still in another time zone, for crying out loud.
“I assumed you grew out of this.” I spread frosting across a heart-shaped cake.
“Grew out of what?” He snorts. “Having fun? I’ve been waiting for you to grow into it.”
“You’ll be waiting a long time.”
“Uh-huh.”