Chapter 8
Everly
I am going to die.
“So close, Ev. We’re almost there,” Violet tells me, looking just as tired as I feel. Her platinum blonde hair is pulled back into a slick bun and her lips are a matte red. She grabs a few cocktail napkins from the bar and adds them to the fresh round of drinks on her tray. “One more hour, but who’s counting?”
I am. Every single minute. But that’s what I get for taking an extra night shift.
The best thing about Catch 21 is the food. It’s top notch. Unfortunately, that means that we are very rarely not busy. And tonight has been no exception. It was so slammed tonight that I didn’t get a break and now my feet are screaming at me, and my back is in desperate need of a Swedish massage. Sadly, the only massage I can afford these days is one of those vibrating chairs at the mall and even that I would consider a luxury at this point.
Worst of all, I missed Birdie’s end-of-the-month dance showcase tonight. I’ve never missed one of her recitals, and it kills me that I wasn’t there to watch her. Thankfully, my mom stepped in to take her. That seemed to work just fine for Birdie, who was excited for her gramma to see the dance she’s been working on. But I still hate the fact that I had to miss it.
I fill my tray with drinks and survey my tables, taking in the large open dining room, the wall of glass that opens to a patio with a view of the ocean, and the opulent gold chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. As the wife of Grant Billings, I would dine in restaurants like this one every weekend. And now? I’m embarrassed to admit that I can’t even afford one of their signature cocktails.
A fancy night out for Birdie and me lately is hitting up The Olive Garden, and even that we can only afford to do once a month. But I don’t mind. The freedom I now feel living in Reed Point away from Grant’s controlling ways is better than all the expensive dinners in the world.
Thankfully, the hour passes quickly and then the night is over. Violet and I slump into chairs in the break room and slip off our shoes, stretching the arches of our feet. She pulls one foot onto her lap, massaging the ball of her foot. “Ughhh. Is it normal for feet to hurt this bad? My pinky toe has lost all feeling.”
“I think mine are broken. Is it normal for feet to be this color?” I ask, bending over my knees to look down at my red, swollen, achy feet.
“If this is your way of asking me to carry you out of here, nope. Can’t do it. I’m too tired,” she teases, limping over to her locker to grab her change of clothes. To Violet’s credit, she looks more alive than I do. To mine, she’s four years younger and is not getting up at the ass-crack of dawn with a 7-year-old every day.
Once we’ve changed into our comfy clothes and runners, we slip out through the half-full dining room to the front doors, waving a goodbye to Owen at the bar. He has at least another two hours left before he is out of here for the night.
I make it to the hostess desk when my eyes go wide and my heart rate skyrockets, feet rooted to the floor. “Oh my gosh.”
“Oh my gosh, what?” Violet asks, grabbing onto my arm.
Her gaze tracks mine through the window to where Jake is standing. For the second time this week, he is waiting outside Catch 21 for me, and my body responds to the sight of him, sending a wave of heat shooting up my spine.
“Who is he?” Violet asks, craning her neck to get a better look. “Ooh, he’s cute,” she says, appreciating the view as much as I am. Jake is wearing a backwards baseball hat, light gray hoodie, and a pair of black athletic shorts. I am so into this look. “Wait. Holy shit! Isn’t that the hot guy who was in here a few weeks ago?” she looks at me with eyes as wide as saucers.
I haven’t mentioned Jake to her. I haven’t mentioned Jake to anyone, minus the brief conversation I had with my parents. “Yeah. But you can stop looking at me like that. We’re just… friends. It’s nothing.”
“Friends?” she says, eyebrows raised. “Well, whatever he is, I hope you’re tapping that.”
I gently elbow her in her side. “Stop it. I’m not tapping that. Not now or ever.”
At least, that’s what I keep trying to tell myself.
JAKE
My eyes landon Everly as she walks through the doors of Catch 21, and a smile forms on my lips because I’m a goner.
She’s wearing what seems to be her post-work outfit—a midriff-skimming athletic top and a pair of loose sweatpants that hide her small frame. When she looks at me, it’s like I can breathe again. Whenever I’m not with her, it feels like there’s no oxygen left in the room. She looks like a dream. She’s beautiful. Intoxicating. And she is so far out of my league, I’m not sure why she even talks to me.
I swallow the lump that has formed in my throat, trying not to let my nerves get the best of me. She heads straight for me, a girl with platinum hair in step beside her.
“Hey, you,” I greet her, then immediately wish I had thought of something better to say.
She smiles as she tilts her head, eyeing me warily. “Hi, Jake.” Her voice is soft and sweet, and I notice again the green and gold flecks in her hazel eyes. Her smile knocks the breath out of me. Everly is completely worth the wait.
I knew she had a shift at the restaurant tonight because by some miracle, she has held up her end of the bargain and has been texting me. The messages aren’t coming as frequently as I would like them to, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s a start.
“How was work?” I ask her.
She shrugs, adjusting the strap of her duffle bag a little higher on her shoulder. “It was fine. I managed to get through my shift alive. Do I need to ask what you’re doing here?”
Everly shoots me a defiant glare, like she’s trying to be upset with me for going back on my word. But technically, I didn’t. I never said walking her home was a one-time thing. Those were her words.
“Probably not,” I say.
Next to her, the girl she’s with leans into Everly’s side, nudging her gently with her elbow. “Who’s your friend, Ev?” she asks, looking me up and down.
Everly clears her throat. “This is Jake. Jake, this is Violet.”
“Hey. Jake Matthews,” I say, extending a hand to her. “It’s good to meet you.” She shakes my hand with a strong grip. Violet is beautiful—tall and curvy with blue-grey eyes and pale skin. But she has nothing on Everly. There isn’t another woman on the planet who comes close to her.
Violet’s eyes twinkle with mischief as she leans closer, her voice playful. “Everly needs a little fun in her life, Jake. And you look like the perfect guy for the job.”
Everly’s cheeks blaze bright pink as she shoots her friend a what the fuck look. “I’m doing just fine, Vi, thank you very much.”
“Yes, you’re fine. You’re better than fine, you’re amazing. And you’re also single.” Violet shrugs. “All I’m saying is maybe the last guy’s loss is Jake’s gain.”
“That would be fine by me,” I say, flashing Violet a grin. I return my attention to Everly, who looks like she is plotting her friend’s murder. “Are you two going out or can I walk you home?”
“Oh, no… we are not going out,” Violet rushes to say. “She’s all yours. I’ve got plans… with… my dog. In fact, I think Henry needs me now. See you, Monday, Ev?”
Everly levels a look at Violet while I try not to laugh. “See you Monday, Vi.”
“Have fun,” Violet calls in a sing-song voice as she heads in the direction of her parked car. The lights flash on a Honda CRV as she gets closer.
“I like your friend,” I say with a smug grin plastered on my face.
“I’m sure you do.” She rolls her eyes. “Don’t listen to her.”
“About which part?” I widen my eyes in mock innocence. “The part about you needing some fun in your life or the part about me being the guy for the job?”
“Jake.” She narrows her eyes at me.
“What?” I smirk, not able to keep a straight face. “Her words, not mine. But she’s right. I could show you a good time.”
“My god.” Everly shakes her head. “I swear…”
“Come on,” I laugh. “I’ll stop. You ready to go?”
Her two front teeth scrape gently over her bottom lip. “No.”
“What’s the problem?”
“I have my car here.” She gestures toward her black BMW. “Birdie is staying at my parents’ tonight, so I drove.”
Not the answer I was expecting, but I can work with this. It’s late, but she’s kid-free, and that’s not an opportunity I want to pass up on. “Are you hungry? We could hit up Delila’s Diner…they’re open all night.”
She scrunches her pretty nose. “It’s a little late to eat.”
“Not if you’re hungry, it isn’t. Come on,” I say with a smile. “Let’s get you something to eat.”
I want her to say yes. Badly.
“Okay,” she relents, and I barely resist the urge to throw a celebratory fist in the air.
“I’ll drive. My truck is parked over there.” I dig my keys out of my pocket, nodding towards my charcoal-gray F-150.
Everly stands, not budging an inch, while I reach towards her shoulder to take her duffle bag. She folds her arms over her chest. “This isn’t a date, to be clear.”
“Definitely not a date.” I repeat her words back to her. It is so a date, who is she kidding? But I know better than to argue with her. Everly can’t be pushed. I’ve learnt that much.
“Just making sure we’re clear.” She arches an eyebrow, handing me her bag.
“Crystal.”
At Delila’s,Everly and I sink into the avocado-green leather booth, and I can sense her relief at being off her feet. Apart from an older couple at a table near the door, we’re the only ones in the place.
I take my hat off to pull my hoodie over my head. It feels like it’s a million degrees in here. I don’t know if they need to fix their air conditioning or if it’s just sitting this close to Everly that has me feeling like I’m on fire. What the hell is happening to me?
Everly is one of the hottest girls I’ve ever seen. Sitting across from me in her comfy clothes, with barely any makeup on, she looks so much better than the women I often see in tight dresses and fake eyelashes, stumbling on heels they can barely walk in. On the drive over, Everly threw on a gray zip-up hoodie that she unzipped to her abdomen, revealing her pale pink athletic bra and perfectly proportioned chest. Somehow, I’m managing to keep my eyes above her tits. For the most part.
As I tug my baseball hat back on my head, I notice Everly checking out the ink on my right arm. But she doesn’t ask about it. Instead, she looks to the menu as she reaches for her water glass.
“You know… I’ve never been to a diner before,” she says as she brings her glass to her lips, looking around the 70s-inspired restaurant.
“You mean I’m the first guy to take you to a diner on a d—”
Her eyes flick back to mine. “I told you, Jake, this isn’t a date.”
I smirk. Teasing Everly is my new favorite hobby. “I’m just giving you a hard time,” I laugh. “You’re cute, by the way, when you’re all riled up.”
She leans one elbow on the table, resting her chin in her palm. Fuck, she’s cute. “And you aren’t being honest.”
She’s right, I’m not being entirely honest with her right now— I’m not telling her how badly I want to kiss her or how I’m dying to touch her skin.
“Why do you say that?” I ask.
Her lips tip up in a wry smile. “You think this is a date.”
Well, she’s not wrong. But date or not, I’m not complaining.
“You’re sort of right,” I say, grinning back at her like a dummy. This whole non-date with Everly seems too good to be true. Like Christmas coming early. “I know it’s not a date, but I wish it was.”
I could have denied it, but what would be the point? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this girl since the day I met her. There’s no question I’m into her. I just don’t know if she feels the same way. I’m pretty sure she does, but she doesn’t want to admit it.
I’ll wear her down eventually.
Everly tucks a few strands of her long hair behind her ear, looking back at me like she’s trying to figure me out. “My age really doesn’t bother you?”
“Not for a second.” I answer her honestly, locking my eyes with hers. I actually think it”s hot that she’s seven-years older than me, but I’m pretty sure she would shut down on me if I told her that.
Her playful expression is replaced by something else. She seems uncertain, like she can’t quite tell if I’m being serious or not. I am dead serious.
The moment is interrupted when our waitress appears to take our orders. Everly decides on a turkey club while I go for the patty-melt. We sit in silence for a beat, the air still thick with tension from our conversation. Everly breaks the silence first.
“You didn’t have to bring me here, Jake.”
“I know I didn’t. I wanted to,” I say, my attention solely focused on her. She looks so heart-stoppingly pretty it actually hurts to sit here across from her and not touch her. I’m dying to kiss her, but I have to remind myself that kissing Everly is not on the menu tonight.
Everly and I have talked several times now, but she’s still a mystery to me. There is still so much I don’t know about her. But if I’ve learnt anything at all about Everly, it’s that she needs to take things slow. She doesn’t like to be pushed.
“I have to admit, it’s nice to be out with someone who isn’t constantly talking about Barbies or Peppa Pig,” she says with a laugh.
“I don’t know,” I smirk. “Barbie is a legend.”
She shoots me a dubious look. “Not you too.”
I shrug. “I see a Barbie marathon with Birdie in my future.”
Everly’s eyes widen, and I immediately realize what I’ve done. I’m such an idiot. I wish I could take it back, but it’s too late for that, so I do what feels like the next best thing. “Shit… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep.”
She drops her gaze down to her hands then back to me, exhaling a long breath. “Jake, you just showed more interest in Birdie than her own dad ever has. You don’t need to apologize for that.”
Her honesty leaves me speechless. I stay silent, waiting like a tightly coiled spring to see if she’ll tell me anything more about her ex. But she doesn’t. He seems to be a topic Everly does not want to discuss, and probably for good reason. Based on what little I’ve heard so far, the guy sounds like a total asshole. I get the feeling there is a lot to that story, but I leave it, letting Everly set the pace. There probably isn’t a point in getting into any of it now anyways. Everly is keeping me securely in the friend zone, but I’m still hoping she’ll change her mind about that.
“Besides,” she goes on. “Birdie would think that was the best day ever.”
I smile, surprised at how happy it makes me to think that maybe I made a good impression on Birdie. “She’s a cute kid.” I trace the corner of my napkin with my finger. “And I really like hanging out with her mom.”
Everly swallows. “I like you, too.”
My body hums at her response, and the air in the diner suddenly feels charged with electricity. Everly usually has her guard up around me but for the first time it feels like she’s built up the courage to be vulnerable.
“Tell me more about you,” she says, just as our server returns with our orders.
I steal a pickle from her plate, grinning. “What do you wanna know?”
“Tell me about your family… where did you grow up? Do you have any siblings?”
I guess I should have seen the questions coming, but they hit me like a brick. My heart drops to my feet, like it always does when I’m asked about my family.
I clear my throat. “I grew up in Mayberry, not too far away. But I moved to Reed Point with my sister, Sierra, when I was 12. Just down on Haven Harbor.” I think about telling Everly more, but my throat tightens. I’m shit at sharing my feelings period, but talking about the night my parents died… I just don’t do it. I can’t.
“How about you?” I ask, shifting the conversation away from me.
“I grew up in Reed Point with my parents and my brother, Adam, then moved to Brookmont for college. My parents are your quintessential working-class couple, married for almost 40 years, still living in the same house I grew up in. Adam lives in California with his wife and two kids.”
“What brought him to California?”
“Love, I guess? He’s a pilot and met his wife on one of his layovers. She’s from San Diego and when things got serious, he moved there to be closer to her. They got married two years later and the rest is history,” she says, plucking a French fry from her plate. “His wife is the sweetest. She’s the best thing to happen to my brother. He was a bit of a serial dater before he met her. We see each other once or twice a year when they come for a visit, but it’s never enough. His daughters are close in age to Birdie, the three of them have the best time together. They always put on these elaborate dances, it’s so cute. Oh! Speaking of… my mom sent me a video tonight and I haven’t had a second yet to watch it.” She pulls her phone from her bag. “It’s of Birdie dancing tonight in her showcase.”
She pulls up the video, and I smile at the way her face brightens. “Tell me this isn’t the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen,” she says with her heart in her eyes.
I expect her to just turn the screen to me but instead, she stands and comes to sit beside me, holding her phone in front of us. I can smell the citrusy scent of her, feel the warmth of her skin. I have to force myself to focus on the screen.
She hits play on the video of Birdie in a dance class. The camera is zoomed in on her, and she’s beaming, dressed in pink from head to toe. I don’t have to look at Everly to know that she’s smiling.
“I may be biased, Ev, but she’s the best one in the room,” I say, watching Birdie twirl and jump.
“She loves it.”
“Was this tonight while you were at work?”
“Yeah.” She sighs. “First one I’ve ever missed.”
I steal a glance at Everly and see the sadness in her eyes. “I’m sorry you missed her dance,” I say, placing my hand on her arm, touching her for the very first time tonight. Her skin is soft and warm, and it makes me want to keep my hand there for as long as I can.
She turns to face me, and we both freeze, her green eyes gazing back at me through long, dark lashes. My heart thunders inside of my chest like a freight train. Her eyes drop down to my hand on her arm, and I feel her tense, but I leave it there, squeezing ever so softly. My eyes drop down to her lips, watching them part just slightly, and I wonder what would happen if I kissed her. Would she kiss me back?
Everything in me wants to find out. My heart stutters. My pulse sprints. Another second and my lips could be on hers.
“How’s everything here? Can I get you two anything else?”
The waitress appears out of nowhere, and Everly pulls her arm into her side. She slides off the bench and stands, returning to her side of the booth.
“I think we’re fine for now, thanks,” I say, drawing in a breath, trying to regain my composure, but I’m drowning. Being that close to kissing Everly and missing the opportunity feels like the biggest let-down.
I’ve never been this nervous around a woman before. Would Everly have kissed me back? If I do make a move, will I scare her away? Or will she flat-out reject me? The not knowing and trying to play it cool is going to kill me.
In other words, I am a total mess over this girl.
It’safter 1 a.m. when I pull up behind Everly’s car just down the street from Catch 21. I shift my truck into park and reach behind me for her duffle, handing her the bag.
“I hope I didn’t get you back too late,” I say, turning in my seat to face her.
Everly’s eyes move to the clock on my dash, then widen when she realizes the time. “Wow, I had no idea how late it is.”
I hope that’s a good thing. Time flies when you’re having fun and all that. We were at the diner longer than I expected, and it felt like neither one of us was in a hurry to leave. After the almost-kiss, the awkwardness quickly passed, and we took our time finishing dinner. We ordered coffee and split a piece of pie before I reluctantly paid the bill and we returned to my truck.
“What time do you have to be at your mom’s to pick up Birdie in the morning?”
“Anytime.” She shrugs. She said she can stay as long as she wants.”
“That’s great. You deserve a sleep-in.”
“I won’t argue with you on that.”
Silence fills the truck, and it’s noticeable. Conversation between us is always so easy, but right now it feels different. I’m not sure what to do next. What I want to do is kiss Everly, but I know that would freak her out. Even a hug feels impossible thanks to the damn console being in the way. This is the first time I have ever wished I bought a smaller truck.
“Thanks for tonight,” Everly says, unbuckling her seat belt. “I had fun.”
“Does that mean we can do it again?”
She grabs her bag, her other hand already on the door handle. “We can. You were on your best behaviour.” Her voice is cute, flirty. My dick responds with a twitch. It makes me want to push her a little.
“I was,” I say. “But I don’t have to be.”
Everly tries to hide the grin that forms on her lips. “I’ll text you, okay?”
“I hope so.”
Everly hadtwo more night shifts this week, and I showed up after both to walk her home. Aside from that, we’ve been texting multiple times a day. But that has been it. I still haven’t found an opportunity to take her out again. Or to make a move. Every night I’ve walked her home has ended the same way—awkwardly. And it is starting to fuck with my head.
What the hell has happened to my game? I have none.
I haven’t had too much time to dwell on it, because my sister and I have been busy moving Gran into her assisted living facility home. It was tough watching Gran say goodbye to the house she’s lived in for so many years, and I was grateful Sierra was there to go through it with me. We went for tacos the following night to catch up and I gave Sierra the rundown on life in Reed Point. Now that she’s getting settled into Gran’s place, I told the guys to keep an eye out for her—from a fucking distance. Grayson, Tuck and Holden already know that my sister is off-limits. I’ll break their legs and then their arms if they even try to go near her.
She’ll have a chance to meet the gang tonight at my place, I’m hosting a Friday night cook-out. Tucker, Holden and Grayson are here, along with Aubrey and Beckett and his wife Jules, who works with my sister at The Seaside. Everyone is drinking, having a good time, but I’m feeling… off. The reason? Everly. We haven’t talked at all today. And I wish she was here.
“You good, man?” Grayson asks me when he catches my eye from across the couch.
“Perfect.” I take a long pull of my beer. I can tell I haven’t convinced him, but he seems willing to let it go.
“Let’s do some shots.”
“I’ll pass, man.”
Grayson stands with his beer in his hand. “Why? Come on, Jake.”
Because I’m fucked up over a girl. That would be the honest answer, but instead I just say, “I’m gonna finish my beer, then I’m hydrating. I’ve got shit I’ve gotta do tomorrow.”
He gives me a look but thankfully decides against saying anything else, walking past me to the kitchen.
“Hey.” Tucker swats my thigh with the back of his hand, lowering his voice. “Are you going to invite beach girl to Holden’s cabin?”
Holden gets his uncle’s cabin on the water every Labor Day weekend, and he invites us all up for an end-of-summer bash. He confirmed the plans tonight, and this year it looks like my sister will be coming too.
“Nah, we’re not there yet,” I say, picking at the label on my beer, inwardly laughing at the nickname for Everly. The thought hadn’t crossed my mind, but I doubt Everly would want to go. Besides that, I can’t imagine she would leave Birdie for three days. “We’re nowhere close.”
A crease forms between Tucker’s eyebrows. “Things moving that slow?”
“Yeah. I’ve hugged her, that’s about it.”
Tucker shakes his head, smirking at my lack of game. “What are you waiting for, Jakey? Do you like her or not?”
“Of course, I do,” I mutter.
“Then what are you waiting for? You still got your balls, make your move.”
I nod my head, taking a sip of my beer.
But it’s obvious Everly’s life is complicated. Her ex, her kid, her job. What if she’s not ready for me to make a move? Or worse yet, what if things aren’t actually over with her and Birdie’s dad?
I guess there’s only one way to find out.