Chapter 24 Evie
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Evie
The next two weeks passed by like the perfect dream.
My burn was close to being healed up. Nick was back to being able to have sex and was making headway on his resort project. Matthew was busy saving people. And Austin . . . Austin slipped back into overworking himself, but things were still different between us. Between all of us.
He’d made it clear he wanted nothing to do with Nick.
Nick, on the other hand, seemed to be determined to make Austin like him.
Matthew was staying out of it, and decidedly, so was I.
At this point, their rivalry was starting to feel like a game of who could hate each other more over stupid stuff, and part of me wanted to bet on them kissing before the next month was over.
Outside of those things, though, the four of us had become completely entangled. Every night, I was with one of them. Sometimes two if Matthew and Nick could make it happen. I’d never had this much sex in my life.
Nick still owed us the BDSM house tour, but falling off a roof had thrown a wrench into those plans. But, finally, we were planning to go to his house this evening. In theory, Austin would be there too.
I poured filling into a tray of pie crusts and pushed them into the oven. I heard the bell go off up front and grabbed a towel, wiping anything sticky off my hands before darting to the front.
A man stood in front of the bakery case. He had to be from out of town, because I’d never seen him before. He wore a brown suit, and reminded me of a vulture.
“Hi,” I said. “What can I get ya?”
“Nothing,” he said. “I have a few questions for you, if you don’t mind me asking them.”
I frowned. “Um . . . Sure? I guess? What about?”
“The Whynot family,” he said. “My name is Phil, and I work for a debt collection agency. I wanted to see if you know anything about Mr. Whynot’s passing, since you’re close with the family.”
What the fuck? I didn’t like anything about what he just said. First, how did he know I was close with them? Second, why in the hell would a debt collector be snooping around?
“What’s the name of your agency?” I asked sharply.
Phil narrowed his eyes. “If you could just answer my question—”
“No, I don’t think so,” I said. “You can leave.”
“Evie—”
“We are not on a first name basis. Get the fuck out of my bakery before I grab my rolling pin,” I growled.
He gave me a horrified look, but it felt fake. This guy wasn’t scared of me and that made me anxious. But the door flew open, and all my anxiety subsided when Mateo stepped in.
His eyes darted to me and he scowled, his shoulders immediately stiffening. “Got a problem?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “This guy won’t leave.”
Phil scoffed, but his energy was a lot different now that there was another man in the room. My stomach twisted as he shot me a dirty look and stormed out of the bakery, pushing past Mateo.
“Are you okay?” Mateo immediately came around the counter and gave me a hug.
“I am,” I exhaled. “Thank you.”
He released me, his brows still drawn together. “What was that? I’ve never seen him around.”
“He said he was a debt collector,” I said.
“What?”
“He was asking about the Whynots,” I whispered.
Mateo’s scowl deepened. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I know,” I said. I shivered, wishing I could purge that snake-oil vibes out of my bakery. “I’m glad you showed up. I was about to grab my rolling pin.”
He let out a curse in Spanish, shaking his head. “Next time, call me immediately. Or one of your boyfriends.”
I snorted as I pulled out a fresh croissant for him. He took it as he leaned back against the counter, his eyes wandering around the bakery. “I haven’t been over in too long, and I wanted to check on you.”
“You’ve been busy,” I teased. “How are . . . things?”
I’d yet to hear a follow up from Avery about anything baby-related. June and I had been anticipating something, especially since she’d mentioned once again her period was late.
Mateo bit into his croissant and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Hmm. You know something I don’t. I know a leading question when I hear one.”
We stared at each other until I broke first, letting out a snort. “It’s nothing.”
“That’s a lie, Evie!” he exclaimed playfully. “We are friends!”
“Yeah, but I’m Avery’s best friend.”
“I’d even dare say we are best friends too!”
I started laughing. “Okay, well, I’m not saying anything.”
“Evie. You’re killing me.”
I shook my head. This wasn’t my news to reveal, and I’d already done enough by asking Levi in the emergency room. I’d harass Avery after work.
“Anywayyyy,” I said. “Everything is going well. I’m not so used to dating one person, let alone three. Juggling everything has been a lot. Many different dynamics. I’m still like holy shit, this is real.”
Mateo chuckled. “It’s scary at first, but then you sink into a new normal, and it’s amazing.”
I smiled at him. I’d seen Mateo’s pining crush bloom into something beautiful, and I wanted that too.
“So . . . the cat’s out the bag with Austin then, right? I mean I know it is. He’s told me some about seeing you and Matthew.”
“I bet he complained about how beautiful Nick’s eyes are too.”
Mateo nearly choked on his croissant from laughing so hard. “Jesus, Evie. I take it they’re still fighting?”
“It’s a lot of fuck off, Nick. Fuck off, Austin. Fuck you, fuck off,” I imitated, earning more laughter. “And I don’t know what to do about it. Matthew and I are Switzerland.”
“That seems for the best,” Mateo said. “I’m sure they’ll work it out eventually. Austin has to warm up to things sometimes, you know.”
“I do know.” I wrinkled my nose. “Should we have a get-together soon? It’s been too long and we’re already halfway through summer.”
“We should,” Mateo said. “I’ll talk to Avery. Time to expand our group chat, hmm? Now that you have three boyfriends. We have a growing family.”
“We sure do.” I crossed my arms. “Are you going to give Nick and Matthew a hard time?”
“Oh yeah. Austin too. You’re like my little sister, and you’re an only child. It’s my sworn duty to give the three of them shit.”
“Okay,” I chuckled. “But please no fist fights.”
“No, of course not. Well . . .”
“Mateo,” I hissed.
He held up his hands. “Fine.” He chuckled and crossed his arms, his smile fading. “So a debt collector. What do we do?”
“Talk to Austin,” I said. “Dallas and Avery too.”
He nodded slowly. “What are you doing after work?”
I was supposed to go over to Matthew’s, but I’d text him and ask if I could come over a little late or if he and Nick could hang out without me tonight. Whatever the hell this was, my friends needed to know. I knew they’d both understand.
“I’ll text Matthew and Nick to let them know I’ll either be late or won’t be coming over,” I said. “I think . . . I don’t want to exclude June, Madi, or Levi, but . . . maybe I should just talk to the three of them?”
Mateo pressed his lips together. “It might be rough, but I think they should be there. We’re all Whynots. Even you, Evie.”
I exhaled. He had a point. “Okay,” I said. “Text the chat. I feel like I should talk to Austin first . . .”
For the first time, I felt conflicted. Austin and I were dating, and I didn’t want to cause a problem.
“Let’s just tell them all together,” Mateo said. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“Okay,” I sighed, even though my stomach twisted. “I’ll text Matthew and Nick.”
“Perfect. We’ve got this. What was that guy's name?”
“Phil,” I said, making a face.
“Phil. Well, we’ll keep an eye out for him. I’ll see you in a bit.”
I nodded as he left, then stared at the wall, exhaling slowly. Should I text Austin? Should I text Avery? Should I wait like Mateo said? Should Matthew and Nick be there too? What if that guy was dangerous?
I undid my bun and let my hair down, rubbing my scalp with a groan.
I didn’t like secrets. I’d seen firsthand how secrets ruined everything.
Reluctantly, I stuck to the plan. I texted Nick and Matthew, saw Mateo’s SOS text in our group chat, and now had plans to go over to Avery’s once the bakery closed.
Whatever it was, we’d take care of it together. It could have been nothing. But in the back of my mind, I worried it was proof not everything was as perfect as it seemed.