Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
It was one thing for Evie to spend the night.
It was totally different having her move in.
And he wasn’t hating it.
That first day had been utter chaos. Between dealing with damage around the property, getting Reece and his team of engineers out to inspect Evie’s cottage, and then helping her get everything she needed—something Nora took her to do courtesy of Slater’s credit card—they had simply collapsed that night in pure exhaustion.
Now, three days later, Slater found himself standing in the middle of the living room, barely recognizing it.
Her stuff was everywhere. He tended to be fairly minimalistic, and Evie was the total opposite.
There were shoes, books, hair ties, random jackets, a few candles, and a half-finished mug of coffee from this morning scattered around.
The bedroom was more of a mess. Between the tangled sheets and blankets on the bed, the dresser that was overflowing with both of their clothes, and even more of Evie’s stuff on almost every available surface, it looked a little like a tornado had gone through it.
And then there was the bathroom. Her robe was hanging on the hook on the door right next to his, her makeup was on the vanity, and it smelled of her shampoo and perfume.
On instinct, he inhaled deeply and smiled.
The last time he shared a living space with anyone was when he still lived at home with his mother, and that had been a nightmare.
It was something he’d avoided ever since.
But living with Evie was actually…nice. Coming home at the end of the day and finding her there was something he looked forward to.
On some level, he imagined resenting the loss of his privacy and alone time, but that didn’t happen.
Right now, he was supposed to meet Reece and Axel down at the cabin to see if they had stabilized it, but the only thing he wanted to do was go inside and get the rest of her stuff and bring it back to his place.
There was no need for her to move back. It wasn’t like he was eager for her to leave; she was going to be doing that soon enough when she went back to Seattle in less than two weeks.
Eleven days to be exact.
It was something he refused to think about because he just couldn’t. There was a time when it would have been no big deal, but now…it was. Evie would never be someone he was going to be okay walking away from. And even though technically she was the one walking away, it somehow made it worse.
And that was a brand-new feeling for him.
In the past, it never bothered him when a woman walked away; he actually preferred it.
But this wasn’t just any woman, and this wasn’t just a one-night stand.
If he were being totally honest, he’d say that this was some kind of cruel joke.
This was the kind of thing he’d been telling himself he never wanted and was totally fine living without.
But now that he’d had a taste of it? Pfft…
the joke really was on him because he was starting to want it too much.
But you can’t have it. She’s leaving. What are you going to do, follow her to Seattle?
It wasn’t the worst idea. There were plenty of tour companies in the Pacific Northwest that he could easily find work.
He just had no idea if it was something Evie wanted.
Or maybe since I am a grown-ass adult, I’m allowed to have a purely sexual relationship with a man who has made me feel more beautiful and alive than I ever have!
Raking a hand through his hair with a weary sigh, he heard her words playing over and over.
Maybe all she wants is a sexual relationship with him.
After all, he wasn’t exactly the poster boy for the guy you bring home to meet the family.
And from everything Evie had ever told him about her family, they were pretty traditional and overall decent people.
They’d probably take one look at him and remind her she could do better.
And she could. Slater knew she could. She definitely deserved better than someone like him, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to beat the shit out of any guy who even got close to her.
He was saved from any more of these unreasonable musings by a knock on the door. Axel let himself in before he could answer.
“Hey! Reece and Evie are on their way down to the cabin. You ready?”
Slater froze. “Why is Reece with Evie?”
“He went to Milo’s office in town to talk to him about the amphitheater, and apparently Evie knew he was coming here next and she wanted to be here to hear about the cabin.” He paused. “You’re not upset or anything, are you?”
Was he?
Hell yes.
“I just don’t see why she had to ride here with him,” he replied, hoping he sounded casual, but knowing he didn’t. “I mean, why couldn’t Milo just bring her back here? Why couldn’t he just leave early one day? Would it kill him to do something for Evie instead of it being the other way around?”
All Axel did was smirk.
“It just seems like Reece is more than a little interested in Evie, and I don’t like it. Satisfied?”
Chuckling, Axel nodded. “As a matter of fact, I am. But you have to know that the feeling isn’t mutual. Anyone with eyes can see it. When you’re in the vicinity, you’re the only thing she sees.”
“Really?” he asked, feeling completely goofy for even asking.
“Yeah, really. We all see it. And before you start preening, you’re no different. You constantly watch her. Like watch her. It’s a little uncomfortable at times.
“Shut up.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
Frowning, Slater forced himself to move and grab his jacket. “I don’t know.”
“Wow. That’s…not what I expected.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s leaving soon and I would’ve thought you’d have a plan by now. Not for nothing, Slater, but this hasn’t looked like a casual relationship. And now you’re…you know…living together.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to deny it, but…why?
Walking toward the door, he shrugged. “Look, this is all new to me, and I’m just…
I’m trying to figure it all out. I don’t know the right thing to do, or what I should do, or even what Evie wants me to do.
She’s going back to Seattle because that’s where her life is.
But she’s also heading to Costa Rica for her brother’s wedding and…
I don’t know where I fit into any of that or if she’s thinking of anything beyond… you know…this.”
“Wait…Costa Rica? Isn’t that the wedding she was going to go to with that guy?”
That stopped him again. “How do you know about the wedding and the guy?”
“Maisie told me.”
“When did we all turn into such gossipy people?” he asked with just a hint of annoyance.
Grinning, Axel walked past him and out the door. “I don’t know, but now I kind of enjoy it. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day when Maisie comes in and tells me all the stuff she heard.”
Slater followed him out of the cabin and onto the path. “That’s just wrong. What about people’s privacy?”
Axel snorted. “Dude, be serious. There’s very little privacy around here.
I mean, there is for the guests, but for us?
None. Between all of us living in the cabins, we’ve been practically right on top of one another for almost two years.
And then there were very public displays of both affection, not-affection, and sometimes—meaning Connor and Lexi—borderline X-rated affection.
So…” He shrugged. “It is what it is. And you took part in some of it yourself.”
“I know. It just sucks when you’re the one people are talking about.”
“Which reminds me, how are things with you and Milo?”
Right. That.
“We haven’t talked a whole lot. He’s been busy at the new office; I’ve been busy with hikes and stuff and doing stuff with Evie.”
“Ah. You’re still avoiding each other.”
“Not on purpose.”
“Oh, it’s totally on purpose. Don’t even.”
They were slowly walking toward the cabin at the end of the path. “He was basically saying that I wasn’t good enough for her,” Slater reminded him. “It was a little insulting. We’ve been friends since we were kids, and yet he thinks I’m scum.”
Beside him, Axel sighed. “No one said you were scum. But you have to admit, your track record with women is a little less than ideal. He was just looking out for Evie. You can’t fault him for that.”
“Yes, I can.”
“Slater…come on. You have to admit that she’s not like anyone else you’ve ever been involved with.
Evie’s kind of sweet and a little more reserved.
Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if her dad was a preacher or something.
She’s not someone who just does casual.” He shrugged.
“And if you look at it like that, it makes sense why Milo and Nora were concerned.” They came to a stop in front of the cabin.
“If Evie means anything to you, then you should be happy to know that there are people who care about her and who are looking out for her.”
“Maybe,” he grumbled, but it all still ticked him off.
In the distance, Evie's laugh rang out, and Slater immediately turned around to look for her.
“If you keep scowling like that, you’re going to scare them both away,” Axel murmured. “And we really love all the work Reece has been doing for us, so knock it off.”
He was about to, but then he watched as Evie laughed again at something Reece was saying and how they playfully nudged each other as they walked.
She’s mine…
He took a menacing step forward when Axel roughly grabbed him and turned him around. “Get it together, dude, or you’re going to make a total ass out of yourself.”
Slater was about to shove him away, but he said the first thing that came to his mind instead. “What would you do if some guy was walking like that with Maisie?”
Some of the fight went out of his friend.
“Point taken. But Maisie’s my wife. I’d have every reason to kick his ass.
” He took a step back. “Plus, I know she’s not interested in anyone else.
We’ve gone to enough places with guys who are from her social circle and she doesn’t give them the time of day. I’m secure in what we have.”