8. Evvy
CHAPTER EIGHT
evvy
“I’m fine. I promise.” Felix hovers over me as I rest on the hood of an ATV.
The paramedics already left, but the fire department is still here.
They need to stay on scene until the electric company turns off the power to my cabin—what’s left of my cabin.
One of the giant pines I love so much came down in a windstorm.
My cabin was basically split in half, and my car was squashed.
I just had to park it next to the cabin today.
Ugh. It was pure luck that I was sitting in the far back corner when the tree toppled over. It’s a miracle I wasn’t injured.
Nature’s playing a cruel joke now, sending sunlight to shine down like a spotlight on the destruction around me.
Deep breaths. I’ve held it together so far, but only because I’ve been going through the motions, in denial that this is actually happening to me.
After the tree fell, I managed to climb out a window and wait for help to arrive.
They examined me, but it’s like I wasn’t really there.
If I closed my eyes, it was easy to pretend I was somewhere else.
With the increasing commotion and sounds of the fire trucks, it’s getting harder to ignore reality.
My shaking feet and clammy skin are giving me away, but no one seems to notice.
Felix puts his hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he mumbles under his breath. My eyes flick to where Felix is focused and I see Zack running down the path toward my cabin. He's full-on sprinting. “Motherfucker,” Felix grumbles.
Things have escalated between Zack and Felix over the past few days.
Neither of them shies away from showing their dislike for one another.
Felix would ban him from volunteering if he could, but that’s above his pay grade.
The state parks system doesn’t want to risk bad press for turning away a famous hockey player looking to perform community service.
Zack barrels toward the cabin, not noticing that I’m sitting on the opposite side of the dirt path. “Evvy! Evvy! Where is she?” Zack keeps shouting as the firefighters turn their heads.
“Zack, I’m over here.” I wave at him, but he’s not looking my way.
He turns in the direction of my voice and when his eyes meet mine his shoulders visibly drop with relief. I thought he was supposed to be at training camp today, so I have no idea how he found out about this.
“Evvy!” He sprints toward us, but Felix throws up his arm before he can get close.
“She’s under medical supervision, you need to stay back. This is an active scene.” Felix straightens the collar of his ranger uniform as he stands taller, trying to look superior. It’s laughable because Zack could pick him up with his pinkie finger.
“I mean this with every bit of offense I can muster—you can politely fuck off.” Zack pushes Felix’s arm out of the way and sinks down next to me. Not a great way to talk to my boss, but it was effective. I’ll give him that.
Felix stares at Zack, jaw gaping as he’s finally stunned into silence. “Felix, I’m fine. I think the fire captain wants to see you.” I point in the direction of the fire trucks. It’s not true, but he clearly needs to feel important.
“Right. I’ll be back shortly.” He walks off, but not before giving Zack one last scowl.
Zack’s eyes sweep over every inch of my body. He’s searching for injuries he’s not going to find, at least not on the outside. It feels awkward to have this much attention directed at me, especially from him. “I’m not hurt, Zack.”
“Look at your arm!” He gently lifts it, brushing his fingers across my skin where I was scraped by branches. Chills spread down my spine as his calloused fingers, rough from years of hockey, continue to dance over my skin.
I pull my arm back, crossing it with my other over my chest. “It’s only cuts and scrapes. I’ll live,” I say with a small smile.
“It’s not funny, Evvy. I thought…I thought something happened to you.” Welling eyes meet mine before he spins his ballcap from back to front, tugging the rim down lower over his face. “I’m just so fucking glad you’re safe.”
“I’m good. Totally fine. No one needs to worry about me.” I raise my palms with a shrug. My heart bangs against my chest as though it’s trying to escape, and I swallow down my breakfast that’s threatening to make a reappearance as I force a bright smile on my face.
“Evvy…don’t…” Zack looks at me like he’s in on the secret.
Felix approaches us again, sporting a smug grin. “Alright, Evelyn. The firefighters have determined nobody is allowed back into the cabin.” No kidding, genius. “The cleanup crew will collect any personal possessions they find after the tree is removed. The cabin will need to be torn down.”
I hear his words, but all I can do is stare at the crumbled pile of wood. It wasn’t much, but it was my home. I’ve wanted to live in Maine for as long as I can remember, and now my dream might be over.
“You should take the week off. I’ll deal with this, and your work can wait. There aren’t any staff cabins available.” Felix looks deeply into my eyes as he arches his back then points toward another cabin.
His cabin.
“The camping cabins aren’t suitable for use this time of year, so you can stay with me.
I have plenty of room.” His eyes continue to search over me as he holds out his hand.
“Let me help you up, then you can come take a look. I have a couch, and being the manager's quarters, it’s bigger than the other cabins.”
“No,” Zack says quietly, his hands repeatedly clench and unclench at his sides.
“She can stay with me. Evvy, please stay with me.” He reaches for my wrist, running his thumb gently over my little black cat tattoo.
My throat feels thick as my stomach flutters at the memories of this simple gesture.
“Please, Evvy,” he mutters under his breath. “Please stay with me.”
I can’t.
I shouldn’t.
But I do.
“Okay.”