35. Evvy
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
evvy
Zack flew to Michigan this morning for the first official away series of the season.
The first game is tomorrow night, and on Friday they’re playing in Chicago.
He won’t be back until early Saturday morning.
I thought about flying out for a game, but I didn’t want to smother him.
He should be able to celebrate with his teammates occasionally without me hovering.
My phone dings and I’m expecting Zack. But it’s not just Zack—it’s all of them. Nothing could prepare me for my introduction to his friend group chat.
Marsh: Evvy, please text your boyfriend so he’ll shut up. It was a long flight…
Marsh: And do you know how many times he just HAD to mention he’s your boyfriend?
Marsh: About a million…it’s over-the-top. So please just text him and end our misery.
Nate: You added a woman to our scared group chat?
Nate: No offense Evvy!
Brent: If you have to say no offense then most likely it’s offensive.
West: Evvy!!!!!!!!
Marsh removed West from the chat
Marsh: Just made it better.
Brent added West to the chat
Brent added Josie to the chat
Brent: Fixed it. Hi, honey!
Nate: I think we need a singles chat now.
West: Josie’s busy remember????
Nate: And how would you know that?
Nate: Oh, wait…never mind. Forget that Evvy.
Me: Forget what exactly?
Zack: What’s wrong with you guys? We’re sitting on the bus together!
Zack: You can ignore all of that, sweetheart.
Marsh: Sweetheart? Ugh.
Marsh: You wouldn’t stop talking about her so I’m just speeding things up.
Zack: I need new friends.
Nate: You love us.
Me: As fun as this glimpse into your group chat has been…I’m going to see myself out. Miss you all! Have a great game tomorrow.
West: You guys ruined it! Bye, Evvy!
You have left this conversation.
And to think they do that all the time…
Josie also stayed home this time, and we haven’t had a chance to hang out lately, so I’m looking forward to some girl time.
Right on cue, the front door swings open and Josie charges toward me, pulling me into a hug. She didn’t even bother to shut the door behind her.
“Evvy! I’ve missed you! Let’s never go a week between hangouts again.” She puts her hands on my shoulders and leans back, studying my face.
“Agreed.”
“So, I have a huge surprise for you!” Josie looks like she’s ready to burst from excitement.
I’m not big on surprises, and if someone even hints at surprising me with something I go into full-on detective mode trying to figure it out.
The thought of something unknown causes this nervous energy that I just can’t shake.
I’m someone who needs to always feel well-informed.
At least this surprise seems imminent, so it’s not like I have time to sit around stewing about it.
“Happy Birthday!” Josie screams.
My birthday isn’t until Saturday…
A flash of blonde hair streaks through the front door behind Josie, and she steps out of the way just in time for the tall ball of energy to crash into me.
“Bailey!” Happy tears streak my cheeks as I squeeze my best friend. “How?” More tears and more squeezing. “You two…?” Josie comes up behind me, making it a group hug. They sway back and forth with me sandwiched between them.
“You can thank Zack,” Bailey says as she finally releases me. “I had some time off, and he asked if I wanted to surprise you. Of course that was an immediate yes!”
“And you were in on this too?” My eyes dart to Josie, who’s grinning.
“Oh, we’ve been texting for over a week.” Bailey drapes her arm over Josie’s shoulder. “A friend of my best friend is a friend of mine.”
“What she said.” Josie laughs, giving Bailey a playful hip bump.
My two best friends are here together. I’m speechless. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have these women in my life. I’ve known Bailey since college, and she’s like a sister to me. And even though I’ve only known Josie a short time, we’ve become close too.
These two women are so alike, and yet, are almost my polar opposites.
I think it’s why we make such great friends.
They exude sunshine and warmth, and the joy they bring every time they walk into a room is almost palpable.
They thrive on being social. They’re outgoing, and extroverted, and completely complement my introverted ways. Seeing them together warms my heart.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say as Bailey wipes my cheeks.
“You’re stuck with me for almost a week. I’m calling it Evelyn Extravaganza.” She motions with her hands like she’s reading off a theater marquee.
“And what does Evelyn Extravaganza entail?”
“Good food, some drinks, horror movies, and lots of coffee,” Josie chimes in.
“And don’t forget the most important part!” Bailey looks at Josie with a smirk.
“What did I forget?”
Bailey turns to me. “You owe me all the dirty deets on how you got back together with Zack. How did I not know this? You mentioned running into him but I didn’t know you were living here. I hate that I live in Cali and miss out on so much of your life.”
“I’ve missed you too. I didn’t mention staying here because I didn’t want to worry you.
Zack and I being together is a more recent development.
We just made it official. But it sounds like I have plenty of time to explain that.
” Bailey saw how badly our breakup affected me back in college, and I knew that announcing I was staying with Zack might cause some concern.
It’s not that I thought she wouldn’t be supportive, but I just wanted to figure things out for myself first.
“Indeed you do, my friend. But right now, I’m starving. Where’s a girl gotta go to find good food?” Bailey rubs her stomach. “Do you hear that? It’s angry growling at me because I skipped breakfast before hopping on the plane.”
“How about we introduce Bailey to Fiddlehead Ridge’s finest dining establishment?” Josie flashes me a knowing smile.
“Charlie’s?” I smile.
“Yup!” She laughs.
“Should I be worried or something?” Bailey asks.
“Not at all. Charlie’s is great, but it’s pretty much the only place to eat in Fiddlehead Ridge,” I say.
“What kind of name is Fiddlehead Ridge anyway?” Bailey asks with a chuckle.
“Like the plant,” I say, but Bailey just stares at me with a blank expression.
“They’re baby fern shoots that look like the curled neck of a fiddle. A Maine delicacy every spring,” Josie explains.
Bailey grins at me. “Don’t look at me. I haven’t tried them. I didn’t get here until summer.”
“I’m not in LA anymore.” Bailey laughs, shaking her head.
“No, you’re not.” Josie drapes an arm over each of us and leads us toward the front door.
* * *
“This place is gorgeous.” Bailey gazes at the sun setting over the lake in Zack’s backyard.
The mountains in the distance are painted in a beautiful golden light, making them appear as if they’re glowing.
After lunch at Charlie’s, we spent the day strolling around our little town, and now we’re relaxing on Zack’s outdoor sofa at the edge of the lake.
“Yeah, it really is. Would you believe this is the first time I’ve sat out here?”
“Seriously, Evvy?” Josie asks. “Brent and I snuck out here and used his backyard all the time over the summer. I guess it wasn’t really sneaking since he knew about it, but you know what I mean. Our yard just has woods, but Zack’s yard has…” She gestures her hand toward the lake. “…all of this!”
“It’s so weird to hear you call her Evvy,” Bailey says to Josie.
Josie slaps her hands to her cheeks. “Should I not be calling you that? I am so sorry if you don’t like it.”
“No, I love it now,” I try to reassure her, but she’s still looking at me like I just told her that Santa isn’t real.
“Now? What do you mean now?”
“She forbade anyone from calling her that for years,” Bailey explains. “To be fair, Zack was the only one who ever used that nickname anyway. He was actually very caveman-like about it.”
“He was not!” I protest with a laugh, but I’m not fooling anyone.
“He hated when his teammates called you Evvy. He said it was his special nickname for you.” Bailey snorts. “My Evvy,” she mocks Zack, accentuating the words with air quotes.
She’s not entirely wrong. Zack was the only person to ever call me Evvy, and it was special. The first time he called me Evvy was the first time we…wow, so many memories.
“So what changed?” Josie asks, still looking surprised.
“I don’t know. He matured and realized he can’t claim a name?” I shrug and a small laugh escapes from my lips.
“No. I mean, why are you okay with all of us calling you Evvy? Especially if you hated it.” Josie studies me carefully.
“I didn’t hate the nickname. I actually really loved it. It’s just that every time I heard it I was reminded of Zack, and that was painful. But now, it feels right. I feel like myself again. So please, keep calling me Evvy.”
“Sounds good to me. I’m a little relieved.” Josie’s lips pull into a smile. “You’re just Evvy to me, and it would’ve been hard to stop calling you that.”
“Glad I could make it easier for you.” I give her a playful nudge back and she visibly relaxes.
Bailey angles her body so she’s facing me. “So, don’t think I didn’t notice earlier when you said you’re staying with Zack and not living with him. What’s up with that?”
“Yeah, what is up with that?” Josie chimes in.
My head bounces between the two of them from my spot sandwiched in the middle. “Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea for the two of you to meet.” A smile fans across my face.
“Oh, see you’re so wrong about that. Now you have two people to make you talk about your feelings. I’m glad you have someone in Maine to bother you when I can’t be here.” Bailey leans back, draping her arm over my shoulders.
“And you still haven’t answered!” Josie chirps.
“That’s because I am staying with him. It’s that simple.”
“But you’re together?” Bailey asks.
“Yup.”
“So, you live here now.” Josie says.
“Probably.”