Chapter 13
CHLOE
Heart pounding, I opened the door. “What are you doing here, Scott?”
His smile faded. “Is that how you tell me you’re happy to see me?”
“You should’ve called.”
“You gave me this address before you left. I thought I’d surprise you.” His eyes darkened as he looked over at Evan. “Who the hell is he?”
“It’s not what you think,” I explained.
“What is it then?” Scott seethed.
Evan stood with his arms crossed, a look on his face that said he was ready to kill.
“Let’s go outside,” I urged, taking a step out the door. “His daughter is sleeping.”
Thankfully, Scott didn’t argue about taking our talk outdoors. I could only imagine what Evan must’ve been thinking, especially right after we’d settled the living situation. This was such a clusterfuck.
Scott paced in the driveway. “Who the hell is that guy?”
“That’s Evan. He owns the house. There was a mix-up, and it turned out he’d taken the house off the market for rentals before I got here. But there wasn’t any other place available in town, so he let me stay. I have my own room.”
“You’ve been living with a strange man all this time?”
I shook my head. “He’s not a stranger. Evan is…
an old family friend. He actually lived with my family for several years when I was growing up.
I know him well. He’s practically family.
He’s a good person and a single father now.
As you heard me say, his daughter is sleeping inside, which is why you and I are out here. ”
Scott squinted. “Why didn’t you mention any of this to me when I called you?”
That was a damn good question, and I had no real excuse. I just hadn’t wanted to add stress to an already stressful time. “I guess I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea, like you seem to have now.”
“Well, fuck, Chloe.” He held up his hands. “I didn’t book a place to stay because I assumed you were living alone, as you were supposed to be. What the hell am I going to do now?”
“I wish you had told me you were coming.” I blew a breath of frustration up into my hair.
“Then it wouldn’t have been a surprise.”
“I would’ve told you not to come.”
“That’s real nice,” he huffed, running a hand through his short brown hair.
As we fell silent, crickets chirped.
“Scott…” I finally said. “I’m sorry. I can’t invite you to stay here. It wouldn’t be fair to his daughter.”
“Where else am I gonna stay if you couldn’t find a place in town?”
This was a conundrum. He’d come all this way, and I couldn’t kick him out on the street this late in the evening.
I shook my head. “I’m sorry for not being more welcoming.” Waving him in, I added, “Come inside. I’ll explain the situation to Evan.”
As we entered, though, there was no sign of Evan in the kitchen or the living room.
I pointed to my bedroom. “That’s mine. Go hang out in there for a bit. Relax. You came a long way. I’m gonna talk to him.”
Scott groaned under his breath as he begrudgingly entered my room.
He and I had only been dating about five months.
While he treated me well, and I enjoyed this company, I’d often doubted whether he was the one.
I had wanted my time alone here in Dry River to clear my head in that regard.
Before I’d come, I’d told him I wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to see other people.
We’d left things fairly up in the air but hadn’t technically broken up.
I’d tried to discourage him from coming to visit because my focus needed to be on Mom and on clearing the storage unit.
He’d apparently thought I didn’t mean it.
My heart raced as I went to find Evan. By process of elimination, I realized he was in his bedroom.
I knocked lightly.
“Come in,” I heard him say.
Evan was already in bed, the TV lighting his face.
He sat up and reached for the remote, pausing whatever he’d been watching as he moved to sit at the edge of the bed.
He was shirtless, the ripples of his tight abs on full display.
It had been years since I’d seen his bare chest, but I hadn’t remembered it being this defined.
Seriously… When did he have time to work out?
I tried not to stare at his gorgeously tan pecs.
It was likely a crime to drool over one man when your supposed boyfriend was in the next room.
“Is he still here?” Evan asked.
“Yes. I don’t know what to do with him because it’s late, and there’s likely still no vacancy in town.” I lowered my voice, realizing I could wake Effie up. “I’m so sorry he just showed up like this. I had no idea he was planning to come.”
“You never mentioned having a boyfriend.”
“I know.” I couldn’t really explain why I’d kept that information from Evan.
I wasn’t trying to be deceitful. There just hadn’t been a lead-in to that conversation.
If he’d asked me, I would’ve told him about Scott.
“Much like your situation with Naomi, things are complicated. I sort of left things up in the air before I came here, unsure whether I wanted to continue seeing him after I returned to Chicago. He’s a good guy.
But I have a lot going on right now and didn’t want the extra pressure.
We didn’t exactly break up, but I told him I’d understand if he wanted a break.
I didn’t think it was a good idea for us to stay together since I wasn’t sure when I’d be returning.
This was apparently his way of showing me he cares, but I wish he’d told me he was coming. ”
Evan held his palm out. “You don’t owe me an explanation. But I would prefer he not stay here beyond tonight.”
Beyond tonight. It brought me relief to know I didn’t have to send Scott packing, but now there didn’t seem to be any way around it. “Maybe it’s better if I do take the new place the property management company offered.”
“Yeah. Whatever you need to do.” His tone was cold.
“I’m sorry, Evan.”
His eyes were piercing. “What are you apologizing for?”
I honestly didn’t know. “I’m sorry to disturb your sleep.”
“I wasn’t sleeping.”
“Right.” I looked down. “Anyway…goodnight.”
Evan nodded as I left the room.
I walked down the short hallway, and the air felt heavy.
I didn’t want to leave. And I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant.
But I was totally bummed that Evan had just encouraged me to take the other rental house after all.
Yet how could I blame him? I wouldn’t want some strange guy in my house, either, if I had a young daughter.
Back in my room, Scott’s eyes were closed, and he lay on my bed with his feet up.
He stirred when he heard me enter. “Sorry. Long day.” He grinned, sitting up straight. “So, are we on the streets tomorrow, or…”
“Actually, a property management company found me another house. I wasn’t sure if I should bother moving now that I was settled here, but the offer is open until tomorrow. How long are you in town?”
“I’d planned for a week.”
“Okay, well, I’m gonna accept their offer. We can move my stuff out of here tomorrow. So we’ll have a place to stay after all.”
“That’s awesome news.” His smile faded as he examined my face. “Why do you look so down?” He opened his arms. “Come here.”
I lay down on the bed next to Scott and rested my head on his shoulder.
“It’s so freaking good to see you,” he said, kissing me on the forehead. “You happy to see me?”
I nodded and smiled. What choice did I have? It wasn’t like I could say no when he’d come all this way.
As Scott held me, I closed my eyes. But all I could see was Evan. His beautiful shirtless body, the melancholy in his eyes tonight. Visions of all of the things I’d miss not being here anymore. I was anything but happy to be leaving tomorrow.