Page 16

CHAPTER 16

ELLE

“A unt Elle, did you know that beavers are considered Virginia’s ‘natural engineers’?”

Not on my bingo card for today: a conversation about the beaver. I tug on a cardboard box tucked into the back of the spare bedroom closet and bring it out into the light, ripping its top open. A day off means I get to unpack some more…and talk about beavers, apparently.

“I didn’t know that little tidbit,” I say with slight sarcasm, winking at Hayden. Gotta love an overachieving and responsible homeschooler. This kid loves studying and even though I jest, she knows I love hearing about what she learns.

“Their dams have created new wetlands and in western Virginia, around the Blue Ridge they’re super active and legally protected.” She shakes her head in surprise. “You don’t mess with the beavers around here, huh?”

“No, I guess not,” I confirm with a giggle as I pull out a stack of books. “However, I’d like it if you’d take these and stick them on the bookshelf in the living room, okay?”

Hayden makes a face but she takes the pile. “I guess you want me to come back for more, too?”

I place another stack on the floor where the previous one sat a moment ago. “Yes, please.”

She playfully rolls her eyes as she walks out of the room, and I’m left once again to be grateful for having her in my life. When my sister passed away, the first person we’d all thought of was Hayden. Wondering how she was going to adjust, how she would tackle life and be as an adult having to take on the world without a mom, and no dad to be seen.

I reach back and pull another box out to empty its contents and thank my lucky stars we never had to worry. If only future me could go back in that timeline to terrified me and let her know that we were all going to figure it out, together, things probably would have been a little more palatable.

“Your phone’s going off, Aunt Elle,” Hayden yells from the front of the house, prompting me to scan the room.

“Can you bring it back here?” I’m not lazy, but I am in the middle of finding very important things like my first Cabbage Patch Kid, a love note from my sixth grade boyfriend, and all of my old college papers. “I thought it was with me.”

I’m flipping through an old high school yearbook, laughing at the hair styles when Hayden appears in the doorway with a teasing smirk playing on her lips.

“Well, well, well,” she says, holding the phone in the air. “Someone is popular today.”

A bolt of lightning crashes through me. It’s a day off from work, and my phone’s lit up? That can’t be good. I hold out my hand. “Toss it here, please?”

Hayden does an underhand throw and I catch it easily. A quick glance and I can see what she means, there are notifications on notifications flashing away on the screen.

“Ugh,” I grunt, unlocking it so I can see who’s trying to reach me. I’m in a better mood once I see it’s a bit of a false alarm. The first win: no texts from Eric. That alone makes me want to raise my hands in the air, jump up and down, and cheer. I do have a bevy of emails from Ben, who is obviously at home working on his day off, and some texts to go through.

“I’m going to go up the street and get us a couple of coffee drinks,” Hayden announces. “Mocha latte for you?”

“Please. And with almond milk,” I call out after her. “If you want to, while you’re out, stop by the store and grab a frozen pizza for lunch?”

“Only the best for us,” she yells, snickering. A second later there’s a bang as the front door slams shut behind her. I know the frozen pizza doesn’t sound like much, but if you add some carmelized onions to it, fresh basil, and then top it with more parmesan and some truffle oil, pair it with a gorgeous salad well…ta da. You’ve got a culinary masterpiece masquerading as lunch. Sure, it started in the freezer aisle, but now it’s giving five-star bistro with a side of emotional damage repair. Add in a cold drink, a cozy blanket, and maybe a little hate-watching of a reality show, and baby, that’s not dinner. What we have then, well that’s what I like to call therapy on a plate.

I make my way through the texts, responding to Ben’s question about bringing a seven-layer dip tomorrow night with my answer being a resounding yes, because if there’s something I can make, it’s a seven-layer dip. I’m sure you’re wondering how I can die on that hill, but it’s not about the ingredients. It’s about the way you layer them.

I flick a quick message to Cannon, who dipped into our coach group chat asking for TV show recs. I fight the urge to suggest The Buccaneers , instead giving him The White Lotus . It’s at this point when the next name on the list gives me a tiny hitch of delight.

Is it silly that I’m grinning like a kid with a crush when I see Dixon’s name in my notifications?

I still think you looked amazing in that jacket yesterday. Tell me I’m wrong.

I can’t handle it. I bite my lip, a feeling of excitement shuddering through my body, and I am doing my best to hold the laugh inside that so badly wants to come out. The irony. The juxtaposition. The insanity of it all.

I tap my teeth together in thought, keeping one eye on the phone. Dixon only sent that text about an hour ago, around ten in the morning. I’m not one to make an assumption, but it appears that a certain someone woke up with me on his mind. I know the grin on my face right now is what could be described as wicked, but hey. When you’re feeling it, you’re feeling it.

Thank you, but don’t you want to know how Nan and Hayden were yesterday?

I already know, Nan loves her and wants to live with her now. I hope you’ve got room.

It’s a three bedroom. I can make a place for Nan anytime you need.

Do you mean it?

We take good care of our guests at Casa Carter. She’ll have the best of everything from fresh, healthy meals to a bubble bath drawn for her every night.

Stop it, I’ll move in if you keep it up.

We’re equal opportunity.

Don’t tempt me. I’ll be there in ten minutes for the bubble bath if you mean it.

The thought of seeing Dixon in the next ten minutes both thrills me and terrifies me, bubble bath aside. I can’t lie, kissing him has been the biggest plot twist of my arrival to River City—and that’s saying something in a town full of beavers, a borderline-magical riverwalk, and the Renegades’ brand of barely-contained mayhem. But locking lips with Dixon Andrews? That’s been downright smoldering. Like, need-a-fire-extinguisher-and-maybe-a-life-coach smoldering.

And while it could be fun to have Dixon over this morning, all it takes is a glance in the mirror at the bedhead I’m still rocking from the night before, and the lack of a bra, to remind me that today is about me and Hayden, and being here at home to quietly recharge.

I stare at the phone in my hand. Technically, I shouldn’t be pursuing this. But, also, if I’m being technical, he did text me first. While the things we do to rationalize our choices as human beings will always amaze me, none of it stops me from texting him back because I can flirt, too, right?

Do you really need to be tempted?

My finger hovers over the send button. There’s something about the word tempted that makes me want to push the envelope here––even though I’m the one who told him we should not be doing this. But also reality check Elle: you are essentially doing that already.

I’m still in my head, debating on sending it when I hit send sooner than I should. I drop the phone like it’s on fire and almost scream, covering my face with my hands as if Dixon’s here to witness the crazy that I truly am.

When I’m feeling calmer, I peek through my fingers, finding the screen still lit. It’s got those little dots that tell you when someone on the other end of the text chain is typing. I stay casual as I stare at the phone like it’s a fortune teller and about to give me the weekend’s winning lottery numbers.

Actually…no. No I don’t.

The zing of heat that floods my body zaps me in my tummy before moving down to the tips of my toes. Is it right that I can practically feel the warmth of his lips across mine at this second and he’s not even here?

I want to be clear, I didn’t message you to get an invite.

No? Are you after more time in the crease?

Just wanted to say hi.

Well, now he’s gone and done that. Dixon Andrews checking in and being all casual like we do this all the time.

Well, hi.

Not done. Nan wanted me to make sure you knew Hayden is a rockstar.

Of course I know it. About time the world sees it.

Nan is also standing here looking over my shoulder to make sure I tell you.

I hold the phone close to my chest and giggle, the visual of Nan peering over his shoulder as we message back and forth gives me a fit.

Tell her thank you. I’ll let Hayden know too.

Can I ask you something personal?

Is Nan around or is this a you question?

She’s gone. It’s a me question.

Go ahead.

I don’t remember hearing you talk about having Hayden before. How’d she end up with you?

She’s my sister’s daughter. When my sister passed away six years ago, it was unexpected so my mom stepped in to take care of her. There wasn’t a will, so we both decided we would take care of her together.

That’s huge. Your mom stepped up until you were ready?

It’s family. For the first few years, I wasn’t in the right place to do it because of work, but I always knew I wanted to. I didn’t want my mom to feel like she had to raise another kid. She already raised me and my sister, you know? She deserves to enjoy life now that she’s older.

Dixon doesn’t respond right away, I wait a beat to see if he’s got a reply coming, but after a few seconds I begin to think he’s moved on. Not in a dramatic way, but he could have gotten a phone call or one of the guys could be talking to him, or Nan. So, of course the little voice in my head saying I should explain more pipes up and insists I do.

Mom wanted to travel, spend time in Europe, take art lessons, and go on girls’ trips. So, once I got my feet under me, I took over. It wasn’t even a question. I want my mom to be happy and Hayden’s my girl.

I hit send and wait another minute. It doesn’t take long for me to chastise myself for playing this game. I shake my head and go to put the phone down as it dings in my hand.

Sorry, Campbell called.

I knew it.

All good here!

Okay, overkill? I should have pulled back on the emojis.

I admire what you have with Hayden, how you and your family navigated things.

We had to. You stand up and do what you need to do when it comes to family.

I get it. That’s why Nan’s here.

The sound of the front door slamming pulls me away from the phone. “Hayden, that you?” I call out.

“It’s me with the coffees,” she announces as she walks into the room. “Figured I’d drop it off while it’s hot and then go back out for the pizza.”

I take the takeaway cup she hands to me, dipping my head in thanks. “Smart girl.”

She points to the phone, then eyes the box beside me. “I swear, I think I left you in the same spot with that same box and holding the phone about twenty minutes ago. Have you not moved?”

“Nope,” I say with glee in my voice as the phone lights up in my hand.

Hayden sees it too. “You need to get that?”

I don’t look down.It is entirely unnecessary. The phone is lighting up like a Christmas tree. “Maybe?”

“Hmm. Methinks someone is toying with me,” Hayden murmurs, narrowing her eyes in my direction. “Who are you texting?”

“Oh, here?” I hold the phone up like it’s nothing. “It’s only Dixon. He wanted me to let you know that Nan really likes you. I guess you two had a blast the other day and she’s still talking about it.”

Hayden nods slowly, her gaze steady on me. “Yeah. Dixon texting you about me with a message from Nan. Nan has my number and can get in touch with me, as she already has today.”

She holds out her phone to show me her very active text thread with Nan. “Wow,” I say. “I had no clue a woman of that age could type that much.”

“She loves a good meme,” Hayden cackles as she walks away, but turns around and points to the phone. “I’ll be back with the pizza soon, so you get a reprieve to text with your whatever-he-is a little longer.”

The maniacal laugh that snakes its way out of me even makes Hayden’s head turn, shaking it as she heads out of the room. I wait until I hear the door shut again before whipping the phone up to read the flurry of messages that are incoming from Dixon.

She’s my ride or die…even if she makes me want to pull my hair out.

In fact, she’s here now and asked me to take her to a doctor’s appointment so I should go.

You still there?

Okay, maybe I’m coming on too strong?

.....

If this is playing hard to get, you win.

I’m here! Sorry. Hayden popped in and wanted to chat. You’re not coming on too strong.

Campbell says I do that. I go from zero to two hundred in no time flat. I had an old coach tell me I was an activator once.

What does that even mean?

I guess there’s a personality test out there for executives and one of the ‘strengths’ a person can have is to be an activator. You find out the thing you need to do and you just do it.

I can see that in you. That and strategy.

Do you think me texting you is strategic?

Is it bad if I kind of hope it is?

I stare at the screen, looking at our conversation, and I smile. This is the Dixon I met back when, the guy who had my trust and my friendship almost immediately. This is the man I connected with, had the easy chats with, the man who at the time I wished I had met first, before Eric.

My phone rings, Hayden’s name on the screen. I hit connect and put her on speakerphone.

“Aren’t you supposed to be getting our pizza?”

“If I had a wallet I could,” she groans. “I know it’s not ideal, but do you mind coming to the store and bringing some money?”

“See you in a few minutes,” I say, standing up as I disconnect.

I hate to cut this short, but looks like I’m needed now. Hayden’s had a side quest go wrong and I need to step in with the save. See you tomorrow night?

I’m at the front door pulling my coat on when my phone dings with Dixon’s response.

I’ll be the guy in the corner, eyes locked on you, counting the seconds until I can steal you away. It’s going to be somewhere quiet, where I can press you up against the wall, and kiss you breathless.

My fingers hover over the screen, but no clever reply comes to mind. How could it? Not with my entire body suddenly buzzing like it’s connected with a live wire while I’m standing in a kiddie pool.

I shove my phone in my pocket and yank the door open, heart hammering, and smiling like the proverbial cat who ate the canary.

This should not be so much fun.