Page 35

Chapter thirty-five

Evie

“Do we need to do some positive affirmations or meditations to help you calm down?” Rhett gives me a small grin as he rubs his hands up and down my arms.

I take a deep breath in and out, exhaling on a shaky laugh. “I mean, maybe?”

I don’t know why I’m so nervous about this. I’ve interviewed for all kinds of things, from jobs to volunteer positions to university and my master’s program. But there’s something about this job that feels different, that feels like it could be the start of something amazing. Even though it does mean moving away from Kai and Rhett.

But I can’t think about that right now. I have to keep my eye on the prize.

“Okay, well, I better go or I’m going to miss my ferry reservation.” I give him a tremulous smile and Rhett pulls me in, pressing a sweet kiss to my forehead before a not-so-sweet one to my lips.

“Remember, this is what you want. This is what you’ve worked so hard for. You’ve got this.”

He backs off slightly, and I study his face. Sure, he’s smiling, and on the surface I can see genuine pride and excitement for me. But there was something different about him last night. A desperation, as if he didn’t want to let me go and was forcing himself to.

“Alright, I’m going,” I say, more firmly this time. Then I drop down into a squat and hug Ruthie’s big head to my chest.

“You be a good girl for Rhett, okay? I love you.” I kiss the end of her nose and stand up, brushing fur off my pants. “Are you sure you can handle her with your schedule?”

“You betcha. Me and the little lady will be just fine,” he says gently, giving me another smile.

Inside, I want to scream at him. How is he so calm? How is he not begging me to stay and wait for a different job? Even if this is only an interview, I’d like to think I’m a good fit and have a solid chance of getting a job offer.

Which means leaving Vancouver. Leaving him.

“Monty’s parents are visiting for a few days and agreed to help with checking on her and walking her when I’m at the stadium. We’re good here, and you’ll be back in a couple of days.”

I nod, knowing there’s no one I’d trust more to look after my dog.

“I guess this place will feel pretty empty if Ruthie and I move to Vancouver Island,” I say lightly, then immediately regret the words. “Sorry. That was silly of me to say.” I look down at the floor, but Rhett’s hand tilts my chin right back up.

“Damn right, it’s gonna feel empty. Hell, even with Ruthie still here, it’s not gonna be the same without you. We’ll miss you, honey.”

Then tell me not to go !

Except, I don’t want him to do that. He wouldn’t be the man I’ve fallen for if he wasn’t so incredibly supportive, encouraging, and selfless.

I look at him, that easy smile on his face, and commit it all to memory. Our future might be uncertain, but in this moment, I feel lucky to be cared for by a man like him.

And just like that, my emotions threaten to overwhelm me again. Am I crazy for considering a job that will put so much distance between us, even if it is my dream come true?

“Yeah. Okay. I’ll talk to you later?” I turn, blinking away the burning in my eyes.

“You bet. Call me tonight, we have an afternoon game, so I’ll be home by six.” His arms wrap around me from behind, and I can’t help but sag into his embrace. “You’re gonna knock ’em dead.”

More frantic blinking before I spin in his arms, a smile plastered across my face.

“Thanks.” I lift up on my toes to kiss him, keeping it short, knowing I can’t hold back much longer. Then I walk out the door, down to my car, and start the drive through town that will take me to the ferry terminal and onto a boat to carry me over to Vancouver Island.

And I let the tears fall the entire way.

Several hours later, I’m all cried out and determined not to worry about my relationship and focus only on my interview for the rest of the time I’m here .

I pull into the parking lot of Oceanside Beachfront Resort and climb out of my car. When I breathe in, I inhale nothing but clean, fresh, salty sea air, and the sound of waves hitting the shore, and birds overhead.

“Wow.” I take a moment to drink in the picturesque scenery. I haven’t had much time to explore since moving out west, and we certainly don’t have places this beautiful in Ontario.

When I confirmed the interview and started looking for somewhere to stay, I immediately fell in love with this place online. And now I’m really glad I decided to splurge on one of these adorable cabins right on the oceanfront.

It’s the perfect place for a cute couples’ getaway, and I can see me and Rhett walking along the beach in his offseason, relaxing with a glass of wine as the sun sets.

If there still is a me and Rhett after tomorrow’s interview. Things are still so new, we’ve never discussed our future as a couple, and here I am, throwing a pretty big monkey wrench into it.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. I haven’t even met my potential future employers, and I’m panicking about how to keep my relationship going if I get the job.

I take in a deep, cleansing breath of ocean air.

Rhett has been nothing but supportive of me. He’s the kind of man women dream about. Heck, I dreamed about him for years, and now he’s here, and he’s mine. I have to trust that somehow, everything will be okay.

As soon as I’m checked in and somewhat settled, I take a seat out on the small deck that overlooks the ocean. The sight and sound of the waves lulls me into a much more relaxed state .

A few minutes later, my phone, sitting on the small, wrought-iron table beside me, starts to vibrate.

I answer his call, and despite everything, seeing his face makes me feel warm inside.

“Hi, how was the game?”

“Hey, honey. Game was great. Everything go okay on your end? You all settled in?”

I nod and stand up to show him the beach and the cabin. “Yep, this place is so peaceful.” I pan the phone around, and he lets out a low whistle.

“Damn, that is gorgeous. I bet Ruthie would love the beach.”

I turn the phone back around. “She would.”

Settling back down in my chair, I draw my feet up and tuck them under me. On the other end of the line, I see Rhett also shift on his couch, but when he winces, I frown.

“What’s wrong?”

This time, his grimace is a mixture of discomfort and embarrassment. “I’m fine, Evie. Seriously. Just tweaked my knee at the game.”

He lowers his phone to show me the ice pack strapped to his left knee, and Ruthie’s head resting on his lap.

“Ruthie’s keeping me company, and the trainers figure I’ll sit out tomorrow but then be fine.”

“Sounds like more than a tweak if they’re not letting you play,” I protest.

“Nah, it’s nothing. Really. This knee’s been buggin’ me for a while, and it just didn’t like the way I moved today. Don’t worry about me, honey.” He gives me a reassuring smile, and I settle back into my chair .

“Well, I’m sorry you’re in pain and I’m not there to help.”

“That’s sweet of you, but it’s all good. Me and Ruthie got this.”

Just as he finishes talking, I let out a big yawn.

“You’ve got a big day tomorrow. Time for bed?” He gives me a tired smile of his own. “And I’ll talk to you tomorrow after you’re all done.”

“Do you still have to go to the stadium even if you’re benched?”

“Yeah, I’m meeting with the trainers first. They’ll put me through some rehab movements and see how things are doing. Then I’ll watch the game from the dugout. But text me anyway? I want to know how it goes, and I’ll call as soon as I can.”

I nod. “Okay, sounds good.”

“And Evie?” His smile falters slightly, into something endearingly nervous. “There’s somethin’ for you in the top of your bag. Open it when you’re ready for bed?”

My own smile grows wide. “That’s going to be absolute torture, you realize that? I want to go and open it now.”

Rhett chuckles and shakes his head. “Nah, promise me you’ll wait.”

“Okay. I promise.”

“Night, Evie. Sleep well, and good luck tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Rhett.”

I make myself stand up and go inside, grabbing the sandwich I packed to eat as a light dinner, sitting down on a chair that looks out the window. I eat slowly, letting my thoughts drift like the waves against the shore outside.

But my curiosity — and impatience — get the better of me .

When I unzip my bag, telling myself it’s because I want to head to bed early and relax, I see a folded piece of paper, but I force myself to set it aside until I finally climb under the covers. I stare at the paper, debating whether I should prepare myself to swoon, or to have my heart ache.

“Stop being an emotional chicken, Evie,” I mutter to myself, and unfold the paper, only to have a photograph fall out. It’s a print of Rhett holding Ruthie, and I have no idea when he took the picture, much less got it printed. But seeing the two of them makes me miss them both, even though it’s only been a handful of hours since I saw them.

The printing on the accompanying note is messy, but I can read it. Still, it makes my heart ache to see the evidence of his dysgraphia and to think about how he must have struggled in school. And now, because I can see how painstakingly hard it must have been for him to write this out, along with the fact that he went to that effort and didn’t type it, means more than I can say.

Before I even start reading, tears build in my eyes. This is why I’m here. To find a job that will allow me to help kids flourish, regardless of their abilities.

Evie Today is a speial day. Today you follow your dreams. Iam prod of you. but I will miss you as well. Cant wait till we see eachother soon. Love rhett

Love .

I stare at that word for a long time.

I love him. I love Rhett Darlington. And in that moment, I can’t figure out why the heck I’m here, interviewing for a job that’s not close to him. But then Vivienne’s words about not holding myself back because of him filter through my mind.

They also mix with my mom’s words about following my heart.

And to make things even more complicated is the deep-seated uncertainty swirling in my gut. Because the uncomfortable truth I have to accept is that all the uncertainty I’m feeling is at least partly my own fault.

I’ve let Viv’s words weasel their way into my mind, making me doubt myself and Rhett unfairly. I’ve held back from telling him how I feel; I haven’t told him I want a future with him. And a part of me, the part that was hurt four years ago when he pushed me away, has been so scared of being pushed away again, that I’ve held back, waiting for him to give me some sort of sign that he wants me as much as I want him.

Except I’ve been blind to all the signs he has been giving.

And this note has ripped away the blindfold, making me see things so much more clearly.

I’m in love with Rhett, and I want a future with him. And that starts with me saying just that. Only then can we try to find a way forward, together, regardless of what happens tomorrow.

With that in my head, and his note on the table beside me, I climb into bed and somehow manage to fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.