Page 43 of Until Tomorrow (Love Doesn’t Cure All: The Ashwood Duet #1)

Logan

“I’m sorry… how much ?” I demanded, leaning forward on my desk. I had to have heard the lady from the bank wrong.

“ Six thousand, four hundred, and two dollars even, ” she repeated, though her voice was quieter as if apprehensive of my response. “ We thought it was an alarmingly high amount being charged to your account, but you do have your account marked as call first before cutting off the card. ”

The account in question was mine and Eva’s spending account, but I just couldn’t imagine Eva spending that kind of money. Ever. Getting her to splurge on herself was always a feat.

“Can you tell me some of the stores?” I asked.

She sat with me patiently as she listed off stores, and I looked them up.

Home goods stores, boutiques that specialized in decorations, a lunch place, a hardware store, a gas station, a coffee place, and then a bookstore.

“How much was charged at the bookstore?”

“ Seventy-seven dollars and eighty-two cents, ” she said.

“That’s like… what? Four books? Five books?” I estimated. It sounded like Eva bribed Elliot to go shopping with her by offering him books. I sat back in my chair and sighed. “Approve the charges. My wife and my best friend are shopping.”

Though for what besides books, I had no idea. But I was curious. I texted Elliot for answers.

Exactly what are you and my wife up to?

ELI : I’ve been sworn to silence.

ELI : She’ll cut out my tongue.

ELI : She might cut off my balls if I’m not careful.

Jesus Christ, Elliot. This man was on a whole different level of his own. It made me smile.

Dramatic little shit.

ELI : I am, but you love me.

I did, but in what way was the ever-pressing question. I shoved that thought aside, as I did every time that it popped into my head. It wasn’t something I wanted to entertain.

Is she at least enjoying herself?

ELI : Of course, she is. Who wouldn’t love spending all of Daddy’s money?

No.

ELI : No to spending your money?

No to calling me Daddy.

ELI : But it suits you, Daddy.

I hate you.

ELI : Hate me, love me, I’m fabulous.

I laughed.

You’re something alright.

Just take care of her, please.

ELI : Always do.

He always did. I honestly wasn’t worried about her—not really. I was more worried about what the hell I was going to walk into when I went home.

The need to get home to my wife and find out what she was up to was more than enough to motivate me to get work done faster. I wrapped up everything in a timely fashion before leaving early. I didn’t need to do anything extra. Not tonight.

As I turned onto our street, I slowed to a stop. Elliot’s truck sat out front with the hazards on. Elliot leaned against the side with his arms crossed over his chest. His chin tucked against his chest as he stared down at his boots. I rolled up behind him and turned on my hazards as well.

For a moment, I pretended to be busy—just long enough to admire him. That was something I realized I did more of whenever I saw him. I couldn’t deny there was a stir inside me because of him. That ache and curiosity, along with the growing list of what-ifs, bothered me.

I swallowed it down and let it settle where it would before stepping out of the car. Eva came hurrying out of the building, walking briskly in her heels. She waved and smiled at me before rushing to Elliot’s truck for more bags.

“Honey, what are you—”

“Logan, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll just stand there and smile at your wife as she does her thing,” Elliot interrupted with a laugh as I joined him. “I’ve tried to help now twice and got smacked. Your wife is a fucking powerhouse and don’t need no man helping her.”

“But what if I want to help?” I asked. I liked helping my wife. There was nothing wrong with that.

“I’ve got this!” Eva squealed as she disappeared inside with bags weighing down both hands.

“God, she’s fucking stubborn,” he said.

“Isn’t she?” I grinned. I loved her in all her chaotic glory. As I slid my hands in my pockets, I continued, “You know you could’ve asked for more books. I would’ve happily bought them for you.”

“I couldn’t. She tried to negotiate ten books if I let her drive. I had to stand my ground at five.”

“She wanted to drive? Eva hasn’t wanted to drive since—”

“She got into that accident when we were seventeen,” he finished for me quietly. “I know.”

“It can’t be that,” I replied as I frowned. Had it been that long ago? “It was a fender bender at best. The airbags didn’t even go off.”

“I think it was the prospect of what could’ve happened to us while she was driving that got to her,” he told me.

I sighed. Eva’s relationship with death was hard.

I understood it, and I worried about her because of it.

“She wants me to teach her how to drive. She doesn’t want to have to rely on anyone else to get around.

I just don’t know that I’ll actually get her to drive. ”

“Maybe if I’m there? And we’re in an empty parking lot?

” I glanced at Elliot’s truck. There was no way she’d be able to drive that thing.

And my car was small—the size would probably stress her out.

I made a mental note to find the safest SUV out there and see if she wanted it as a way to ease the idea of driving.

Maybe it’d be the extra nudge she needed.

Not that I minded driving her around, especially lately, since she held my hand every time.

“What the hell are you smiling at?” Elliot asked.

“Nothing,” I said. “How was your —”

“Holy fuck, she bought so much crap and made me carry it all!” he exclaimed. “And she just kept adding more bags! I thought we were going to need a second vehicle there for a hot minute.”

“But what the hell are you two—”

“Don’t you tell him!” Eva cut me off loudly.

“Yes, ma’am,” Elliot answered.

“I want to surprise him.”

“I know.”

“Surprise me with what?” I replied.

“Here, hold these, sweetheart.” She handed me a stack of paint chips as she juggled six bags.

“I can take the bags—”

“Nope!” Eva interrupted. “Paint chips are just fine. Come upstairs, please.”

“I have to park my car,” I said quickly, but she was already through the building door. Elliot’s laughter increased as he rounded the front of his truck.

“I’d hurry up if I were you,” he advised. “That woman’s on a roll with or without you.”

Damn right, she was. I hadn’t seen Eva this fired up in a while.

A rainbow had thrown up on our condo by the time I walked in. Everywhere. Blankets, throw pillows, quirky coffee cups, and more in a wide array of colors were spread across the living room. Just piles. All over the place.

In the middle of it all, my wife flitted around from place to place, emptying bags as she did so. The determination in her face was something.

“Eva… honey,” I began slowly, “what’re we doing here?”

“Why did you keep all my art?” she demanded, standing upright. That wasn’t the question I was expecting.

“I always loved your art,” I told her. “There was never a question about that. You’re talented, and you put so much into every piece. It only felt right that they were saved.”

“Thank you,” Eva said.

“For what?”

“ For not throwing me out.” Like that was ever an option.

“I don’t know… I just… I don’t know what I’m doing, Logan.

I really don’t. But I will say going through everything brought up a lot of questions, or maybe some answers…

I don’t know. But looking at everything and going through our old photos and just…

Elliot wasn’t ready for the craziness he walked into when he showed up. ”

“It’s not like he can’t handle it,” I reminded her.

“You wouldn’t believe how wise he is for a man who eats boned-in chicken wings with a fork,” she commented flippantly, making me laugh out loud. The fact that he did that never ceased to entertain her. “I don’t like all the white in here, sweetheart. It feels so… empty and gross and…”

Her head tipped back as she made a disgusted sound. My smile widened. I dropped the paint chips on the table and crossed the room. Wrapping my arms around her, I squeezed her tight and kissed the top of her head.

“Whatever you want, we’ll do it,” I told her.

“Can we paint?” Eva asked, leaning back to stare up at me. I kissed the tip of her nose.

“No,” I replied. Her scowl was immediate. “We can hire someone to paint it all for us because I don’t want to do it.”

“Can we paint the bedroom together?” she countered as she arched a delicate brow.

“That we can do,” I said, making her light up beautifully. Bedroom, I could do. Whole damn condo, no thank you. “Show me what you got? I’d love to know what you want to do with our home.”

And that was the end of our night. I let her pull me through every single little plan she had for our home. I hadn’t seen her so excited over anything in a long time. And I loved every part of it.