Page 10 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)
I stare at him. Could I do that? Hell no. Watching her with Neil was hell and I knew she didn’t love him. It still killed me the few times I was forced to see them together. Having to watch her love someone else every single day, I’d have to move and leave Balsam Cliffs. I couldn’t do that.
“Your silence tells me all I need to know. We were dumb enough in high school to think we could protect Emma and Evelyn. In the end all our pact did was cause hurt. So, don’t continue to be a dumbass. Tell her how you feel.”
“We were engaged.” I blurt out.
“Come again?”
“You heard me. I proposed to her with a letter and a cheap bubble gum machine ring in the envelope the night before her graduation. That weekend I deployed, we were supposed to get married at the courthouse in Portland. We figured if we were married you wouldn’t be so mad at us. Instead, I broke her heart.”
“Hunt, you owe it to both of you to be honest with her.” He stands, slapping me on the shoulder and leaving his office.
Fuck . I sort of wish he had just punched me. At least I know what to do with punches. Feelings, not so much.
I take a minute to get myself right before I go back out to the group. But nothing could have prepared me to see Eve in jeans that have to be painted on her ass, and a cream sweater that hugs her curves.
“I can’t believe you finally did it. Guess you’re officially staying, huh?” Wyatt says.
“Yeah, better get that long term lease ready for me.” Eve jokes with him.
“What makes it official?” I ask from the outskirts of the group.
“You haven’t heard the gossip this week?” Ems asks me.
“Nope. And I get it from you or Vi so… care to share?”
“Our girl here just bought Mr. Darnell’s agency. She’s officially the new owner and newest permanent resident of Balsam Cliffs once again.”
Emma beams next to Evelyn, pulling her in at the side for a hug. Eve’s gaze is trained on mine, studying my face for my own reaction to the news.
I don’t know what to say, so I nod my head and run off to the bar like a coward for a shot from Rome.
“Tequila,” I say to him. “And you could have told me your sister just bought the insurance agency and is now a permanent fixture here in town.”
He grabs the Cuervo bottle off the shelf and a shot glass. “Oh, oops. Did I forget to mention that?”
The smirk on his face tells me this omission was deliberate.
I slam back the tequila shot, and go back to the group. There’s two options for seats, one between my brothers and one next to Evelyn. I choose the riskier option. She refuses to look at me, and I don’t blame her one bit.
I bump her with my shoulder. “Congratulations. I’m really proud of you.”
“I’m sorry, you think just because you made nice with my brother that it extends to me now?
Newsflash, you fucking hurt me more than him so it’s not quite as easy as some stupid shoulder nudge and a congratulations,” she seethes, the V in her forehead creasing as she continues to yell at me.
“One Thomas forgiving you does not equal two. I’m not some dumb young kid anymore who thinks you hung the moon. ”
She throws her chair back and stomps off toward the dance floor where Emma and Violet are dancing to the live music of a band playing nineties covers.
Sighing I tip my beer back, sucking back faster than I should in such a short period of time.
Wyatt throws himself into the empty chair that Evelyn just vacated, and Cooper takes the spot across from me.
Now I’m just waiting for Liam to come join the fun.
“So, it took you what, thirty seconds to be a douche to Evelyn?” Wyatt leans over, stealing my beer.
“All I said was congratulations.”
“And I’m the Queen of England.” Cooper laughs.
Liam joins us sitting next to Coop.
“I’m serious. I realized I was taking over Liam’s resident grump status and since she’s staying here, I’ll have to get over it. So I’m turning over a new leaf.”
“Or it could be because you know she’s single now.” Liam rats me out to the guys.
“Please. You guys are as bad as the girls when they get together with Mom.” I roll my eyes, but turn in my seat to find the woman at the center of conversation.
She’s dancing without a care in the world between Emma and Violet. My eyes track down her body and back up again as her hips sway to the song. I once was a lucky enough bastard to trace those curves. My fingers are itching to do it again as I watch her.
“I’ll believe that when you stop staring at her.” Wyatt punches me on the shoulder. “Are you ever going to tell us what the story is there? I mean obviously I’m right but it would be nice to hear it.”
“You’re close to the truth. I’ll tell you all one day. Maybe when I figure it all out myself.” I tip my beer back once more, pouring another swig down as I watch her glide across the dance floor to a country version of Gin and Juice with the girls .
At the end of the night, Evelyn has had one too many celebratory drinks. She’s wobbling while standing at the end of the table.
I approach her. “Hey, can I get you a ride home?”
“Oh, me?” She looks around her. “You’re still on the be nice to poor Evelyn who just left her boyfriend because she can’t stop comparing men to you ? Well newsssss flash big guy, I don’t need you to be nice to me.”
She attempts to jab my chest, but misses and ends up falling forward into my arms. “No Peach, I’m just tired of pretending to hate you.”
She stares up at me, but the moment is broken by one of my stupid brothers.
“Hey, let’s go, Eve. I’ve got the truck pulled around front for you.”
“You got her?” I ask him.
“Yeah, we rode together so I’ll get her home. She is my neighbor after all.” Wyatt looks at her, still leaning in my chest and being held up by my arms. “Unless you’d like the honors.”
“Nope. I like Wyatt better.” She stumbles over to him before looking at me again. “Even if you…” She hiccups, losing her train of thought as she giggles at the sound.
“Even if I what, Eve?” I push her.
She just glares at me, completely forgetting everything she’s just said.
“Okay, it’s time to go, girlfriend.” Wyatt throws her over his shoulder and carries her out the door leaving me standing alone at the table.
“You better move fast, brother. I heard Emma and Violet gushing about how she and Wyatt would be a perfect romance book. Something about forced proximity and roommates.” Coop shakes his head.
“The fuck he will.” I down my beer, slapping Coop on the shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow to finish working on the inn’s booth?”
“Bright and early if Liam has any say.” We both laugh. With Violet being the inn’s baker and him running the inn, they keep pretty early mornings. We’ve all but banned him from dictating meeting times.
“See ya.” I toss a wave over to the bar to Rome, and then to Liam.
The cool fall air skates over my heated skin from being so close to Evelyn and feeling her body in my arms again. Her confession has left my head spinning and filled with hope. If she compares Neil to me still, then there’s hope for forgiveness.
I just need a plan.