Page 8 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)

I’m shaking and I just want to scream. I'm so mad at Hunter. It’s one thing to be an asshole to me, at least I can understand our history.

But, Franklin did nothing to him. Not one thing.

Then to come at me about going home to Neil, who for all he knows, is my boyfriend that I’m deeply in love with!

Ugh! Fuck him!

Whipping out my phone I pull up his contact, deleting the N this time. He’s got two chances left. I don’t really know what comes when I delete those two letters but something will happen, even if it’s just in my mind.

I drop my phone into the cupholder next to my coffee and lay my head against the headrest. Not a second passes before my phone is dinging again.

Neil’s name followed by Daddy’s name are popping back and forth on my phone. Both of them sending text message after text message.

I ignore Daddy for now. I know exactly what he wants and I don’t have it in me to deal with him so Neil it is.

Neil: Evelyn, your father is on the warpath trying to figure out why you aren’t answering him. You didn’t tell him you were staying in Balsam Cliffs for your little vacation? He’s been harassing me all day.

Neil: This isn’t cute anymore. Call him. I am trying to handle clients before this damn gala tonight.

So nice that he misses me after a week apart.

I roll my eyes, finding Daddy’s number and hitting send. As the phone rings I start to back out of my parking spot. No need to prolong this day any more. I need to get to the apartment I share with Neil to pack my things for the moving company I hired to come this week.

And tell him that I’m moving out because we’re over.

“Evelyn. Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all week and all I’m getting is your voicemail.”

“I needed a break, Daddy. I told you that.”

“In an email, Evelyn. And I didn’t know that meant ignoring me the entire week before the biggest event on my calendar this year.”

I take in a deep fortifying breath. “I didn’t ignore the gala though. Everything is in place and everything will be perfect. I promise.”

“Are you back now? You can’t miss this tonight. This is going to be a very well photographed event. It will not look good if my daughter isn’t in attendance. It’s already bad enough that your brother won’t be here.”

Because Rome is the sibling who gets a fucking choice unlike me. I was numb for so long I just fell into whatever Daddy wanted me to do. Now, seeing the light, I see how life could be and realize I’m totally unhappy.

“I will be back in forty-five minutes. No need to worry. I’ll be photo ready, and hanging off your arm like Mom.”

“No. You need to be seen with Neil. Next to us. A strong family with a strong next generation. We’ve discussed this, Evelyn.

” Frustration laces his voice as if I’m an idiot who he can’t gain control of.

“Why are you staying in Balsam Cliffs anyway? I thought we left this behind us? Your life is here.”

“I’ll be there, Daddy. Do you need anything else?” I’m tired of this conversation.

“No. That is all. I’ll see you later.” He doesn’t say goodbye and I don’t get the chance either because my music starts playing through the car again before I can even decide that I want to hang up.

Monday can’t come soon enough. I will finally sign paperwork to start buying the agency from Mr. Darnell.

It will officially be mine, and I can quit working for Daddy.

I’m going to put my two weeks notice in with him the day before the harvest festival, then I’ll be able to be free, on my own for the first time.

Living just for myself is something I can’t wait to start doing.

Walking through the front door of my condo in Portland, I’m met with silence. I’m torn on how to feel about it. On one hand, I’d like to get this break-up over with, on the other, I really don’t want to deal with it all.

Maybe I can take a page from Hunter’s book and just send a fucking letter. Asshole.

Knowing Neil isn’t here, I grab the boxes I left in the hallway and bring them back to our bedroom.

The whole place looks like no one has even been here in the week I’ve been gone.

It wouldn’t surprise me if he has been sleeping at the office to squeeze in a few more clients .

It wouldn’t be the first time he has spent the night on his couch next to his desk.

I’m six boxes in when Neil finally shows up. Chattering on his phone.

He walks into the bedroom and the only indication he saw me was the pause in his step before his mouth fell open for all of two seconds before he continued his call and walked past me into the bathroom.

Shaking my head, I continue to grab clothes out of my closet and shove them into an assortment of bags I have to bring my important things with me back to Balsam Cliffs, like underwear and clothes, before the movers can get to me.

Two more bags later, and Neil finally acknowledges my existence, off his phone this time.

“I didn’t think you’d be back before the gala.” He stops in front of me resting his hands on his hips.

“I told you I’d be back for the gala, but I wanted to be here early because we need to talk, Neil.”

His phone rings, breaking his attention on me.

“I’ve gotta take this. We’ll talk tomorrow after the gala.” He’s already on his phone before he leaves the room.

Never taking notice of me packing, or the boxes piled high in the hallway. If that isn’t the sum of our entire relationship I don’t know what is. He never notices me unless I’m needed for an evening, making him look like the good family man to a client or his bosses.

Picking up the bags I’ve finished packing, I lug them down to load in my car before I need to start getting ready for the gala.

A hot shower, and this killer dress I have is the key to getting through this night. The dress is a floor length, black satin gown that hugs every curve in all the right places. It gives me all the confidence I need to survive the fake smiles and photo ops.

I walk out into the living room to find Neil sitting on the couch in his tux, still on his phone. At least this time he isn’t talking to someone. Although he still doesn’t look up at me.

“I’ve got a car coming in two minutes. Are you ready?” He gets up, walking over to the door, still with his nose in his phone.

“Yeah. I’m ready.” I follow him out there, catching it with my foot as he lets it close in my face.

“Sorry.” He still doesn’t look at me. Is it so much to ask that my boyfriend look at me? Maybe gush over how amazing I look?

I stop in my tracks as soon as we exit the front of our building. Daddy and Mom are standing in front of a black limo.

“Evelyn, you look lovely.” Mom greets me with a kiss on each of my cheeks as if we live in Europe.

“Thanks, Mom. You look great too.” She smiles and does a small twirl for me to see the whole dress.

“I didn’t realize we were all driving there together. In a limo.” My eyes widen as the driver steps around to the back door to let us in.

“Showing up together is a good optic, Evelyn. Our arrival is going to be photographed and it looks good to have us show up united as a family,” Dad answers, helping Mom into the car.

“Of course. A good optic,” I mutter to myself.

Neil gets in before me, and does not help me like Daddy helped Mom. I never thought I’d see the day I wished my boyfriend would be more like my father. More like Hunter, yes. I’ve measured all men up to him over the years, even if I want to hate him.

Arriving at the venue, there are a few reporters with a photographer and I can tell by Daddy scrunching his nose that this was not what he was hoping. He was hoping that more news outlets would be here. I don’t even see the photographer that I hired so I shoot off a quick text to her.

I throw back the glass of champagne before leaving the limo. This time though, Neil is the picture perfect boyfriend, reaching in to grab my hand to help me out of the car, looping my arm through his and holding my hand, pausing to kiss me on the cheek. All for the cameras.

Perfect, my ass.

As soon as we’re inside I remove myself from his arm and head to the bar. I’m going to need a lot more wine to get through the evening.

Mom arrives next to me, changing my order to a soda water with lime twist. “We just want the appearance, darling. But no one wants to talk to a woman who smells of liquor. Don’t think I missed how quickly that glass of champagne disappeared.”

My lips press into a thin line as I accept the new drink from the bartender who gives me a weak smile as if she’s apologizing for my own mother’s behavior while she flits away back into the crowd.

“Hello, Evelyn. How are you tonight?” One of my clients takes mother’s spot next to me.

Before I can answer, Neil slides up next to me on the other side, with an actual beer, slipping his arm around my waist to rest his hand on my hip. I stiffen under his touch and step to the side. I’ve done this a few times tonight while mingling with people he deems important.

“Excuse me, do you mind if I steal my girl here?” he asks my client.

“Oh, of course not, with how amazing she looks tonight, I’d be stealing her any chance you can before someone else does.” She gives a small laugh.

Neil takes my hand, pulling me off to the side over in an alcove. “What the hell is your problem tonight? You’re making me look bad in front of all these people every time you step away from me.”

“I tried to talk to you earlier but you waved me off with a phone call.” I cross my arms over my chest, popping a hip out with as much attitude as I can muster.

“About what, Evelyn?”

“I’ll talk to you after the gala. We don’t need to discuss it here.” I attempt to walk away but he grips my upper arm hard.

“No. You will tell me what the fuck your problem is right now.”

I whip around, pushing his hand off me. “We are done, Neil. I’m moving back home to Balsam Cliffs. I rented a cabin and I’m not coming back to Portland.

“Oh, right. Okay. That’s what this is about? What, you and that Keaton guy have a little thing going and you think you’re going to move there and everything will be just as perfect as it was?”

“What are you talking about?” My heart pounds in my chest.

“You talk in your sleep, Evelyn. And that box you save in the back of the closet with all the photos and letters wasn’t hard to find.

He pretends to hate you, but I can see it in his eyes.

He loves you and you look at him the same way.

So you can go get whatever it is out of your system.

I’ll be here when you think you’re done.

” He starts to walk away, laughing like this is all some kind of joke.

“I’m not coming back!” I shout. “It’s over!”

“Okay, Evelyn.” He doesn’t look back, he doesn’t stop laughing, he just leaves me standing here alone.

Ugh! What is happening right now? What do I say in my sleep? I’ve kept that box hidden, my secret to keep, not his. Why is he ok with me cheating on him and just coming back like nothing happened?

The need to run back to Balsam Cliffs and protect my memories as my own, not to be shared with him, is stronger than even a week ago.

I furiously pull up my Uber app, ordering a car. My hands shake as I type in the information.

All I want to do is get out of here as fast as possible.

Looking around, I find the back door of the venue, rushing out before anyone can find me leaving.

The last thing I want right now is another confrontation with Daddy. Who knows if Neil will even tell him. He doesn’t even seem willing to accept that I’m breaking up with him.

Luckily my car is there when I walk around to the front drive.

I swing the door open and ask the driver to get out of here as soon as possible.

All I want is to get to my car, and go home, to Balsam Cliffs.

The driver drops me off in the parking garage with my car. I don’t even bother changing before I hop in, start the car, and back out. Almost burning rubber out of the garage.

The hour-long drive back is therapeutic. Singing all the bad bitch songs I know at the top of my lungs.

When I pull into the driveway, Wyatt is leaving his house.

If my heart didn’t already unwillingly belong to another Keaton brother, Wyatt in uniform would surely do it for me.

I park in front of my cabin as he walks over to greet me when I get out of the car.

“Well, hot damn. Who did I blow to get this fucking knock out of a woman delivered to my front door?” He whistles.

My cheeks blush as he gives me the praise I was looking for from Neil earlier.

“You just had the right cabin at the right time.” My voice is wobbly from holding back the tears that are threatening to come out with all the emotions of the day.

“Okay, something is wrong.” He takes my hand, leading me over to the chairs on my front porch. “Tell me.”

Hiding my face in my hands, “I don’t know where to start. Or who to start with. Daddy views me as someone he can control, not that I’ve fought him on any choices for a long time, I just let him tell me what to do. And Neil. Fuck. I’m just a transaction to him.”

“Hey. Listen to me, I might not know much about long term relationships, but I do know you are so much more than a transaction. And anyone who can’t see that is a dumbass. You deserve the world.” I give him a weak smile. “Maybe an orgasm would help?” He raises a hopeful eyebrow.

Swatting at his shoulder, “Stop it. You’re going to work.”

He stands, laughing at me. “Made you laugh though.” As he walks away he yells back to me, “And that wasn’t a no , Evelyn Thomas!”

Rolling my eyes at his back, I wipe my cheeks from the few stray tears that broke free. Leave it to Wyatt to make me giggle at his antics and pull me out of my pity party.

I’m not all the way out though, so the leftover cookies from Violet are calling my name.

And maybe a glass of wine.