His brows lifted with obvious interest. “What’s that now?”
She smiled. “I only fly First Class.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Blaise put her extra outfits away, then took Beau out for a quick walk. She stayed in her sundress because she planned on wearing it to dinner. Brick had texted to say come over around six thirty, so she had a little time to kill.
When she got back in the house, she sat down at her laptop and worked on the query email she planned to send to several publishers as soon as the website was ready. That would set things back a bit, but Maude was working quickly, so not more than a few days, Blaise imagined.
Plus, she still needed Cece to read the email and help her tweak it so it would be as good as it could be.
She was anxious to get it done. The sooner she could get something good happening, the better. Any day now, Evan would be calling again to see how things were going. She very much wanted to tell him she’d landed some kind of deal, be it a book or a speaking engagement or even a new modeling gig.
She’d take anything that paid.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming call. Evan. Of course he’d call now right before her dinner with Brick. Her son musthave some sixth sense that alerted him every time she thought about him.
Blaise inhaled, centered herself, put on a smile, and answered. “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Hey, Mom.” Evan always started like everything was fine. Chipper, bright, and that faint layer of condescension she doubted he even realized he used edging every word. “Just checking in. How’s the dream life by the beach?”
“It’s wonderful here,” she said, choosing warmth over defensiveness. She knew exactly what he thought of this dream life. “I’ve made some amazing friends. And I’m working on some new opportunities.”
“Mm-hmm,” Evan replied but it was that sound people made when they didn’t quite believe you. “You’re sure everything’s manageable? I mean, after what happened with?—”
“Evan,” she cut in softly. “We don’t need to go over thatagain.”
He paused as if regrouping. “Right. I just don’t want you to be overwhelmed. I know it’s got to be hard being there all alone.”
“I’m not alone,” she assured him. “And I’m not overwhelmed. I’m building something new.”
He cleared his throat, the shift in tone predictable by now. “Well, Casey and I have been talking. If you ever feel like you can’t keep up, you know you’re always welcome to move in with us.”
There it was. Exactly the assumption she’d been working so hard to avoid.
“No,” Blaise said with a tone she hoped was kind but unmistakably firm. “That is not happening. I love you both, but I am not moving in with you. Not now. Not later.”
“But, Mom?—”
“I am capable of taking care of myself,” she said. “Just because I made one very bad financial decision does not mean I’ve forgotten how to be an adult.”
Evan was silent. Then a small, frustrated sigh. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you again.”
“I know,” she said, her voice gentler. “And I appreciate your concern. Truly. Your dad would be proud of you. But I am rebuilding my independence. And I won’t live in a way that feels like giving up.”
Another pause. Longer this time. “Okay,” he finally said. “I’ll try to be less…overprotective.”
“That would be lovely.”
“So,” Evan continued in what seemed to be an attempt to smooth things over. “Are you doing anything fun tonight?”
Blaise rested her head back on the cushions and smiled, thinking about Brick. “I am, actually,” she said. “I’m having dinner with a friend.” She’d almost said date, but she could imagine the response that would get her.
“Really? What’s her name?”
“His name is Brick. That was his nickname in the Marines and he still goes by it.”
“You’re going out with a man?” Evan sounded startled. And maybe a little impressed.
