“We can talk about this later, right?” she quietly asked. “There’s so much to do, and people are waiting…”
Nodding, he offered her a small smile. “Yeah. We can talk about it later. I need to get dressed and you need to see if Nora can help you. I’ll see you over at your cabin.”
“Thanks, Slater.” And before she could stop herself, she nearly leaped into his arms and kissed him soundly. “I’ll see you there as soon as I can.”
Letting herself out of the bedroom, she found Nora standing out on the porch with the guys.
“So, um…my clothes from last night are kind of ruined. Any chance I can borrow something of yours until we see what’s going on with the cabin?”
Nora smiled. “Sure. Come on. I’m sure I have something you can wear.”
They walked in silence down the path, and Evie cursed the fact that she was barefoot and wearing nothing but Slater’s robe. When they stepped up onto Nora and Milo’s porch, she actually cringed. “I don’t want to step inside with muddy feet.”
“Hang on.” Nora quickly went and grabbed a towel for her to wipe her feet on before stepping aside so she could walk in. “Yoga pants, t-shirt, socks, and sneakers?”
“If they fit me, I’ll take them.” She followed Nora into the bedroom and then paused. “And um…underwear?” she meekly added. “I can go without a bra, but…um…”
“Don’t worry. I have a pack that I haven’t opened, so you can take it.”
Evie nearly sagged with relief. “Thanks.”
Clothes in hand, she went into their bathroom and quickly got dressed. She longed for a shower, but that would have to wait until later. When she stepped back out, Nora was sitting on the couch, looking at her phone.
“All set,” she said.
But Nora didn’t get up.
“Um…”
“Can we just sit and talk for a minute?” Nora asked.
“Sure.” Warily, she maneuvered around her and sat down. “What’s up?”
“I guess I wanted to make sure—when no one else was around—that you’re okay. Slater’s not the kind of guy I ever would have pegged…”
“I’ve had a crush on him since I met him,” Evie blurted out. “The first time he walked into Milo’s office, I nearly swallowed my tongue. He was just…I’d never seen such a sexy, virile man.”
Nora laughed softly. “Virile? I didn’t think anyone said that anymore.”
“It’s seriously the only word that came to mind. I work around guys in suits or hipsters, you know? Slater walked in with this…swagger and confidence, and it was the biggest turn-on. He flirted a little, but I could tell I wasn’t the kind of woman he went after. And then the more he came around and the more I got to know him, I knew it. So I relegated myself to being his friend. But when I got here, something just…shifted. Changed. We both know this is temporary—I’m going back to Seattle and he’s moving on to…whatever.” She shrugged.
“Okay, but…”
“Am I sad that it’s temporary? Sure. But I don’t see Slater as being the guy who is going to settle down in a big city—or anywhere for that matter—and be the devoted husband with a couple of kids.” Tears stung her eyes out of nowhere, and she wanted to curse them. “I think it would be a little like domesticating a wild animal. You may think it’s for the best, but sometimes…it’s not.”
“Well that’s a little depressing,” Nora said with a sigh. “But I think I love how you compared Slater to a wild animal.” She grinned. “I’ve known him a long time, and I think that fits.”
“But…?”
“But…honestly? I think Slater would do well if someone domesticated him. I think he’s scared of it because his family gave him a lot of excess baggage that drags him down. If he’d let it go, I think he’d be the most loyal person—partner, husband, spouse—anyone could ask for.”
“There’s a tiny part of me that wants to shout ‘yippee!’ at that, but I don’t think he sees me as that person. I think he feels safe with me because we were friends first. Although…” She thought about what he’d said to her just minutes ago but didn’t think she needed to share it right now.
“Although…” Nora prompted.
Ugh…why not?
“Back at his cabin, when we were in his bedroom, he kind of said that the way I talked about us bothered him. He said it sounded like I was using him to soothe my ego after the whole Tucker thing.”
