Page 33 of The Challenge

“Was he impressed with your work?”

“He was, actually,” Evan said proudly. “Thank you again for staying with Effie.”

“We had a great time,” I said. “Whenever you need me to stay with her, just let me know. It’s the least I can do when you’re not even charging me rent.”

“Depending on you is not something I plan to make a habit of unless there’s another emergency, but thank you for offering.” Evan let out a long breath. “Her mother got her that friendship bracelet kit the last time she visited.”

I’d been wiping the table, but froze. “Oh…”

“Effie had said she was going to wait for her to come back and make them with her. She’s been dying to open it up but kept saving it. My fear was that Katerina wouldn’t be back anytime soon and Effie would outgrow the desire to even make the damn bracelets. I’ve asked her many times if she wanted to make them with me, but she’s always insisted she’ll wait to make them with Katerina. The fact that she opened the box and wanted to make them with you is very cool. I’m glad she didn’t wait any more.”

His revelation left me speechless. “I had no idea,” I said softly. “She didn’t mention it.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. She’s sensitive when it comes to anything having to do with her mother.” He looked toward the closed bathroom door. “You wouldn’t know it, because she loves to talk, but there’s a lot she holds inside. Some days, I feel so guilty for putting her in a situation where she ended up with a bad mother. I mean, I know that sounds stupid, because without Katerina, Effie wouldn’t even be here, but you know what I mean.”

It made me sad that he’d blame himself for a situation that seemed completely out of his control. His ex had chosen to leave.

“I’m in awe of you, Evan. Truly. I don’t know that I could do what you do every day—go to work, come home and make sure she feels safe and loved until the moment you have to go to sleep. Then do it all over again the next day. She didn’t win in the mom department, but she got the best dad.”

His face reddened. “Well, thank you. That means a lot coming from the woman who once dubbed me Doofus McGoofus.”

“I did?” I chuckled, confused.

“Among other nicknames.” Evan nodded. “In your letter.”

I shut my eyes and cringed, realizing again how much I didn’t remember about that letter. “Can we not bring that up right now? We’ve been getting along so well.”

“I knew you were probably drunk when you wrote it. It didn’t sound like you.”

“I should’ve written it and put it aside like I was supposed to. It would’ve had the same effect. Instead, my drunk ass decided it would be a brilliant idea to walk down to the campus mailbox and send it to you right then and there, so I couldn’t change my mind.”

“You could’ve called me and requested a retraction.”

He was right. I’d often considered calling him, but always chickened out.

I shook my head. “The longer I waited, the harder it was to apologize. Weeks turned into months turned into years. If I haven’t already made it clear, I’m sorry I wrote any of those words to you.”

“I’m sorry I never responded. Because there was a hell of a lot I wanted to say, too, but was afraid to admit it at the time.”

“Like what?”

“I know you believed I somehow led you on, only to reject you. But it was in no way that simple. The connection you and I had was special to me. And I knew crossing the line with you would change that forever. You guys were the only family I had. I didn’t want to lose you—or them. But especially you. I realize I ended up losing you anyway. But it was about so much more than just our relationship. You were leaving town for a huge opportunity. No way was I going to allow myself to interfere with that. I worried you would’ve stayed for me. I couldn’t have lived with myself if you gave up that scholarship to Northwestern because of me.” He paused. “It killed me that you thought I didn’t return your feelings. Because honestly…I did. That was the problem.” Evan let out a deep exhale. “Man, I’ve never let all that out.”

The ground seemed to shift beneath my feet. He’d returned my feelings? I’d never been sure and didn’t know how to process his admission. But I reminded myself that just because he’d had romantic feelings for me back then, it didn’t mean anything about the present. So much had happened between then and now.

Before I could respond, my phone rang—a number I didn’t recognize with a Dry River area code. I worried that it was my mother’s care facility. My heart raced as I answered. “Hello?”

“Hi, Ms. Cavanaugh. It’s Lauren from Fielding Property Management.”

“Oh. Hi…” My nerves immediately calmed. Fielding was another property management company I’d contacted after I arrived here. They’d tried to find me a place to no avail.

“Listen, we have a new place that just opened up in Dry River, and it would be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s even a little below your budget, which is an added bonus, only thirteen-hundred a month.”

I blinked. “Where is it?”

“It’s about a mile down the road from the center of town. A perfect, centrally located spot. It’s ready to move in now, if you’re still looking for a place.”

I tugged at my hair. “Um…okay. Can I think about it and get back to you?”