Page 56 of The Challenge

Evan rubbed the back of his neck. “Once a month they have an open mic night. A few of the guys and I put together a little makeshift band a while ago. I sing and play the guitar.”

“You’re that good?”

“Well, you did challenge me to learn guitar in a week way back when. While I wasn’t very good at the time, I decided to continue learning. So, yeah.” He shrugged. “I’m okay.”

“He’s more than okay. He’s great!” Effie shouted.

Evan singing? Yes, please!

My skin tingled. “Effie, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“I hope you’re still feeling that way by the end of it.” Evan laughed.

“Why do you say that?”

“You’ll have to find out.” He winked.

Chapter 22

EVAN

It shouldn’t have surprised me to see the bright pink note on the refrigerator when I got up to make coffee the next morning.

Take Effie bra shopping.

I should’ve woken her ass up to give her a piece of my mind. Damn you, Chloe.

I’d known a reciprocal challenge was coming for me. That’s how it always worked. But for some reason, I hadn’t anticipated it so soon, and I hadn’t expected this. I would have to face the fact that my little girl wasn’t a baby anymore, but I was hoping for a little more time.

Effie wandered into the kitchen. “What’s wrong, Daddy?”

I crinkled the paper and stuffed it into my back pocket. “Nothing, baby.”

“You were looking down at something like you were mad.”

Feigning a smile, I shook my head. “Nope. All is good.”

If I was going to do this, I’d take full credit for it and surprise Effie this afternoon when I picked her up.

Sure enough, later that day, I instantly became Father of the Year when I announced during the car ride home from school that I would take Effie bra shopping. She practically cried tears of joy, never imagining I’d change my mind so fast.

Of course, she wanted to go to a store that was an hour away. She said it was the one “all her friends” had gone to, and it specialized in women’s lingerie.

I sighed and gave in. There weren’t many options here in Dry River anyway.

When we arrived, the exterior of the building was painted pink. Of course it was. I felt like a creep walking into the place.

An attendant approached me the second we entered. “Can I help you, sir?”

“Yeah. You can save me from this entire experience,” I muttered.

“Don’t even look at him,” my smartass daughter told her. “He’s clueless.”

I cleared my throat. “She wants a bra. Not sure what you even call bras for little girls who don’t really need them yet.”

“They’re called bras.” She laughed. “But training bra is probably a better term.”

“Clearly, I’m the one who’s in training here. As my daughter pointed out, I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to this stuff, so I’d appreciate you helping her find one.”