Page 78 of The Challenge

“Anything going on there?”

Still out of breath, I deflected. “Where’s my daughter?”

“She’s with Maura. They’re doing another round of the potato sack race.” Lydia tilted her head. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“No. Nothing’s going on.” I swallowed. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I just saw her storm away from that room, looking messier than she did earlier. And then you came out a few minutes later all discombobulated.”

Shit.

Lydia was wonderful, but she was the last person I needed knowing about anything happening between Chloe and me.

“It’s complicated, Lydia.”

“Can I offer some advice?”

“Pretty sure you’re gonna give it to me no matter what I say.”

“I’ve seen the women you’ve dated since the end of your marriage to my daughter. It’s evident you have a type. And that type is all wrong.”

“What type is that, exactly?”

“Women who don’t want anything to do with your daughter…so you don’t have to worry about someone abandoning her all over again. Women you don’t have to let into your heart. You stay away from anyone who might be worth it, anyone Effie might bond with, to ensure that you’re both safe. Chloe seems different from the others. There’s history there, and depth. She scares you.”

That was an understatement. Instead of admitting it, though, I just let Lydia talk. She was the only mother figure I had, and I did always respect her advice. I walked over to the buffet, and she followed. I reached for a glass and served myself some spiked punch.

“Don’t let what my daughter did keep you from true love,” she added.

“Love. Aren’t we jumping ahead a bit here?” I took a sip.

“When was your last meaningful relationship, Evan?”

The first deep emotional connection I’d ever had with anyone—female or male—was with Chloe. It wasn’t even a physical relationship, but it was deeper than anything I’d experienced since. We’d made each other better people. In the vein of continuing to want great things for her, I’d thought that meant removing myself from her life. That felt like too much to admit to Lydia in the middle of a Halloween party, so I just said, “It was a very long time ago.”

“As much as you don’t want anyone to hurt Effie, you’re also setting an example for her, you know. She needs to learn that it’s okay to take chances in life. If her dad never allows himself to let love in, never risks getting his heart broken, she won’t get to see what it’s like for two people to truly love each other. Don’t be afraid to take risks,” Lydia said. “We get so busy sometimes that we forget this is the only life we have—the only chance we get. Don’t let your life pass you by while you’re busy protecting everyone from getting hurt.”

Her advice hit me right in the chest. “I hear you.”

She gestured over to the corner of the room where Chloe was talking to Brendan. “From the looks of things, you don’t have a lot of time before she gives up on you.”

“Chloe doesn’t live here,” I rushed to say. “She’s leaving. You do realize that?”

“Plans change, Evan. Don’t be so rigid.”

In my heart, I knew Lydia was right. But old habits die hard. When you’ve spent a good chunk of your life trying to protect people, it was hard to suddenly not care about hurting them. Still, after I’d dragged Chloe into that bedroom earlier, she and I had unfinished business tonight.

Business we needed to be alone for. Business that couldn’t wait. Business that couldn’t be handled around an eight-year-old.

“Can Effie sleep over at your house tonight?”

She smirked. “I thought you’d never ask.”

“Wipe that look off your face. I just want to talk to Chloe in peace.”

“Like you and she were doing lots of talking in Drew’s bedroom.”

“With all due respect, Lydia, shut it.”