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“Then the answer is yes,” Carson said in a lighthearted tone. But he didn’t feel lighthearted. Soon, they’d be going back to school and getting even closer to the inevitable.
He gathered up the basket and blanket while Evie put her shoes back on. Together, they walked back to the truck.
“It’s after three,” she said, checking her phone.
“Yeah?”
“Do you mind stopping by the school on the way back? I’m going to pop in and say hi to the principal. I promised my mom I would, and I don’t want it to be a formal interview situation.”
“All right.” Carson eyed her, wondering what she was thinking. He was glad she was stopping in, but it seemed more of a formality than anything. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“It will literally take five minutes,” she said. “If the principal is even there. School got out about fifteen minutes ago.”
The drive to the school was quiet, and Carson wondered what she was thinking about. But he didn’t feel like he could intrude right now.
“Thanks,” she said as he pulled in front of the school and stopped.
She slipped out of the truck, and he watched her hurry toward the school. He hoped . . . he didn’t know what he hoped. That she changed her mind about Prosper? That she’d stick up for her goals? That she’d be happy whatever she chose? Yeah, that was what he hoped.
Despite his growing fondness of her, and apparent attachment if his constant focus on her was an indicator, he wanted what was best for her.
It wasn’t five minutes that he waited, but twenty. He could have maybe read some articles for one of his homework projects, but instead, he watched the comings and goings of the small town. The place was downright quiet, and peaceful.
When Evie finally emerged from the school, she was walking with another woman. The two approached the truck, and Carson didn’t know if he was supposed to roll down the window, or get out. So he climbed out and walked around to the sidewalk.
The woman with Evie was petite with short, dark hair. Her red-framed glasses matched the red blouse she wore with no-nonsense black pants.
“Carson, this is Bev Jarvis,” Evie said. “She’s the principal here.”
“Great to meet you,” he said, stepping forward and shaking her hand.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Ms. Jarvis said in a mellow tone. “I’ve heard of your grandfather. The town appreciates his investment in the arena.”
“I’ll pass the news along to him,” Carson said, glancing at Evie and trying to gauge how the conversation between the two of them had gone.
They said goodbye to Ms. Jarvis, and Carson opened the truck door for Evie. She slipped past him without a word on how things had gone.
When he climbed into the truck, she glanced over at him.
“What?” he asked. “How did it go?”
“She was really nice and said she has the funds to bring on a part-time graphic designer, but there are other roles in the school I could fill, so I’d have a full-time salary,” Evie said, her voice sounding too happy, too cheerful. “I told her I wasn’t ready to move to Prosper yet, but she wants to keep in touch anyway.”
Carson’s heart sank at the part about not moving to Prosper, but he liked that the door had been left open. “That sounds perfect,” he said, his own smile becoming more false by the moment. “It will be nice to have that door open if you ever need it.”
“Exactly.” Evie leaned her head back and folded her arms. “My mom will be glad I stopped in, and now I can tell her I did.”
Carson nodded. “What did you think about the school?”
“Oh, not much has changed,” Evie continued in her bright tone. “Still the same old floors and lockers. Lots of memories there.”
Carson pulled onto Main Street, then glanced at her. “Was that hard?”
“Hard?” She gave a flippant shrug. “No. It was strange, though; I think I can say that.”
“Evie—”
“I should get back,” she said. “My mom probably thinks I’ve abandoned her, and I should help with dinner preparations. Maybe after, we can go to Racoons.”
