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Finally feeling able to walk, she quietly moved through the lobby and to the elevator. She needed a nap, a shower, and a call to her sister. Likely in that order. What she didn't know is who Everleigh Hayes really was. She'd been told all her life who to be. But Henry made her question all of that. Did she want to learn to cook? She did. She wanted to know how to be self-sufficient. She wanted a home base. A place to call home. That way, when she was between jobs, she wouldn't have to live like a nomad or camp out at her sister's place. Not that she didn't like it, but she didn't want to have to go there because she had nowhere else to go.
Her heart raced at the realization. She wanted a home base. She did. Her fingers shook as she pulled her shoes off and neatly lined them up with the others on the floor of the closet. She removed her suit and hung it neatly in the closet. Her blouse needed to be laundered and she put it in the laundry bag, for the hotel to wash. She'd never done a load of laundry in her life. How did they do that? Her parents were both career military and only used a laundry service associated with the military wherever they lived. In so many ways, she was like a young child. So many things she needed to learn about actually living on her own. It was overwhelming.
She climbed between the sheets of her bed and fell asleep quickly.
17
Henry texted Everleigh. "I'm in the lobby."
Her text returned quickly. "I'm on my way down."
He pocketed his phone, pushed his hands in his trouser pockets and waited. His eyes darted toward the elevator often, though he kept his eyes on his surroundings - force of habit. The soft chime of the elevator reached his ears, and he quickly turned his head. An older couple stepped out and his shoulders slumped slightly.
His eyes followed the older couple as they left the building, his hand at the small of her back, as he escorted her to their car. After she sat in the car, he closed the door and grinned at her as he strutted around the front.
The elevator chimed again and he turned to see the loveliest sight. Everleigh practically glided toward him, wearing a white sun dress with sunflowers printed on it. It swayed with her body. Her long blonde hair draped over her shoulders, her feet were wrapped in heeled sandals. The polish on her toenails was soft pink to match her fingernails.
He swallowed to wet his throat. "You look beautiful."
Her smile was so bright it lit the room. She was radiant. "Thank you. You look very handsome."
He wanted to hug her. Pull her to his body and feel her against him. He settled for placing his hand at the small of her back as they moved in unison toward his truck.
She stepped gracefully, as always, into his truck, and he spent the trip around his truck breathing in and out deeply to get his emotions under control. He'd been on dates with beautiful women before. This wasn't his first rodeo, or his second. But he didn't remember feeling this way about any of them. Excited, nervous, anxious, all rolled into one.
Moving toward the exit of the hotel driveway, Everleigh chuckled. "I visited Shianne today and got this dress."
He grinned. "You selected well. It looks stunning on you. Or maybe you make the dress stunning. Either way, it's a great pairing."
Her cheeks brightened. "Thank you."
"What did you think of Shianne?"
Everleigh turned her head to face him. "She's...vibrant."
He burst out laughing. "That's a great way to describe her."
"So you know her."
"She's Lara's best friend. She's been to the HOG a fair amount. She also shopped for Elena and her mom when we brought them down off the mountain. She about drove us all from the room in her excitement."
"She told me about that. It was a big deal for her."
"I gathered."
Everleigh was quiet for a while. As he pulled into the parking lot of Porter's, she softly said. "I've given our chat this afternoon a lot of thought."
His eyes slid to hers. "In what way?"
"In the way that I need to begin thinking about what I want for me. Who I want to be. What I want to do with my life." She smiled. "This is the start of it. I bought a pretty frilly dress instead of a business suit. I can't remember the last time I had a casual dress to just go out in. I own business suits and workout clothing."
He grinned at her and when she returned his grin, his heartbeat matched the rhythm of “Wipe Out” by The Surfaris.
"I'm happy you're taking steps for yourself. Life is about more than work. It should be enjoyed and lived."
A truck pulled in alongside his, and his mom waved from the passenger seat. He waved in return, then said, "Are you ready?"
"Yes."
