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The need to check in with her demolishes any doubt, and I find myself hitting the call button before I can think it through.
“Hey.” Her breathless voice comes across the line after a single ring.
“I saw your text. Are you at work?”
“Yeah. I have a couple of hours left, but thought I could ask Cami to watch Ghost a little longer so we could grab a bite to eat in town instead of eating in one of our cars tonight.” The humor floats clearly over the line. Her ability not to wallow in her situation astounds me at times. Most women I know would have a hard time escaping their own self-pity, but not Evie. I’d even say she’s enjoying this adventure she’s on.
“I can’t.” I pause to watch Tommy climb to his feet and wander across the room to the windows. The air-conditioner unit blows his hair from his eyes. A belly-aching giggle bursts free. “I won’t be there tonight. I have my son.”
“Oh! Don’t let me keep you from him. I’ll see you when I see you.”
“Evie, wait. Where are you sleeping tonight?” Fuck. The obvious question slips free.
“I’ll be at the gas station.” Her puzzled response comes across as I would have imagined. Where else would she be sleeping? I prop a hand on my hip and drop my chin to my chest, eyes aimed at the worn blue carpet.
“Don’t go until after you pick up Ghost. And don’t shower tonight. Or if you need a shower, I can ask one of the girls if you can stop by their house. Better yet, just ask Cami if you can use hers. Tell her yours is broken or something—”
“Rhett—”
“You still have your knife? Make sure it’s close when you go to sleep.”
“Rhett—”
“Maybe you should just come here. We have an extra bed,” I muse aloud.
“Rhett! I’m going to be fine.”
As I shake my head, my hand leaves my hip to stroke the back of my neck. Heat from embarrassment creeps up. “You are, aren’t you?”
I’m about certain I can picture the cock of her hip when she says, “This isn’t my first night out alone.”
A huff of laughter precedes my breath. “I’m sorry if I’m being weird. Now that I know you, it’s hard to leave you out there alone. I wouldn’t do it for any of my closest friends. I feel… guilty sleeping in a hotel room while you’re in your car.”
“We’re as safe as ever out here. You need to spend that energy on your son. Don’t worry about me, okay?” Her soothing tone just makes me wish even more I could be near her. To search her face for signs of a lie.
“Tomorrow, I’m buying you pancakes for lunch to make up for it.”
It’s her turn to laugh. “Whatever helps you sleep better tonight.”
“More than I’d rather admit, it’s going to be hard.”
Her sharp intake of breath is audible. Before she can respond, the sound of a door slamming comes through the line.
“Gotta go. My client just pulled in.”
Before I can issue any more instructions for her safety, the connection severs.
Tommy bangs on the air conditioner unit. “Sucker?”
The smile cutting my face is instantaneous. “Yeah, bub.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the small selection. “Which color?”
He runs over and jabs a finger at one in the middle.
“Green. Good choice.”
“Geen,” he repeats with a bob of his head.
“That’s right.” I scoop him into my arms and set him in the center of the bed. “Now sit nice and eat your sucker. When you’re done, we can go for a swim.”
