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The easy access to a pool each week has been a blessing in disguise. The little guy loves the water, and I’ve spent more than one summer on a boat or a beach. Teaching him water safety at a young age will only expand our activities when we’re together.
And having something to occupy my mind will quiet thoughts about Evie.
12
Evie
The patio at the back of Calypso’s glows from string lights dangling from the awning and lanterns lit in the center of the square tables. The balmy breeze is welcome after the heat of today. Ghost moves close to my side as we enter the black wrought-iron fence and walk the perimeter to a table near the back with a single occupant. I’m thankful Rhett chose someplace with a patio to eat dinner tonight so my dog could come, but the fiery frustration inside will determine if our evening can be salvaged.
He spots me before I’m close enough to kick out the leg of his chair and send him sprawling to the ground. Not that I’d take things that far. The image in my head of the action is enough to stretch a thin smile across my face. His reciprocating smirk has a flash of guilt stabbing me. The genuine pleasure at the sight of my appearance douses the heat a little.
“Cami said the two of you had a really nice time today.” He rises to pull out my chair. The legs scrape against the paved patio stones. He’s making it hard to remain mad.
I tap Ghost into position to lie beneath the table. She flops onto her side—legs stretched out, nose up, and tongue lolled—as the breeze blows across her face. My dog is more relaxed than me. Rather than lean across the table into his face like I want, I remain upright with my hands loose at my sides.
“Did you tell Cami I live out of my car?” The question grinds out with the force required to keep my tone controlled.
“What?” Rhett’s brows slash.
I wet my lips with my tongue. “I asked if you happened to let it slip to your friends that I’m homeless and poor.”
“I didn’t say it quite like that.” The wind brushes a lock of hair across his forehead, which he hastily swipes away.
“Chess is the only game I like to play, Rhett.”
“I’m not playing games.”
I press my weight into my heels to keep from stomping my foot. My nostrils flare. “Did you or did you not state, imply, or otherwise to your friends that I’m hard up for cash?”
He holds my gaze steadily. “I mentioned that you only had a client or two and were in the early stages of getting your business off the ground.”
If I ask another question, it’s not going to come out as nicely. I might actually growl like a damn animal.
“And I may have said that you were saving for a place to stay,” he finishes softly.
“You did not,” I grind out.
An approaching waitress buys him time with his response. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“A vodka soda with extra limes,” I respond without losing eye contact with Rhett. Now would be a particularly good time to be equipped with lasers because I’m not sure he’s grasping how upset I am about this.
“Whiskey, neat. Put it on my tab.”
A noise gets strangled in the back of my throat at the audacity.
The waitress leaves, but the unspoken revelation lingers between us.
“So is sleeping in your Jeep in an empty parking lot just a hobby?”
Rhett’s torso rears back as if I struck him. “You know it isn’t,” he growls.
Tired of standing, I hook my foot around the leg to my chair and yank it out, dropping heavily into the seat. “I don’t need you to pay for my drink. Thanks to whatever you told your friend
s, I have enough cash for the entire week.”
“You’re getting it all wrong. I think we need to step back and regroup before things get too far gone.”
“I get that we’re different, you and me.” I go on as if he hadn’t spoken. “You have money. How much? I don’t need or care to know. The status of your situation has a clear expiration date, and you’re holding on until you reach it. I get that, can appreciate it even, but we’re not the same.”
