Page 29 of Saving Sophia

“We’ll help you bring in the bags.” Ethan put a hand against my back and guided me toward the door. Evie’s brow remained in that skeptical uber-arch, but she followed us without another word.

Once we put away the groceries, she moved efficiently around the kitchen, simultaneously setting things up, asking Ethan questions, and creating additional lists of things Ethan needed on an iPad that never left her side.

“I brought a case of that Pinot you liked from your last trip to Napa,” she told Ethan as she opened a drawer to put away a bottle opener. I noticed a tiny trill of an accent when she spoke. “I set up fresh linens and towels earlier, so you should be all set … although I wasn’t expecting you to have a guest.” Her eyes flicked over at me, but her face remained a professional mask. “I can bring more tomorrow.”

My cheeks burned just from imagining her thoughts. “I’m staying on the couch,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “So it’s fine. I saw a blanket. That’s all I need.” I bit my tongue, willing it to stop talking.

“Thanks, Evie.” Ethan stood close to me, his arm brushing against my shoulder. “I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Evie adjusted her glasses and pulled out a business card from a pocket on her iPad case. “It’s my job to ensure Ethan has everything he needs. If I can be of service to you, please don’t hesitate to text me your request.” She handed the card to me.

“Thank you.” I took the card, my cheeks still burning.

“What’s the schedule like tomorrow?” Ethan asked as we left the kitchen and paused by the fireplace.

She recited his schedule for the next day, which sounded packed full of meetings with investors and partners and collaborators and all kinds of people who sounded very professional and important.

Ethan listened, nodding and scrubbing at his chin. “Move the meeting with the partners to nine a.m. and reschedule the meeting with the architectural team.”

“Of course, Ethan.” She tapped at her iPad.

He looked at me, his mouth turned up in a crooked smile. “After you meet with Aunt Carol tomorrow, I thought we could take a field trip. I want to show you something.”

Evie nodded, pushing at her glasses. “I’ll free up your afternoon, then.”

“Oh.” I watched Evie tapping away at the schedule she just read out. “I’m sorry.” The hated words popped out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I don’t want to be any trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all.” She made a few final taps and looked up. “I’ll be going then. Was there anything else, Ethan?”

“No, thanks, Evie.” He gave her a wave and walked back toward the kitchen.

She snapped the iPad case closed and held out her hand. “I look forward to working with you.”

I blinked at her and waved before realizing she was waiting to shake my hand. “Oh. Thanks. I … can’t wait to … work with you at … work.” I shook my waving hand like it had misbehaved then poked it toward her. She took it, barely pressing our hands together before letting me go, turning in one slow movement and walking gracefully out the door.

“Hungry?” Ethan called from the kitchen. “How about grilled cheese and tomato soup?”

“Sounds yummy.” I walked in and leaned against the island, grateful Ethan hadn’t seen or heard my awkward good-bye. “Can I help?”

“Just keep me company while I cook?” His smile was wide and genuine.

I sat down at the kitchen island and drummed my fingers on the counter, trying to think of something normal to say. “How long has she worked for you?”

“Evie? I guess she’s been my assistant for five or six years. But she’s been around since high school. She was” —his voice muffled momentarily as he bent into the refrigerator to retrieve a block of cheese and some butter— “like a little sister to us, especially Hayden and me.”

“Oh.”

I tried to imagine the cool, professional woman I just met as a high school kid hanging around Ethan and his brothers. And to ignore the tiny green flame that image sparked inside me. “Did your aunt and uncle foster any girls? Do you have any sisters?” I chewed the inside of my cheek.

“No, just us boys.” He pulled out two red and white soup cans from a cabinet.

“Wow.”

I took a breath. I needed to come up with something better than one word answers. “But you and Detective Valero are …”

“Half-brothers.” He set the cans down on the counter. “Same mom, different dads.”

“Oh.”

---