Page 29 of Firefly Effect

I glance at Evie, trying to assess if it’s okay for me to crash the party.

She starts to gather her things but makes sure to make eye contact when she tells me, “Tubing sounds fun, actually. You should come.”

That’s the only confirmation I need. After giving Lucy a quick hug and kiss on the cheek, I smile at the way she waves a shy goodbye to Evie, then I follow Evie to a pile of tubes at one of the picnic tables. She reaches for a hot-pink one while I grab a blue one, but before we follow the others, she sets her tube down and removes her white sundress to reveal the sexiest yellow bikini I’ve ever seen.

Holy fuck.

If that day in my office was too much for my dick, this is most certainly worse. The triangles on top reveal the not-so-subtle swells of her breasts and the drastic dip of her waist compared to her thick, sexy hips and thighs.

Evie doesn’t acknowledge my avid gaze. Instead, she wraps one arm around her tube and turns to follow the others, giving me a front-row view of her perfect ass as she walks.

I scramble to follow, forcing my thoughts back into the safe zone, as difficult as that feels in the moment. “So, uh,” I begin, rushing to say anything that will distract me from her body, “do you still talk to your parents at all?”

She shakes her head and doesn’t look at me. “Not anymore. At first, my mom tried to get me to change my mind by calling and sending me texts—encouraging me to look at my future and how not going to college would limit my opportunities. My dad would come visit under the guise of seeing his brother, but he wasn’t fooling Patrick or me. He wanted to see if I’d changed my mind. Eventually, he realized I never would.”

I ponder this information, which feels like a lot to take in. “Patrick and your father seem nothing alike, from what you’re telling me.”

Evie chuckles lightly. “Polar opposites. Night and day. Patrick was the rebel in that family, always going against everyone’s wishes, like me.” She cocks her head like that status is something she’s proud of. “He wanted a simple life, and that’s what he got by moving here. He took his inheritance and built his dream bar then invested the rest in the properties he still manages today. Now he’s living like a nomad, traveling the Appalachians in his camper. He’s happy.”

“And what about you? Are you happy?”

Evie finally looks at me, her eyes locking on mine, and I think I can see the answer there before she can say anything. “I never know how to answer that question. I mean”—her eyes dart ahead of her again—“happiness comes and goes, doesn’t it? No one is in a permanent state of bliss. There are bad days and good days.” She pauses. “What about you? Are you happy?”

I’m almost surprised to be asked the question in return. I usually ask it in a therapy session with a patient, and they would never think to reciprocate.

“I am.” I nod. “It helps to have Lucy around. Seeing the world through her eyes is everything I need in this lifetime. She helps me find gratitude in all the moments—good, bad, and in between. She makes me want to be the best person I can possibly be every day, to set an example of myself for her to see. So, yeah. I’d say I’m pretty damn happy.”

Then a darker cloud thickens over my head. “That’s not to say I’m in a constant state of bliss, though, as you pointed out. I have my bad days. The good, however, far outweighs them.”

She blinks at me, and for a moment I think I might have offended her until her eyes begin to fill and a smile tugs at her lips. “That was beautiful, Lincoln. You really do have a special little girl.”

My heart squeezes. “Thank you, Evie.”

In the pause that follows, we share a single glance, but it’s a moment that feels bigger than any we’ve had so far. There’s so much about Evelyn Vaughn that I haven’t been able to get out of my head, and every minute I spend with her draws me in deeper, like an addiction that I’m trying to justify however I can. I want to believe this particular addiction is healthy, but I know in the depths of my soul that it’s most definitely not.

CHAPTER

NINE

EVELYN

I’m not oblivious to the attention Lincoln gives my body as we wade into the water then climb into our tubes. I didn’t exactly choose the most family-friendly attire for the day—not that I own any other options. In all fairness, I thought I was going to be sunbathing by the creek with a good book in my hand, but Lincoln Reed changed my plans, although I won’t dare tell him that.

Still, I would never have agreed to float down Deep Creek if it weren’t for the small glimmer of hope that he would come too.

Once we’re both secured in our tubes, we let the slow current take us around the bend. I’m in no hurry to catch up with the rest of the group, so I resist paddling at all, content to drift in the calmer waters. Our speed will pick up once we get to the rockier sections that’ll take us down and around the campground, so for now, I lie back, relax, and enjoy the view.

Lincoln follows my lead and lounges with his hands behind his head, arm muscles flexed and revealing his thick biceps. Clearly, the man has an entire fitness routine that includes more than just taking morning runs, which is obvious from his sculpted chest and abs. Even his muscular thighs look like they could squash a big juicy watermelon.

“Tell me about your best friends,” he says. “They seem like a lot of fun.”

I assume he’s referencing Armando, Janessa, and the gang. “I wouldn’t call them my best friends.” The words come out carefully. I don’t mean any disrespect. “We’re friends, but they’re also my co-workers. I’m their bar manager. I’ve known most of them for a long time and I do care about them—hence, me shutting down the bar to stop by and wish Armando a happy birthday.” I sense that more questions will follow, so I try to get ahead of them. “I’ve just never formed deeper relationships with them.”

He turns his head to look at me, though sunglasses cover his green eyes. “Really? I thought establishments like Firefly encourage close friendships.”

“There’s no rule against it,” I admit. “But I’m still the owner’s niece, and one day Patrick will hand the bar completely over to me. I just think drawing the line between manager and co-worker is safer.”

“Safer.” Lincoln repeats the word thoughtfully. “But you came to the birthday party today. How is that safe but forming a deeper friendship isn’t?”

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