Page 74 of The Grumpy Side of Paradise

I’ll be better off if that connection is more physical than emotional. It will be easier to tell her goodbye when she goes.

If it’s more than that, then today is a good day for us to figure it out. We don’t have time to wait. We only have the next few months together. Maybe all that will come of our relationship is that I’ll learn how to date again, Evie can move onto her next thing, and we can part as friends.

Or, if this connection is what I think it is, we’ll figure out how to make long-distance work.

Either way, everyone wins. Even if there’s potential heartache in the win.

When I get home, I change Rosie out of her wet sweater and put her puffy vest on her. She’ll need it, plus her bag of toys for a day with my parents. She can’t stay home alone all day when I’m going to be too far away to let her out a few times a day. Plus, as Evie pointed out, she gets lonely. Mom always likes to have her, even when she can’t remember who Rosie is. Or who I am.

With Rosie tucked under my arm, I knock on Evie’s back door. She opens it looking like we’re skiing to Florence instead of driving. She has on a thick coat, mittens, and a purpley knit hat that makes her eyes look the same color. Not like grape jelly purple, but the purple that changes colors with the slightest movement, going from blue violet to black.

“Ready?” I’m staring, and I can’t stop.

“Is Rosie wearing a vest?” Her eyes rise from Rosie to me. “Are you going to be wearing a matching vest at some point, too? Should I be wearing a vest? I’m not sure what the dress code is here.”

“Yes, she’s wearing a vest,” I answer very seriously. “Her sweater got wet this morning,” I say as I lead her to my truck and give her a boost with my free hand on the small of her back. “There’s no vest dress code. But you’re welcome to wear one.”

She settles into the seat and holds out her arms for Rosie. “I don’t have one, but maybe she can pick out a matching one for me while we’re in the big city.”

“She’s actually staying with my parents, so the vest shopping will have to wait for another time.” I set Rosie on Evie’s lap and close the door.

As soon as I get in on my side, Evie’s got questions for me.

“Do your parents call her their grand-dog?” Her tone is both completely serious and teasing. “Are you that kind of family?”

I laugh at that. “Did you forget you’re in Idaho? Nobody’s fooled into thinking a dog is a human just because she’s wearing clothes. Rosie is still an animal, not a baby.”

Rosie lets out a low growl, and I rub her ears. “Sorry, girl, but it’s true.” She pulls her head away from me and curls deeper into Evie’s lap.

“I think you offended her,” Evie says to me, then whispers into Rosie’s ear. “Don’t listen to him.”

The ten-minute drive to my parents’ is filled with questions, all Evie’s. Every house we pass, she asks if I know who lives in it or if I’m related to them. Most of the time, the answer is yes. The related part makes it especially hard to date anyone in Paradise Valley, let alone Paradise. One more reason out of a million why dating Evie is appealing.

When I pull into my parents’ driveway, Bear’s and Britta’s cars are both there, even though Bear’s supposed to be at Georgia’s starting the plumbing. I should have known there’d be a welcome party waiting for us after I casually mentioned I was driving Evie to Florence today. Rookie mistake there.

I grab Rosie from Evie and slide out of the truck. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

I nearly run to the door, but Bear, Britta, and Dad come out before I get there. They stand on the front porch in a line, tallest (Bear) to shortest (Dad), grinning stupidly and waving to Evie.

“Stop it!” I order through clenched teeth. I drop Rosie into Britta’s arms and turn to race back to the truck. But one look confirms my worst fear. Evie is already sliding out of her seat. “Don’t get out! I’m done. We can go!”

She doesn’t listen. I meet her halfway to my truck and try to turn her around, but she is a woman on a mission. A mission that can only turn out badly for me.

“Hi Bear! Hi Britta! Hello Mr. Thomsen! Good to see you again.” She shakes my hand off her arm and goes straight to my family. Dad wraps her in a hug and is still squeezing her tight when I make it back to the porch.

“Really nice to see you again, too.” Dad finally lets her go but keeps her close with his ear-to-ear grin. “Zach told me all about the shed hunt, but this guy”—he juts his thumb toward me—“hasn’t said a word.” His grin grows bigger and goofier when he looks at me.

“Nothing to tell, Dad.” If he hears the warning in my voice, he doesn’t acknowledge it.

“Well, maybe there will be after today.” Against all odds, his smile achieves the impossible and gets even bigger.

I’m not smiling at all. I may never again.

“We should go,” I say to Evie, then pat Rosie on the head. “Be a good girl.”

I lead Evie to the truck and help her in again. She probably doesn’t need it, and my family will mention it later, but I like the way my hands feel around her waist.

“Sorry about them,” I say after I get in. “It’s been a while since they’ve seen me with anyone but Dakota—actually, it’s been never. They worry I won’t ever find someone new. They read way too much into this situation between us.”Situation?It’s a stupid word to describe what’s happening, but I don’t know another one that will work.

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