Page 53 of Take Me to the Valley

I plan to bring Calista home. Nothing is going to stand in my way.

Chapter 27

Calista

After a long night of talking and drinking with Kaylee, I slept in. There was no guilt, and I enjoyed every minute of it. That is until I had to open my eyes and realize I'm at my apartment, not Evans cabin. I’ve had that same feeling every morning I’ve woken up since I left Evan’s.

All I did was dream about my time with Evan, being held in his arms, and him being inside me. I wake up so damn turned on and nothing seems to fix it.

Then, the rest of the day drags on. I don't know what to do with myself. Normally, I'd be taking care of Skye and spending my day with Evan, but I have so much free time on my hands. Kaylee has to go to work, and I have nothing. I don’t want to face Cody or my parents because I would have to explain why I’m so upset, and that’s not a conversation I’m ready to have.

I cleaned up my apartment and unpacked, but everything I pulled out reminded me of Evan. I washed clothes, did dishes, and then sat down to try to read, thinking maybe I could get lost in someone else's problems. It worked for a while until I got hungry.

It is just after noon, so I walk down to the cafe to pick up an order and then come home to eat alone in peace. But I had to walk by the bakery where Evan and I had coffee the morning after I did Skye's hair at school.

In such a small town, it’s going to be hard to not only ignore the memories of him but him as well. I’m going to have to see him at family dinners. Mom always invites him and Skye. And what about when he starts dating someone? Is he going to bring her to a family dinner? Will I be able to sit there and act like my heart isn't being ripped out?

I get my food, came home, and cried. I finally ate, but then I curled up back in bed, turned on the TV, and just wallowed. That is until I got a call from my brother saying he was coming by today after dinner at Mom and Dad's.

He still doesn't know about Evan and me, so it would be hard to explain me being curled up in bed all day. So, I showered and got dressed. I just finished putting on some makeup to hide the fact that I'd been crying when the doorbell rings.

I check the time and it's not even six yet. Mom normally doesn't have dinner ready before six. Maybe Cody decided to stop by before dinner?

Check the peephole, I about fall over when I see Evan and Skye standing there.

I open the door and stand there stunned. Skye is dressed in a gold tulle dress with glitter flowers printed on it. She has on tights and shiny gold dress shoes. She even put on a white headband like I taught her. Evan is in a deep blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, which brings out his eyes. Why are the rolled up sleeves such a damn turn on? He has on black dress pants and both are standing there with huge smiles on their faces.

“What…” I clear my throat,” What are you doing here?”

My voice doesn’t sound like my own as I try to hide all the emotions I’m feeling.

“Can we come in? We will explain,” Evan says.

I nod and step back, holding the door open for them. They come inside and Skye runs right to the couch and bounces on it looking out the window to Main Street below.

Closing the door, I follow them into my living room. Evan walks to the middle of the room. He looks around before he turns to me with a small smile on his face. This is the first time he’s been in my apartment, but I can’t even find it in me to give him the grand tour because I have to know why he’s here.

He walks over to me and takes my hand in his, and I tense. Skye is watching everything, and we don't so much as touch around her. But she is still looking out the window, so I try to relax.

“I went to make the Banana Foster Pancakes you made, but the recipe I found online wasn't the right one. It caused us both to have a bit of a meltdown,” Evan says.

I'm completely confused. He's smiling because he had a meltdown over a recipe? His tone is gentle and completely opposite to how I’m feeling right now.

“You could have texted me for the recipe. I’m happy to share it.” I say not sure where this is going.

But he just shakes his head. “It caused Skye and me to have a talk where we made an important decision that concerns us both. And it was what I needed to get over this fear I had when you walked out the door the other day,” he says. .

“What did you need to talk about?” I whisper, my heart racing.

Evan looks behind him at Skye and while holding one of my hands in his, he holds his other hand out to Skye who is now watching us. She walks up and takes it.

“We realized how much we both missed you,” he says.

“Daddy tried to do my hair for school, and it was really bad,” Skye whispers the last part like Evan couldn't hear it standingright beside her. The love in his eyes as he looked at her really made me melt.

“I missed you helping with Skye at bedtime, holding you in my arms, and how you just brought life to our home,” Evan says.

“Well, I missed your cooking and how you did the princess voices for my books and let me wear your makeup,” Skye says.

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