Page 99 of Against All Odds

While leaving Ember Falls is the absolute last thing I want to do, for my child, I’ll do what’s best, and that’s for him or her to have a father.

Instead of confessing any of that, I shake my head. “I think you’re delusional.”

He laughs. “I bet you do.”

Then the truck comes to a stop in front of the school. I look over to him, both grateful and sad that we’re here already. I’vemissed him. “Well, thank you for the ride to work. I owe you—again.”

“You owe me nothing, Violet. I’ll text you and let you know what the mechanic says. I’ll pick you up after school if the car isn’t ready.”

“I can get a ride with Miles,” I say quickly.

“I’ll be here.”

“Don’t you have work or Frisbee or something?” I ask, hoping to find an excuse not to be in such close proximity to him again.

He shakes his head. “I’ll be here for you, anytime you need me.”

His words send a flood of warmth through my body, and I want so badly to reach across the truck, take his face in my hands, and kiss him, but that would be stupid.

“Okay,” I say, keeping my appendages on my side, and then I open the door. “Thank you, Ev.”

He nods once as I exit the truck. Then as I’m halfway to the door, he calls out: “Violet? Romeo should’ve never let Juliet leave. He should’ve taken her off that balcony and run away with her. Romeo should’ve stood and fought the world. I don’t plan to make his mistakes for the girl I want.”

Then he drives off, leaving me completely speechless.

Thankfully my car just needed a new battery, it was corroded, and they explained that it wouldn’t jump-start for them either.

However, they said there was no cost, that a mysterious benefactor paid the bill and refused to disclose his name.

I have one guess and I know his name.

Not to mention, there was a note on the car windshield that said:

Violet,

We’re going to add the mechanic and also a handyman named Mike to your list. Also, I got something that’s in the car, it’s for the baby. You can’t name it so don’t get too attached.

E

When I opened up the vehicle, ready to ride over and demand to know what the bill was, all my anger evaporated.

There, in the front seat, in the seatbelt was a goat stuffed animal.

When I got home, I went to see him but he wasn’t there, he had a vet emergency.

The next day I saw him at Prose & Perk to which he said he was very busy and couldn’t talk, but he’d stop by later.

Then two days after that, he was at the Ember Falls football game with Brutus. Who I was told wasn’t feeling well.

It’s been days of him avoiding me and I’m starting to wonder if this is all part of his master plan.

Now I’m pulling into the driveway, and he’s walking around the side of my house.

What the hell is going on?

“Everett, what are you doing here?” I say as I get out, pulling my coat around me tightly and following him.

He doesn’t reply.

---