Page 24 of When Alec Met Evie
“I can’t take credit for any of it.” I move toward the stove. “Is there really pizza left over? I should probably have some real food before I eat an entire pan of cinnamon rolls.”
“Yes!” She moves in beside me and opens the oven, pulling out a cookie sheet holding half a pizza. “It’s the good kind from Trader Joe’s and everything. Juno and I did a grocery run this morning.”
“Yeah, you guys were up early,” I say. “I was surprised to see you already gone by the time I woke up.”
“That’s Juno for you,” Evie says. “She never sleeps past seven. Plus, shopping early is easier since there aren’t any crowds, then I can get home in time to put her down for a morning nap.”
Juno gurgles, blowing little tiny spit bubbles between her lips.
“So basically you’re saying Juno is in charge,” I say in between bites of pizza.
Evie laughs. “You have no idea.”
We fall into easy conversation after that. About the dance I had to do with Eli and Van. About her violin and how she hasn’t played it a single time since Juno was born. About her conversation with her landlord, who finally called her back today and confirmed that he’s talked to the disaster repair people we called yesterday, so everything is good on that front, and he’ll be back in town at the end of the week. He promised to haveher home repaired and livable within a week of his return and agreed to prorate her rent for next month to compensate for the delay.
Evie stays on her feet the whole time we’re talking, swaying back and forth to keep Juno happy, and I lift myself onto the counter, sitting next to the leftover pizza, which I finish.
There’s something verydomesticabout the whole situation. And not because Evie is in the kitchen and made food. It’s more that she’s just…here.That we’re talking about our days and she’s interested in how I am and what I have to say.
There’s no pretense with Evie and realizing as much helps me identify what I don’t love about Riley. Rileyalwayshas an agenda. Something to prove.
I realize Evie has reasons for being in Harvest Hollow that don’t have anything to do with me. But it’s still triggering awantI didn’t know I had.
I’m so preoccupied with our conversation, so distracted by how much I like talking to Evie, that I completely forget to mention the twins coming over until the doorbell rings.
Evie lifts her eyebrows. “Are you expecting someone?”
I wince as I jump off the counter. “Yes, and I meant to explain before they showed up. You know the twins I mentioned earlier? They need a place to crash. They’re barely eighteen, brand new to the team, and they’re having a hard time living on their own.”
“The twins who lassoed you?”
“Yes, but what made you think they lassoedme?”
She grins. “Intuition? Or possibly the look on your face when you mentioned it. Should I be concerned? Will they try to lasso me too?”
I breathe out a chuckle. Theymighttry to lasso her once they see her like this, looking alive and happy, a little bit of powdered sugar dust on her cheek. “I promise to make them leave their lassos outside.” I pause before leaving the kitchen and look ather over my shoulder. “Hey, I don’t want you to think they’re going to be in your space. I’m going to have them stay in the bonus room over the garage, so you won’t be passing them in the hallway or hearing them when you’re trying to get Juno to sleep.”
“You have a bonus room over the garage?”
I nod. “It’s got a couple of futons in it.”
She chuckles and rolls her eyes. “Alec, this house is stupid huge. I appreciate you being concerned, but this is your place, not mine. If you trust them, I trust them. Juno and I will be fine if they stay in the other bedrooms upstairs.”
“I do trust them, but it’s important to me that you feel comfortable here. And I don’t want them to mess with Juno’s sleep.”
“It’s probably more likely that she’ll mess withtheirsleep.”
“Either way, the bonus room is on the opposite side of the house, so they shouldn’t hear you, and you shouldn’t hear them.”
She nods as the doorbell rings one more time. “Go let them in then. They can have a cinnamon roll.”
I grin. “Nope. Those are all for me.”
When I open the front door, Theo and Carter barrel into the house, their shoulders laden with enormous matching duffle bags.
“Dude, this house is insane,” Theo says as he looks around the entryway. He spins in place and his bag knocks into a lamp sitting on a hall table. I reach out and steady it before it crashes to the floor, and Carter meets my gaze over Theo’s shoulder, rolling his eyes.
“Sorry,” Carter mutters. “He doesn’t get out much.”
