Page 34 of When Alec Met Evie
The next realization is a little more potent.
I just likeher.And no amount of mental gymnastics will talk me out of it.
I grip the back of my neck, feeling sheepish as Evie peers inside the bag. She looks for one second, then two before her gaze jumps back to mine, a question in her eyes. “Is this…?”
“For Juno,” I say.
Slowly, she pulls out two different footie pajama-looking things. One is turquoise and white striped with an Appies logo on the butt, and the other is solid turquoise with the words “Littlest Appies Fan” stitched on the front.
“I figured if you’re living in Harvest Hollow,” I say, “she needs to look like a true Appies fan.”
“Alec,” Evie says softly as she looks them over. “These are perfect.”
“If they aren’t the right size, I can exchange them,” I say, but she shakes her head as she looks at the tag. “No need. They’ll fit her right now.” She moves around the couch, dropping the Appies bag onto the coffee table before she kneels down next to Juno, holding up the pajamas like she wants her daughter’s approval. “Do you see what Alec brought home for you? You get to be an Appie just like him!”
An odd sensation washes over me, something I’ve never really felt before. It isn’t just attraction, though Idofeel attracted to Evie. It feels more protective. Like I have extra reason to check the door locks. Or go upstairs and make sure all the windows are securely fastened in her bedroom.
I’m still puzzling out what this means when the front door clicks open. It has to be the twins, and as much as I hate that they’re interrupting my time with Evie—again—I’m a little glad for the distraction. Otherwise, I might start remembering the sensation of Evie’s palm sliding over my skin or imagining how it would feel if she touched me like that for real.
“What’s up, what’s uppppp?” Theo steps into the room with Carter quick on his heels. “How’s everybody doing?” Theo’s cheeks are flushed, his words a little too soft around the edges, and I immediately know he’s been drinking.
I exchange a quick glance with Evie. She’s still on the floor next to Juno, and she wordlessly unbuckles her daughter and pulls her into her arms. Theo doesn’t look the least bit dangerous, but I don’t blame her for wanting Juno close.
I glance over at Carter. “Please tell me you weren’t also drinking.”
“No, sir,” Carter says. “I was driving, so I didn’t have anything.”
“Where were you?” I ask. “You didn’t just go to Felix’s?” It’s a stupid question because they obviously went somewhere else. Felix would never have let them drink at his place.
Carter at least has the decency to look chagrined. “We started there, but then we stopped by a party at the end of Maple Street.”
“Aboringparty,” Theo says. “The girls were lame.” He moves around the couch and picks up the Appies bag, his gaze landing on the baby clothes Evie already pulled out. “Dude? Is this Appies stuff for the baby?”
He reaches into the bag, surprising me when he pulls out an adult-sized Appies jersey. He holds it up, and I catch a glimpse of my last name stitched in turquoise letters across the back.Sheridan.
Theo frowns. “I think this is probably too big for her.”
I shift my eyes to Evie, heat climbing the back of my neck as her eyebrows lift.
“Is that for me?” she asks.
I clear my throat. “Yeah. Yes. Of course it’s for you.”
Theo chuckles. “Way to make a move, Captain. Giving her your jersey.Classic.”
I can’t read Evie’s expression, and for a moment, I have no idea what to say. If I protest Theo’s comment, will it make Evie think I’mnotmaking a move? That I would never make one?
I’m still mulling over an acceptable response when Evie stands, Juno tucked against her, and moves around the coffee table toward Theo. “I’ve been wearing his jerseys since I was nine,” she says. “His sister and I both did. We wore them to all of Alec’s high school games.”
Theo snorts. “Is that how old you were when he was in high school?” He looks at me. “You’re like…a grandpa.”
Evie plucks the jersey out of Theo’s hands. “He’snota grandpa. And you’re turning this into something it isn’t.”
I study Evie’s expression, wondering if that’s what she truly thinks. It wasn’t my idea to give Evie a jersey, but there’s definitely been a vibe between us tonight. She can claim this isno different than her wearing my jersey when we were kids, but it isn’t going to feel the same for me.
As if to illustrate that point, Evie lifts Juno into my arms. “Hold her a sec?” She quickly yanks the tag off the jersey, then tugs it over her head and pushes her arms through the sleeves.
A strange possessiveness pushes through me at the sight, but it’s quickly eclipsed by my present reality.
