Page 158 of When Wrecked Meets Ruined
She was cool, though. Smart. Beautiful. Unpretentious. And for a while, it worked.
Nothing had been wrong in our relationship. We cared about each other. Loved each other. But something had always been missing. The passion, I guess. She must have felt it, too, because the decision to move on was mutual, and we parted amicably.
There was no major drama. No arguing. No screaming or yelling or playing the blame game. Our relationship had run its course. Even though we’d been in a committed relationship, I always felt like we’d only skimmed the surface. Neither of us was looking to delve any deeper.
Now Carina was moving to Paris, and I was back in Texas, eight miles away from the girl who had stolen my heart so many years ago.
Evie and I were both single, in the same place at the same time, and once again, we had unfinished business.
* * *
The next morning, I woke up with a plan. After I ate my breakfast—four egg whites and a mixed vegetable omelet, turkey bacon, a cup of blueberries, and a protein shake (because I couldn’t eat like a teenager anymore), I grabbed my gym bag and got into my truck.
Ten minutes later, I arrived at Jesse and Quinn’s doorstep, ready to lay it all on the line for the girl who had essentially abandoned me. So yeah, I probably needed to have my head examined.
According to the therapist I went to, I had a guilt complex and abandonment issues. Not sure how she justified charging a shitload of money to tell me what I already knew, but I guess everyone had to make a living somehow.
Jesse answered the door, not at all surprised to see me. Wordlessly, he opened the door wider, and I strode past him into the kitchen. I greeted Fable and Quinn, who were eating breakfast at the kitchen table, then focused on Evie, who was pouring herself a cup of coffee at the counter.
She leaned against the counter and eyed me over the rim of her mug as she took a sip. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she wore short shorts with a loose T-shirt that slipped off her shoulder, exposing a black bikini strap.
“Come here often?” She made it sound like a pickup line at a bar.
I played along. I still loved our games. “I’m a regular.” I leaned my hip against the counter next to her. “I haven’t seen you here before. New in town?”
She looked up at me from beneath her lashes. Her green eyes glinted in the morning sun, and I could see that the fire inside her was back and burning bright. “Just arrived.”
“Do you need a tour guide? I know my way around.” I gave her a wink. “I can guarantee you a good time.”
She eyed me appraisingly. “That’s a bold claim.”
“Satisfaction guaranteed, or you get your money back.”
She cradled the mug in her hand and took another sip. “Sounds like a scam. What’s the going rate for a tour guide?”
I cut to the chase. “Have dinner with me tonight.”
Her brows arched. “How would Carina feel about her boyfriend asking another girl to dinner?”
We didn’t need to get into the Carina conversation just yet. “I’m asking you out as a friend.Justa friend.” It was bullshit, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she called me out on it. Evie and I were incapable of beingjustfriends.
“Sorry,friend, but I’m busy tonight. We’re going—”
“She’s free tonight,” Quinn yelled, making it obvious that she’d been eavesdropping on our conversation.
Evie’s eyes narrowed on Quinn, and I didn’t miss the dirty look I got from Jesse either. He thought I was playing Evie because I hadn’t told anyone that Carina and I had broken up. Although her absence should have clued him in that something wasn’t right.
“Perfect,” I said, pushing off the counter as if it was a done deal, and she’d agreed. “I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.”
She opened her mouth to protest, then shut it again and nodded. “Okay. Just as friends, though. And only because I have questions,” she added, making it clear that she was still no pushover.
Mission accomplished. We’d start with that and go from there. We both had questions that needed answers.
It was time to finish what we started. All or nothing.
Win or lose, I wouldn’t rest until I gave it my best shot. I didn’t get where I was today by sitting back and letting life happen. If you wanted something, you had to go for it and give it everything you had.
With that in mind, I said my goodbyes and walked out with Jesse, who was headed to the track to coach Gracie, the future champion motocross racer.
