Page 60 of Home Sweet Home

“Not fair.” Her eyes closed as goose bumps prickled every inch of skin. Her hands were covered in soap bubbles as she gripped the side of the sink to support her body, given the fact that her shaking knees had given up the task. “I’m defenseless.”

“That’s how I like you.”

“Your mom went into her office like five minutes ago,” Evie said, grasping around for an excuse, but it was flimsy, and she suspected mostly because she was trying to talk herself out of what she obviously wanted to do with him.

“She closed the door.” West nuzzled in her neck, his words vibrating against the skin there. “It’s a very good door. Sturdy. Soundproof.” He trailed his lips down her neck. The soft kiss that landed on her bare shoulder had her closing her eyes, wondering how long it would take for them to get to his room.

Suddenly, his lips stopped. “Evie?”

“Mhmm?” Evie said.

“There’s a man in your house.”

Evie’s eyes snapped open, and through West’s kitchen window, she saw her dad pacing around in her living room, his phone pressed to his ear. West had moved next to her, and she felt the loss of his body pressed up against hers.

“I know,” Evie said, rinsing the rest of the soap off her hands.

West raised one eyebrow. “You know there’s a strange man in your house, and you’re not worried about that?”

“It’s my dad.” She sighed. “Can we get back to the stretch and fold? I was promised bread. And learning. And just a few seconds ago, you were lecturing me about not paying attention.”

“So youwerechecking me out?”

“Stretch,” Evie said, ignoring him. She lifted the dough like West had. “Fold.” Then she placed the stretched dough on top.

He grinned. “Gold star, Peach.” There was a pause before, he added, “You want to talk about it?”

Her attention was focused on the dough in front of her, but she could feel the weight of his gaze. “There’s nothing to talk about. He always does this.”

West shifted so his back was against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “But this is the first time he’s been back since your mom died. Right? That’s what you told me at Kayla’s salon. Kind of shitty for him to show up now.”

“It is shitty,” Evie said, her throat suddenly thick.

“And you’re letting him stay? Aren’t you mad at him?”

The dough sat in front of Evie. She knew West had told her how many times she should stretch and fold, but she couldn’t remember what he’d said. He didn’t seem worried at all about the dough, his brow knitted in concern, his gaze fixed on hers as his hand settled on her arm.

Of course she was angry. Seeing him had filled her with white-hot rage so quickly that she knew it had been there all along, just under the surface, waiting for the right moment to make an appearance.

“He’s my dad,” Evie said. “He’ll be gone soon, anyways. Even though he says this time things are different.”

“You believe him?” West asked.

“I want to.”

“How’s Josh taking it?”

Evie thought of the plate of leftovers she’d left in the fridge for Josh after he’d stormed out of the kitchen without eating.

“They did this hearing after my mom died,” Evie said. “For custody. The judge read out all the reasons our dad was shitty. Not being around, not paying child support, the drinking, the gambling. Josh was ten. Old enough to understand all of it.” Guilt rushed through her.No wonder Josh was so angry.“It was stupid to let him stay.”

West’s finger tipped her chin toward him. “Hey. It’ll be all right. Maybe he’ll surprise you.”

Tendrils of discomfort sprouted, poking at her insides. She wasn’t used to the sharing. She was used to tucking her feelings away tightly, though they liked to wriggle out at night when she was trying to fall asleep.

She nodded, swallowing before turning back to the dough. “How many more times do we do this?”

West examined the dough, grabbed a towel, and draped it over the bowl. “She’s good. Needs an hour or so to double up, then we can pop her in the oven.”

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