Page 34 of The Challenge

“I don’t need to tell you that due to the scarcity of options in this area, this is going to go fast.”

“Would you give me until tomorrow?”

“Yes. I’d be willing to hold the property for you until then. In the meantime, I’ll email you a link to the listing.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that. I’ll call you before noon.”

“That would be great,” she said.

After I hung up, Evan looked at me curiously. “What’s going on, Chloe?” he asked, a hint of worry in his eyes.

“A new place just opened up in town. Cheaper rent than this one was and close by. They’re willing to hold it for me until tomorrow.”

His brows furrowed. “But you’re not paying rent to stay here, so how could it be cheaper?”

“Well, you know what I mean. I’d have my privacy and also be out of your hair.”

Evan’s jaw tensed, and he broke eye contact. “Well, obviously, it’s your decision.”

An ache bloomed in my chest. That wasn’t the response I’d hoped for. I wanted Evan to talk me out of leaving, tell me that he wanted me to stay.

There was so much more I secretly hoped for, even if I wasn’t willing to admit it. And that was troubling because the last thing I could handle was another rejection from Evan Ricci in my lifetime.

Chapter 12

EVAN

For the rest of that night, I was totally discombobulated. My mind wandered as I folded laundry at ten PM after Effie had gone to sleep. I’d had more than one fight with a bottom bed sheet as I struggled to get it folded, but at least it kept me from storming into Chloe’s room, which I’d almost done numerous times. The words had been at the tip of my tongue earlier: “Don’t leave.”

But what was one good reason she shouldn’t? Because I liked looking at her? Because she made me feel things I hadn’t felt in a very long time? Because my daughter was growing fonder of her by the day? That last one was actually dangerous. It was probably better if she left before Effie got attached, or before I said or did something I’d regret when Chloe inevitably left Dry River again. And yet…I still had to fight the urge to tell her not to take the other place in town.

My phone rang, and I answered as quickly as possible so Effie wouldn’t wake up. “Hey, Uncle Drew.”

“I haven’t heard from you in a while. Just checking in.”

Drew was my mother’s younger brother and only a few years older than me. Back when she was sick, he’d been away at college and not in a position to take her place as a parent to me. But in the years since, he’d become like a big brother and my closest confidante. He was married now with two kids, my cousins Caden and Bryce, who were eight and seven. Effie and the boys were like three peas in a pod. Drew and his family were the only living blood relatives I had anywhere nearby.

“Things have been a bit hectic,” I told him.

Figuring I had nothing to lose, I filled him in on the situation with Chloe. He’d known her family forever, and I’d opened up to him over the years about what had gone down between her and me. He was as shocked as I was that she’d ended up living in my rental home.

“What do you think about her now, after all these years?” he asked.

“She’s as dangerous as ever, just for different reasons.” I sighed. “Anyway, there’s a chance she might be moving out tomorrow. Another place just opened up.”

“Do you want her to move out?”

Fuck no. I fluffed one of Effie’s shirts. “I think it’s better, don’t you?”

“I’m not sure. Sounds like having her around has been a good change of pace, even if it was just to take the trash out.”

The trash? My eyes widened. “You talking about Naomi?”

He chuckled. “I never liked her for you. Nothing against her. I just think you can do better. I think you were settling because you don’t have the time or energy to venture outside of Dry River right now. And who can blame you?”

“How do you figure I was settling?” I asked, genuinely curious. Sometimes Uncle Drew seemed to know me better than I knew myself.

“You said you liked the fact that she traveled for work because it gave you a break from each other.” He scoffed. “Man, that tells me everything I need to know. Maura goes away with her friends for a weekend, and I’m counting the minutes until she comes home. That’s the way it should be. Especially so early in a relationship, you shouldn’t want space.”