Page 44 of The Challenge

Thank you, sweet girl.

“Okay, baby,” Evan said. He watched her as she ran inside the house.

Then he turned and looked at me, but he didn’t say anything. There was so much I knew I should say, but somehow the words escaped me as I looked into his eyes. I had only spent a day away from this man, but it was as if I’d somehow forgotten how damn stunning he was, the power his mere presence had over my nervous system.

He tilted his head and finally asked, “What brings you by, neighbor?”

“Well…” I straightened my posture. “To be frank, I missed it here. I was wondering if my room was still available.”

He shook his head. “It isn’t, actually.”

My heart dropped.

“But my room is,” he clarified. “Like I told you before, I can take your old room so you can have more space.”

“You had me there for a minute.” I placed my hand on my chest, feeling my heart pound. “You’re not even gonna ask why the hell I’m back?”

“Not sure I care. I’m just happy to see you.” He looked over his shoulder. “But since we’re alone, why don’t you tell me what the fuck happened?”

I chuckled, looking down at my feet. “To make a very long story short, I broke up with Scott.”

Evan’s eyes widened. “Really…”

I nodded. “He left. And then I canceled the lease on that other place, which was horrible, by the way.”

“All in a day’s work, huh?”

“Scott shouldn’t have come, but it was for the best, because I was able to end things in person, which he deserved. I should’ve done that before I came here, but I’d been too overwhelmed by the uncertainty of what I’d find when I arrived.”

“Little did you know, you’d have more than you bargained for with me, right?”

“Actually, you and Effie have been the best part.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed, but he didn’t say anything, just kept looking into my eyes. It felt like the air shifted between us.

As a cool breeze lifted my hair, I cleared my throat. “It’s none of my business, but what happened with Naomi?”

“I hadn’t properly closed things out with her after the first time she ran into you here. It was only fitting that you crashed things a second time.”

“I’m so sorry.” I chuckled.

“No, you’re not.” He grinned. “Anyway, it wouldn’t have changed anything if you hadn’t come by. She and I weren’t going to last. But you showing up here today definitely added the final nail to the coffin. She was already suspicious of you.”

“Little does she know, she doesn’t actually have anything to worry about when it comes to me, right?” I felt bold all of a sudden, testing his reaction.

But Evan didn’t take the bait. “It is what it is,” he said. “Effie didn’t like her, and even aside from that, I always knew she wasn’t right for me.”

“So, you’re officially a single man now, eh?”

He nodded slowly. “And I think I need to stay that way for a while.”

“But surely you need…” I chewed on my lip, not sure how to say it.

But he figured it out. “I said I was gonna stay single, not celibate.”

“Right.” I swallowed hard, riddled with jealousy. I’d asked for it. After a moment, I took a deep breath. “Anyway, I presumptively packed all my crap into my car, assuming you wouldn’t send me away. So, I’m gonna unpack it.”

He led the way inside. “I’ll start clearing my room.”