I want to say something right away about ending the dates, but I’m not sure how to bring it up. Before I can find the right words, Knox presses play on Sherlock.
I half watch, and half think. It really does look like a good show, but I’ll probably never know because I’m always lost in thought when I’m here lately.
About twenty minutes in, I’m surprised to hear sounds from another part of their house. “Is your dad home?” I ask Ryder, who’s on my right.
“He wasn’t, but it sounds like he is now.”
A couple of minutes later, Mr. Evans appears. “Here you all are,” he says, sounding like he’s been searching for his sons. “Oh, hello, Bianca. I wondered if that was your car out front.”
“Hi, Mr. Evans. How are you?”
Knox pauses the TV. “Hey, Dad. We weren’t expecting you.”
“I know, I know.” Mr. Evans sounds rushed. “I needed to come home to attend to some things. I’ll be flying back out the day after tomorrow.”
None of the brothers seem particularly excited to see their father and there is definitely tension in the air.
“How are things going here?” Mr. Evans asks, hovering in the doorway.
“Everything’s fine, Dad. How’s Carol?”
The older man’s expression changes to a faraway grin. “She’s good. Real good.” He looks around the room, surveying his surroundings. “Okay, I’ll let you get back to –” He gestures to the TV and then smiles at me. “See you later, Bianca.”
“Bye, Mr. Evans.” He leaves and I turn back to Ryder. “Carol? That’s the woman he’s seeing?”
“Yeah. I won’t be surprised if she turns out to be wife number four.”
Logan snorts in derision. “It’s looking that way, isn’t it?”
“Would you believe she owns a golf course, too?” Cade says.
“At least he has something in common with her,” Logan says. “I can’t say the same about wives two and three.”
“Or Mom, for that matter,” Knox says. The brothers chuckle knowingly at that comment as Knox clicks play on Sherlock.
I wonder what Mr. Evans would think if he knew all of his sons were taking me out on dates. For some reason, the thought makes me feel vaguely guilty, which makes no sense since the whole idea wasn’t mine to begin with.
I do my best to put my focus on what we’re watching, and it does eventually draw me in. When the episode – which is quite long – ends, Knox pauses it on the credits. “Everyone up for another one? After a snack break.”
“Actually,” I say, seeing an opening. “I wanted to talk to all of you.”
Four sets of eyes focus on me, and I hesitate as my heart starts to pound.
“I have a favor to ask. I signed a lease for an apartment and I wonder if any of you could help me move a few things.”
“Bianca, that’s great! Congratulations!” Cade says. The others offer well wishes too, and all of them say they can help.
“I really only need one or two of you. I don’t have that much stuff.”
“When do you want to move?” Ryder asks.
“The place is available immediately, so I was hoping for this weekend, if that works.”
“Ryder and I will do it,” Cade tells his brothers.
“Thank you. I appreciate it. I also wanted to thank you all for the dates you’ve taken me on. I’ve had a lot of fun, and I appreciate you all helping me get some experience.”
“We’re having fun, too, B. Right?” Cade looks around at his brothers, and my cheeks heat when I think about how much – and what kind of – fun I’ve had with some of them.
“But, I think I’m good now,” I continue. “I think the dates have been really helpful and you don’t need to take me out anymore.”
“No, B. It’s fine. We should do another round, at least,” Cade says.
“I haven’t actually even taken you out,” Knox says.
“We want to make sure you’re completely comfortable and confident, in case you encounter any more jerks like that one that forced himself on you.”
“Anyone want popcorn?” Cade asks, heading for the kitchen, considering the topic settled.
I could speak up and I could insist, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to keep going out with them, even though there’s an extremely good chance that I’m about to get my heart broken.
19
You need better judgment
I asked Cade and Ryder to come at a time when I thought my parents would be busy in the store. I told my parents that friends would be helping me move and I was relieved when they didn’t ask many questions.
“This dresser is the last piece of furniture,” Cade says when I pass him and Ryder on my way back into my bedroom. “We’ll help you with the boxes as soon as we get this loaded.”