The Match (It Happened in Charleston 1)

I look back up at my parents’ house and spot Tyler watching us from the window. He sees me looking at him and raises his glass in a mock toast. I wish I had a brick I could throw through that window.

I’m not quite sure that I’m welcome in Jake’s truck right now, but I also know that there’s no way in Hades I’m going back in my parents’ house and asking for a ride.

I look down at Charlie, and his big chocolate eyes promise me that I get to order in a dozen cookies and eat them all when I get home. At least Charlie is always there for me.

Chapter Thirty

JAKE

I dropped Evie off at her apartment after a completely silent drive home where I played the part of the brooding jerk perfectly. It wasn’t a part I wanted to play, but I felt like I wasn’t in control of myself anymore. This night couldn’t have gone any worse, and as I’m driving home in the dark, I still can’t quite pinpoint the moment it all went south.

One minute, Evie and I were united, and I was happy to be her shoulder to lean on during a difficult night, and the next thing I knew, I needed a crutch of my own to lean on as I dragged myself off the battlefield of the war I just lost.

I pull up out front of my house and cut the engine but don’t get out of the truck. I need a minute to myself to think over everything that just happened. I run my hands over my face and hair and then groan as a sinking feeling fills my stomach.

Evie and I both just got played. Me more than anyone.

Now, away from the haughty smirk of Tyler, I can see it all clearly. They said exactly what they needed to push my buttons and hit me in all my sore spots. How they knew w

hat my sore spots are is a little frightening, but I guess that people with as much money as them can accomplish just about anything they want to. Tonight being evidence of that.

Why did I listen to them? Deep down, I know that Evie doesn’t want their life. She doesn’t fit in in that manipulative social-elitist world any more than I would fit into one of Sam’s training bras. And yet…I let them get into my head.

I’m still raw from Natalie. I’m still scared. And hearing them confirm my biggest fears that I’m not good enough for Evie and she’ll leave me and Sam just like Natalie did, well, it undid me. I wanted to run away with my heart clutched in my hand to keep it safe.

But I was wrong. I overreacted.

My only hope now is that Evie will forgive me and forget all the accusations I tossed at her. I let out another groan because the more I think about it, the worse I feel. I remember the hurt I saw filling her eyes, the betrayal she felt. I sided with those people over her, and now I’m fearful she won’t forgive me. I wouldn’t blame her, either.

I pull out my phone, ready to call her and grovel at her feet for forgiveness, when movement on my porch catches my eye. I forgot to turn on the porch lights before I left the house, so I can’t see who it is. For a split second, hope soars in my chest, and I think that it’s Evie. But then I realize she can’t drive, and there is no way she could have called an Uber and beat me here.

Maybe I should be worried that it’s a robber. But I haven’t heard of many criminals who like to leisurely swing on porches before breaking and entering, so I think I’m safe in that regard. Curiosity has me slipping my phone back into my pocket, and I get out of the truck.

It’s when I approach the porch that I remember the old saying “curiosity killed the cat.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Not exactly the welcome home I was hoping for, but hello to you, too.” Natalie, my ex-wife, is smiling and swinging on my porch like she never left me a year ago. Like she has spent every day of the past year caring for our daughter as she should have been. Like she belongs here.

She doesn’t.

“You want me to throw you a party? Sorry, not going to happen.”

“Too bad. I love parties.”

“Cut the cuteness, Natalie. We’re not friends, and we’re not going to banter tonight. Now, tell me what you’re doing here.”

Her smile fades, and she stands up to walk closer to me. I take a step back for two reasons:

She’s not my wife anymore, and it’s not appropriate for her and I to be in close proximity when I’m seeing someone else (and I AM seeing someone else, because I fully intend to make amends with Evie as soon as I get rid of Natalie).

I just had a really crappy night, and my anger is at a boiling point, making every cell in my body completely aware of how much this woman has wronged me and my daughter.

In short, I don’t want her anywhere near me.

“I thought it was obvious. I’m here to see you and Sam.” She looks over my shoulder like maybe I carry Sam in a backpack or something. “Where is she, by the way?”

I so badly want to say something snarky like maybe you’d know if you had cared enough to stick around and be a part of our life. But I don’t because I’ve already been a jerk once tonight, and I don’t feel like being one again.