Hothead (Irresistible 4)

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me, Emmett?” I demanded.

“Because Aly made me swear not to tell you shit,” he said, getting in my face. “You already proved to her what a piece of shit you were by not calling Evie the day she left, so she doesn’t trust you to do the right thing anymore. She told me she had it covered, but I know she’s struggling to find coverage at the restaurant. She wanted to leave to find Evie today, but she still can’t get away from work.”

“Fuck that. I’m going,” I said. I didn’t even realize my feet had begun walking already till I found myself in the hallway, Emmett trailing behind.

“Do you even know where you’re going?”

“Belfield. In Massachusetts.”

“That’s where she’s from?”

“Yes.”

“You think she’s with her mom?”

“I know she is, and there’s no way in hell I’m letting her stay there one more fucking day,” I ground out, my heart slamming in my chest as I thought of Evie living alongside an unpredictable addict while pregnant – with my child, no less. It immediately dashed my need to wait things out, to talk to her when I felt like I knew what I wanted to say. It lit a fire under my ass and reminded me that some things happened before you were ready – and this was a prime example.

Because while I didn’t know what I wanted to say, I knew I needed to feel Evie safe in my arms. I knew I loved her – that I loved everything about her, including the man I was around her. I knew I’d never forgive myself if anything were to happen to her.

Or our child.

And suddenly, I needed to tell her that in person. STAT.

37

EVIE

This morning, I ran into people I actually knew at the gas station, which would’ve been terrifying if it weren’t for the fact that it was the Bloom siblings - Carly, Ashlyn and Trevor - who had always cracked me up in high school because they were more preoccupied with arguing and one-upping each other than anything in the world. At least the twins were, whereas Trevor, the youngest, always stood there kind of stoned before eventually saying something breathtakingly weird and random.

“Evie, don’t listen to Kurt, the people in this town are so bored they will absolutely say anything to anyone about anyone. Trust nobody. No-bo-dy,” Carly said as Ash argued the opposite point.

“No one said anything about you, Evie! That newspaper emailed a bunch of us and I told everyone we’d agree on ‘no comment.’”

“You’re full of shit, Ash! No one emailed your ass!”

They went back and forth for awhile until, as usual, Trevor interrupted to say something that sounded super high and unrelated.

“I heard someone’s comin’ to get you, Evie,” he giggled while making eyes with a bag of Fritos. We all paused and turned to look at him funny, but he didn’t look up till Carly smacked him hard on the arm.

“Trev. Why do you always have to say such creepy shit when you’re high?” she snapped before turning to me and rolling her eyes. “Sorry. We watched scary movies last night.”

“It’s cool,” I laughed as I saw another car pull in outside. As harmless and actually enjoyable as this interaction was, I didn’t want to risk any more unexpected run-ins today, so I quickly paid for my things and started backing out. “Guys, I gotta get going but it was nice seeing you again,” I said, as all three Blooms stopped yelling at each other to wave and sing bye as I walked out.

I wore a vague smile on my lips as I got in the car and started driving, because I needed that laugh this morning.

Badly.

Last night, I had stayed longer than usual with Mom because we were having a conversation about all the things she’d help me do for the baby. Kaylie came home, heard the baby talk then started slamming drawers in the kitchen, eventually accusing me of eating something in the fridge that she’d been saving for herself.

Mom stormed in there to quiet her down and before I knew it, we were all in there screaming at each other.

The night ended with me in tears, and Mom also in tears, but still putting on her calm, soothing voice as she told me to go to the motel and come back the usual time in the morning.

“Tomorrow will be a fun day, promise. I’m going to have a surprise for you,” she said in the driveway, holding my cheeks and kissing my forehead before watching me get into the car.

We ended on a nice note but I felt horrible as I pulled up to the house today because I knew she’d probably been up all night dealing with Kaylie’s wrath. It was probably why I got her the usual from the store but also bought out pretty much all the chocolate bars Kurt had in stock. I want

ed to make it up to her for last night.