Lila frowned “Then work it andmake himtalk to you. Hell, kiss him and get him sick, then just ‘be there’ to nurse his helpless ass—”
Rachel interrupted. “Sexy ass.”
“—sexy ass through it all.”
“But I’m sick.” Kenzie stood when Lila shoved her to her feet then stupidly waited for Rachel to return from a trip to Kenzie’s house holding her purse, her keys, and Evan’s ring. The little box had been haunting her ever since she’d shown it to Lila, who’d taken it from Evan’s duffel and insisted it remain on Kenzie’s dresser as a reminder of her man.
“Here.” Rachel dumped it all in her hands. “And take this. Chew several.” A pack of mint gum.
Lila grabbed everything from Kenzie and said, “Eh, maybe use my toothpaste and gargle some mouthwash before you go. Then feel free to chew ten pieces of gum at once.”
Kenzie did what she was told and returned to gather her things then chewed only one piece of gum. Embarrassingly, everyone gathered in Kenzie’s driveway—the guys and the girls—to watch her get into her car. Daniel appeared beyond thrilled.
Will pointed at her then put a finger across his throat. “We need him for Monday night’s game against the Burning Embers. So help me, you put his head on right, woman, or I’m taking you out!”
Rachel said wryly, “Such respect for love.”
“Screw love.” Will glared. “I bet on our team to win.”
Kenzie scared up a grin. Her brother raced over to her and kissed her cheek through the open window of the car.
Daniel nodded. “He’s at home.”
“And you know this because you texted him?”
“No, I know this because I initiated ‘Track My iPhone’ on his phone when I borrowed it.” At her shocked look, he nodded. “I mean, yes, I texted him. Go get my soccer coach back. I miss him.”
She ran a hand over her brother’s cheek and prayed Evan could forgive her stupidity. “Wish me luck.”
The crowd cheered and waved her away.
And her heart raced the long drive to Evan’s.
* * *
Evan had binge-watched Marvel’sThe Punisher, just so he could see people get hurt and get back up. Then he forced himself to watch some Hallmark movies, where people fell in love and stayed in love, and he yelled at them to stop dreaming, criticizing the guys in each film as being too easy and wimpy.
He wasn’t proud of it, but he’d cried himself to sleep Thursday night and drank himself to sleep Friday. By Sunday, he’d recovered enough to work all day, catching up on his accounting.
He was due to work at Vets on the Go! in the morning, on a moving crew as backup in case Cash couldn’t make it. He texted Cash that he was sick and wouldn’t be in.
Then Cash asked why Evan was due to work when Cash had been assigned that job, apparently all healed up.
Evan left him a one-word answer.Reid.And he knew that would be a discussion best happening between brothers.
He flicked through the channels as he lay on his couch in his living room. He’d bought a purple-and-red-striped pillow as well as a blue-and-yellow-polka-dotted one then added a green throw. So now his living room looked as though the color gods had puked all over his professionally decorated sophistication. He’d bought cookies and cake from a nearby bakery but couldn’t force himself to eat anything Kenzie hadn’t made for him.
And he felt pathetic for being so downtrodden. It wasn’t as if his life had ended. So the woman he loved didn’t love him back? So what? She could grow to love him.
Or he could leave her alone and find some self-respect.
She’d texted him a bit today, but he hated the thought she pitied him or worried she’d hurt his feelings.
Because yeah, he had pride—maybe a single ounce of it, but he had some left.
Someone knocked at the door. Then they rang the doorbell. He didn’t want to see anyone, so he figured they’d soon go away.
He forgot he’d given Kenzie a key.
