“I can’t make that promise,” she said.
Bryson ended the call and dropped his head to his desk. He hated lying to his mother, but the thought of answeringany more of her questions about what happened with Evie made his head hurt. He needed at least another month… year… lifetime… before he could talk about losing Evie.
If he’d ever had her.
That’s just the thing. Hehadhad her. He’d managed to do the impossible, win Evie back after losing her eight years ago. No, he didn’t lose her back then; he’d thrown away what they could have had together.
And like a fool, he’d allowed those same insecurities that sent him running the first time to creep back into his head. He’d allowed Cameron fucking Broussard to creep back into his head.
After everything he’d accomplished in his life, the fact that he still could not see himself as anything but that scholarship kid from the bayou was something he needed to talk over with a professional. It was beyond anything he could work through on his own; that was evident after what happened last weekend.
He guessed what they said was true, that the first step was admitting you have a problem.
Bryson leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling.
Now he needed to figure out a solution to his other problem—convincing Evie he was worthy of yet another chance.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Evie thought Constance had gone overboard for her fortieth wedding anniversary, but it was nothing compared to what had been accomplished at tonight’s puppy gala. Her mother, along with Ashanti and her twin sisters, and the team of designers and vendors Dom and Ridley had strong-armed into donating their time and services, had turned the Audubon Tea Room into a puppy-filled extravaganza.
There were various activities happening throughout the event space and the grounds all night long, but the fashion show currently taking place was one of the highlights of the gala. Participants paid a thousand dollars to have their fur baby take to the stage. Not only had Evie cajoled her father into paying Waffles’s fee, but she’d also convinced him that his ear, nose, and throat practice should sponsor the dessert buffet, which everyone was now devouring as they enjoyed thepuppies parading in their snazzy outfits. The dogs were definitely the stars tonight.
Evie waited with Waffles, who looked dashing in his puppy tuxedo, if she did say so herself. Of course, he refused to wear the accompanying top hat, but he was behaving so well tonight that she couldn’t hold it against him. She just hoped that all didn’t change once it was his turn to take his stroll. She’d learned over this past month that her new dog was a bit of a loose cannon. She’d marked it on her calendar to sign him up for obedience classes once the gala was behind them.
“I’m not sure how Waffles will do in front of this crowd,” Evie said to Ashanti, who stood next to her with a dolled-up Duchess.
“He’ll do fine. He’s friendly. The friendly ones always feed off the crowd.”
Ashanti motioned with her head. “Now go. You two are up.”
Evie took a deep breath, then started on the runway that had been constructed down the center of the Audubon Tea Room. She could admit that she was probably more nervous than Waffles, but she had a lot riding on this night.
Everything was riding on it.
Lucas Shepard’s real estate agent had contacted The Sanctuary yesterday, informing them that the new owner would be taking over the building soon. The owner appeared to have a softer heart than Lucas because he was giving them until the end of next month to vacate the property and find a new home for the remaining animals.
Evie refused to allow that home to be an already overcrowded animal shelter. She needed to raise enough moneytonight to put a hefty down payment on one of the buildings she’d found in her search. None were ideal, but there were several contenders that would suffice.
She and Waffles finished their fashion walk, making way for the two stars everyone had come to see tonight. The crowd erupted into cheers when Kara, who was serving as the emcee for the fashion show, announced Duchess the Frenchie, and her faithful companion, Puddin’ the Poodle.
Thad wore a tux to match Puddin’s. It included a vest peppered with pictures of Duchess’s face. Ashanti wore a pink gown that complemented Duchess’s frilly outfit. They were such cute couples that it made Evie want to throw up.
She immediately felt guilty. It wasn’t Ashanti and Thad’s or Duchess and Puddin’s fault that even the thought of romantic relationships of any kind—including of the canine persuasion—annoyed her.
She wasn’t thinking about that tonight. She’d made a vow to evict all thoughts of Bryson as soon as they popped into her head. She would direct all her attention to the gala. She’d done a remarkable job of it, throwing herself into every aspect of the planning for tonight. But she feared what would happen when she no longer had the gala or The Sanctuary to focus on. She had no idea how she would prevent Bryson from creeping into every part of her psyche.
Worry about that if—when, you know it’s unavoidable—it happens.
Ridley walked over to her and propped her arm on Evie’s shoulder.
“You would think nothing would surprise me after the way people lost their minds over Duchess and Puddin’ lastyear, but here I am, surprised as hell. Do you see the kind of money they’re shelling out here tonight?”
“Everyone loves cute dogs,” Evie said with a shrug. She playfully elbowed Ridley in the side. “Even you, although you don’t want to admit it.”
“Because it is false,” she said. “I tolerate dogs, and only yours and Ashanti’s, andonlyon occasion.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I am glad things are going well tonight. You deserve it after the way you’ve busted your ass these last two weeks.”
“I, in every respect, could not have done this without all of you,” Evie said.
