“Wait, I didn’t—” Evie shook her head. Thinking back to what she’d just said, she realized shehadinvited him. Still, she didn’t want him getting the wrong idea.
Ashanti and Ridley had joked about her dating, but she wasn’t ready to date anyone yet, even someone she’d admittedly had feelings for years ago.
Especiallysomeone who’d had her crying and confused in her childhood bed because he wouldn’t answer her calls or texts and then left the entire state without a word to her. No thank you, sir.
“Um, just so we’re clear, these are strategy sessions,” Evie said. “Nothing more.”
There was a hint of disappointment in the rueful tilt of his lips.
He nodded. “I understand, Ev.”
Did he?
She didn’t owe Bryson a single thing after the way he’d ghosted her. In fact, she had every right to shut him out completely.
Except she couldn’t.
In the few days since he’d barreled back into her life, she’d been mired in this jumbled cloud of resentment, confusion, and nostalgia over how things ended that summer. She hadno doubt her anger at Cameron played a part in just how intensely she was leaning into that nostalgia, but this wasn’t about Cam. This was about Bryson, and how despite being engaged to another man for the past four years, there had always been a tiny piece of her that thought,What if?
She pressed a hand to her stomach.
Acknowledging that she’d felt something for him—even a tiny bit—while she was with Cameron triggered an uneasy feeling in her gut.
“Stop overthinking,” Bryson said.
She jerked back. “What? I’m not,” Evie said.
“Yes, you are,” he said. “I told you, I understand. I keep thinking of you in terms of the Evie from that summer, but that isn’t who you are. I’m not the same person I was back then either, thank God. I’m trying to remember and respect that things are different. Forgive me if I slip up.”
Evie’s eyes softened as a gentle warmth spread throughout her.
This.This is what was so unique about him. Other men, including the one she’d been engaged to, would try to gaslight her into thinking she was being ridiculous. This is why it had been so easy to fall for him that summer. It’s why she had to be careful right now.
The server arrived with the dogs’ meals first, each delivered in pink dog dishes with water on one side and the chicken, rice, and veggies on the other. She also set two plates on the table and let them know their meal would be out soon.
The growls Evie had expected when Bella and Waffles first met emerged.
“Aht, aht!” she reprimanded. “You each have your own. No need to get territorial.”
Waffles and Bella both quieted and started in on their respective bowls.
“So, what magic potion did you slip the dogs?” Bryson asked. “It took months before I could get Bella to obey.”
“No magic,” Evie replied with a laugh. “Waffles and I quickly came to an understanding regarding temper tantrums. We both agreed not to have any.” She scrunched up her mouth. “I kinda had a screaming fit the other day and it scared him. He ran behind the couch and I had to coax him out with rotisserie chicken.
“I felt horrible, of course. I promised him that I would not rant at the air again. When I took him to the park and he started barking at a group of kids playing Frisbee, I made him promise the same.”
Bryson grinned. “And did he?”
“In my mind he did,” Evie said.
The deep timbre of his laugh reverberated along her skin. It caused those earlier butterflies to take flight again in the pit of her stomach.
The server arrived then with their food, setting the oval plate in the center of the table. Evie started dishing the loaded fries and shrimp onto the smaller plates, grateful for something to do with her hands.
“So, how recently did you lose your last dog?” Bryson asked as he stabbed his fries with a fork.
Evie tipped her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
