CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
EVERLY
Thankfully,Addison and I were within half a shoe size of each other, so I was able to borrow a pair of hers for our shopping excursion to replenish my necessities. And Luna, Brady’s girlfriend, had sent over some clothes with Addison since we were about the same size. I’d slipped into a pair of her leggings but opted to wear one of Beck’s T-shirts instead of any she’d offered. I wasn’t too proud to admit the flimsy piece of cotton comforted me in a way I needed as I went out on a mission in borrowed clothes to replace my belongings.
Also thankfully, Addison was like a tornado. She flew through stores, barking orders and making demands, and because she was Starlight Cove’s golden child and she gave those orders with a smile, people willingly did her bidding. I had no idea how she did it. I felt like I was still trying to win people over in town, even after two years, and that was with an always-ready smile. But regardless of how she did it, I was grateful for her.
I was grateful for a lot of things today—that I’d escaped from the fire, that Chuckanut had made it out with me, and that neither of us had any lasting injuries. I was also overwhelmingly grateful for Beck—Beck’s whole family, actually, but him specifically.
Before Addison and I had left, I’d realized I didn’t have my purse, which meant I didn’t have any money or even a credit card to pay for what I needed, and I’d panicked. As usual, Beck had immediately read me without my having to say a word. With his eyes locked on mine, he’d pulled out his wallet, handed his credit card to Addison, and then said, just loud enough for me to hear, “Whatever you need.”
And then, as if to balance things out and prove he wasn’t a gigantic marshmallow, he’d thrust a bottle of water at me as Addison and I were walking out the door and yelled after us, “And don’t forget to eat, for fuck’s sake!”
Addison had rolled her eyes, but I’d smiled, so relieved that the Beck I knew and loved was still there, despite what had happened between us. It hadn’t changed us—I just had to remember that. He was still my best friend. Still my touch point in Starlight Cove. And no matter what happened, I didn’t want to lose that.
Now, Addison pulled up in front of our last stop and parked. Main Street was fairly busy today even though it was the middle of the week, no doubt because it was a beautiful day. That meant plenty of people strolled by, and every single one wanted to stop us and tell me how shocked they were to hear what had happened and ask if I was okay. Every time, I’d plaster a smile on my face and pretend like I wasn’t completely crumbling inside at having to relive it with every mention.
“Last one,” Addison said, grabbing her purse.
“Oh, thank God.” My shoulders slumped. “I don’t think I can take much more.”
She reached over and rested her hand on my arm, stopping me from unbuckling my seat belt. “Why don’t you sit this one out? I’ve got it.”
I blew out a huge sigh of relief and shot her a grateful smile. Apparently, Addison was as perceptive as her brother. Either that or I looked every ounce as exhausted as I felt. It took a lot for me to break, but after recounting the worst night of my life over and over and over again, I was ready to crack.
All the small—and not-so-small things—that needed to be done had also started piling up in my mind, and I’d been keeping a mental tally of everything I needed to do as we were running around replacing all my possessions. Luckily, I’d had a voice mail waiting for me this morning from April, my assistant-slash-receptionist, saying she’d seen the news—on Facebook, naturally—and that she’d take care of rescheduling our appointments until we knew more.
Like, if I still had a business or not.
“Thank you,” I said earnestly to Addison as I grabbed my phone from where I’d stashed it in the cupholder. “I still need to call my parents and let them know what happened.”
Addison grimaced. “Will that be an easy or a difficult call?”
I must not have been able to keep the cringe to myself, because she nodded without my having to say a word.
“Got it. In that case, I think I’ll swing by the bakery to grab two donuts. Maybe three…”
“Is that for just me or both of us?”
Addison gasped and snapped her head in my direction. “Both of us, obviously. I deserve donuts too.”
I laughed. “You definitely do, but in that case, make it four.”
Her smile widened as she opened the door and stepped out. “I like how you think.”
As she strode toward the sidewalk, dodging passersby like she was on an obstacle course, I lowered my gaze to my phone and pulled up my mom’s number—it took an act of God for my dad to answer his phone, mostly because he could never find the thing. And if he could find it, he couldn’t figure out how to use it.
I’d been putting this off all day, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as I pressed the call button.
After one and a half rings, my mom answered, “Honey! I wasn’t expecting to hear from you today. Don’t tell me I got my days wrong again. Is it Sunday already? You know how it is with retirement.”
“I know, Mom. All the days bleed together,” I said, reciting the same phrase she’d said to me no fewer than twelve thousand times. “And no, it’s not Sunday. It’s Wednesday, but I have something important I need to tell you. Is Dad around?”
“Oh yes, he’s just tinkering with his model cars. I’ll grab him.” She moved the phone away from her mouth but not far enough that it saved me from the earsplitting yell as she called for him. “Harry! Evie’s on the phone. She’s got something to tell us.” Then, quieter but still loud enough for me to hear, she said, “Maybe she’s finally moving home!”
I closed my eyes, knowing that last night’s catastrophe was only going to embolden them further in their quest to get me back to the West Coast, and I wasn’t sure I was up for that particular confrontation today. Honestly, I was never up for that particular confrontation, which was probably why my stomach churned every Sunday until I got our weekly call over with.
“Okay, honey, your dad’s right next to me. Are you still there?”
