I didn’t know who the fuck this guy was, why he was in Everly’s home at nine o’clock at night—okay, so I could guess on that one, but I shoved the thought out of my mind as quickly as it came—or why he wasn’t able to take care of the shit that needed fixing, only thatIwas the one who’d shown up for her how she needed.
It was late—way too late for a casual date, especially when Everly was currently at the clinic side of the house, taking care of a sock-eater. This guy could use her shower, eat her food, and—probably—sleep in her bed, but he couldn’t be bothered to fix her disposal or dishwasher? That was real fucking nice. What the hell kind of men was she involved with?
Thankfully, I’d never had the misfortune of meeting anyone she’d been dating. When she’d moved here, she’d been in a long-distance relationship with someone—James…Justin…Jonah… Something that began with a J, so I’d just started calling him Jackass. Their relationship had lasted all of three months before she’d called it quits and declared a self-imposed man embargo while she’d gotten acclimated to Starlight Cove and the brand-new clinic, following her aunt’s passing.
A self-imposed man embargo that I wastotallyon board with. God knew how I’d handle seeing her dating anyone in town.
But even though I’d never met anyone she’d been involved with, I’d had plenty of chances to imagine what they’d be like. I figured she’d go for someone who’d challenge her and make her laugh. Definitely well educated, but he wouldn’t be pompous about it because she’d hate that—this guy struck out on that, at least.
“What’s your name?” he asked. “You know, for the police report.”
I nearly snorted. Let him call. I’d love to have my eldest brother and town sheriff dragged out for some bullshit report. Brady would just love that. “Great. Tell them Beck says hi.”
His brows lifted even farther, and he gave me another once-over, cocking his head to the side like he couldn’t quite work out a puzzle. “So, you’re Beck.”
He’d heard of me? Good. From his tone, he obviously wasn’t a fan. Well, he better get real fucking comfortable real fucking quick with Everly’s and my friendship because I wasn’t going anywhere.
“As you can see, Evie’s not here,” he said, gesturing to the empty house.
Evie? This assclown was already on a nickname basis with her? What the fuck.
“I know. She told me.”Yeah, we talk and she gave me a key and I’m the guy she comes to when she needs something and I have my own nickname for her, too, so good luck, pal. “Where’s Chuckanut?”
Sylvester—or whatever the fuck his name was—wrinkled his nose. “Brought him with her. Dogs and I don’t get along.”
I didn’t trust someone who didn’t like dogs. And considering Everly’s entire life revolved around animals, those two weren’t off to a great start. What the hell did she see in this guy?
“Now that we’ve established neither Evie nor her dog are here, can I help you with something?”
“Nope.” I turned my back on him and opened my toolbox, riffling through for what I needed. “Don’t mind me while I do your job for you.”
“Excuse me?”
I glanced at him over my shoulder and lifted my chin toward the dishwasher. “Didn’t you notice this was broken?”
“Of course I noticed it was broken.” He rolled his eyes as he shoveled another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. “I’m not an idiot.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” I said under my breath.
“What was that?”
“I said, you noticed it was broken, and yet you’re not over here fixing it.Iam.”
He scoffed. “It’s not like I have tools here, man.”
And grabbing them from his place was, what? Too much of an inconvenience for this guy? Couldn’t be bothered to help out the woman he was, apparently, in some sort of relationship with? Fuck, he really was a shitbag.
“All I know is Everly’s mentioned this a couple times”—okay, so it was once, just the night before, but Stuart didn’t need to know that—“which means either you don’t listen when she talks, or she tells me more than you.” I shrugged like I didn’t care either way.
He snorted and propped his definitely smaller-than-mine arms on the table and raised a brow. “You don’t want to get into thewho knows Evie bettergame, I can promise you that.”
I set my toolbox on the floor in front of the sink, turned around, and leaned back against the counter, arms crossed over my chest. This was going to be fun. “Oh yeah? Try me.”
He laughed then, a pompous, arrogant sound that set my teeth on edge. Where the fuck did she find this guy? Pottery Barn? “Fine, let’s start easy. Her favorite movie isThe Notebook.”
I rolled my eyes. This guy wasn’t even trying. “That’s what shepretendsher favorite movie is, but it’s reallyBridesmaids.”
Simon’s brows drew down, and he straightened a bit more in his chair, as if finally realizing this was a competition. And I was winning. “She’s a weirdo who loves brussels sprouts.”
