“Yay! Keep an open mind, Evie. If Charlotte says you can afford it, then you can. She’s the most frugal of all of us,” Rachelchimes in.
“I’ll keep an open mind,” I agree before narrowing my eyes suspiciously. “Wait… Was this plan cooked up by Emmanuel?”
“No, it was actually Louie’s idea. And when he told me, I got so excited at the thought of you moving here. He then went on to say it’s a done deal and that he’ll have the lease drawn up by the end of the day.” Charlotte smiles dreamily. “He wants me to be happy, and having at least one of my best friends is what’s going to make me happy.”
“Why would your husband be thinking about location spots for my shop?” I ask her.
“Because he has an empty store, and he doesn’t want an empty store.” Charlotte shrugs. “Just come and look at it.”
“Fine. But I need to shower first,” I say, sipping at the coffee.
“Deal, but let’s not make it a two-hour shower. Time’s a wasting, Evie.” Charlotte walks out of my room, taking my phone with her as she starts talking to Rachel about something else.
I follow her out. “Hey, you have your own phone. I need that one!”
“Why? Expecting a call?” Charlotte teases.
“No,” I lie. I have no doubt Emmanuel will call or message soon, and like the fool that I am, I’m waiting for him to do it.
I know! Yesterday I was ready to put distance between us, but he has a way of getting me to forget the outside world. I get it. And honestly, if any of my friends were dating him, I’d be kidnapping them and running away with new identities. But me? No, I’m the idiot who runs towards the dangerous man, despite knowing that it will likely be my undoing.
“Okay, not a call, but he did just message you. Damn, who would have known the man could be so sweet and cute.” Charlotte smirks.
“Give it to me.” I swipe for my phone, but she raises her hand.
“What’s it say?” Rachel asks.
“Mi alma…”
“Charlotte, I will find a way to drain that rooftop pool that you love so much. I don’t even care if I drown the city,” I say, threatening the one thing she loves most. Swimming.
“Pfft, you wouldn’t.” She squints her eyes at me.
“Maybe not, but I do happen to know one man insane enough to do it for me if I asked.” I shrug.
“You wouldn’t!” Charlotte gasps as she drops my phone back into my open palm.
“Sure I wouldn’t.” I laugh. We both know I would never do anything like that or ask someone else to. But the threat alone is enough for me to get my hands back on my phone.
“You play a dirty game, Evie,” Rachel says. “I gotta go. My break is over.”
“Bye, love you,” all three of us say in unison, and then the call cuts out.
I look to Charlotte. “I’m going to shower.”
“Tell Emmanuel I say hi,” she hums in her sweetest southern accent.
I don’t respond, but on my way to the bathroom, I do open his message.
E:
Mi alma, my bed is cold without you. I need you to come home.
Me:
Home would indicate we live together, E. We do not.
I set my phone down on the counter and turn on the shower. As I’m pulling my pajamas over my head, the phone vibrates across the marble.
