Who would’ve thought they could banter like this without wanting to kill one another?
“I should be getting home.” Eva re-packed the first aid kit with efficiency before tucking it back into the cabinet. “Try not to injure yourself again.”
“It almost sounds like you care.”
“I merely don’t want you to take up any more of my time,” Eva said, but she knew it lacked its usual bite.
* * *
Happy Valentine’s Day.Molly’s message was accompanied by a gif of a bouquet of roses, and Eva shook her head.
Valentine’s Day is even more commercialized and contrived than Christmas,Eva replied.It’s not a real holiday.
Wow. Someone didn’t get any presents this morning.
Eva hadn’t received a Valentine’s Day present ever.I just don’t see the point in it. Surely, if you’re in a relationship with someone you should show them you love them every day. Not once a year when the price of flowers and chocolates go up three-fold.
“Eva! You’re not watching!” The indignant voice sounded from a few feet away, and Eva glanced up from her phone to find a four-year-old glaring at her from the top of the tallest slide on the playground.
Babysitting hadn’t been on Eva’s agenda for the morning, but when Angela’s grandkids had spied Eva dropping her mother off at Angela’s house, she’d been roped into helping. Alison and Sam loved her—because she didn’t fuss over them like everyone else—and not even Eva was immune to the twins’ puppy-dog eyes.
Eva watched Alison fly down the slide, whooping with glee, before turning her attention back to Molly.
Sometimes it’s nice to have an excuse to spoil someone.
Why do you need an excuse?
I didn’t have you pegged as a hopeless romantic.
Eva snorted.That’s a bit of a stretch. My ex certainly wouldn’t say so.
Rough breakup?
Nothing like yours,Eva typed, remembering Molly’s cheating ex.But it hurt all the same. I had to move away from where we lived due to circumstances outside of my control. I thought she’d come with me, but she refused. She promised we’d still be able to make it work long-distance, but… turned out she was good at breaking promises as well as hearts.
Eva couldn’t remember the last time she’d willingly talked so openly about Victoria. She’d used to refuse, the wounds still feeling raw, but two years later, with the weak winter sun on her face and the sound of giggling children all around her, it didn’t ache as much as it used to.
Her loss. You deserve better than that.
Eva swallowed, the words hitting harder than she expected.And so do you. Someone who will buy you stupidly expensive flowers and chocolates. And not just once a year.
I’ll settle for picking up something heart-shaped in the sales tomorrow morning,Molly replied, and Eva chuckled.
A tiny hand tugged on the bottom of her jacket, and Eva found Sam staring up at her with hopeful green eyes. “Will you push me on the swings?”
“Come on, then.” Eva slipped her phone into her pocket and let him drag her over to them, leaving Alison chattering to Angela and her mother with a speed only little kids seemed to be able to manage.
Chapter 15
The night of the WinterFormal arrived, and in light of her and Eva’s new-found civility, Lily found she wasn’t dreading it as much as she thought she would.
Not that she was looking forward to it. A night spent chaperoning rowdy teenagers wasn’t high on Lily’s agenda, but at least she wouldn’t be on edge the whole time, braced for attack.
Lily arrived at the country club chosen to hold the event early. A few other cars were in the parking lot, and she noticed Eva’s Mercedes among them. She walked into the large function room where the last-minute preparations were being made by the planning committee. Drapes hung from the ceiling, and snowflakes were dotted around the room. Spring colors might have been more appropriate, considering it was nearly March—why they were holding Winter Formal so late in the year, Lily didn’t know—but she had to admit the white and blue hues looked beautiful.
Eva was tucked away in a corner, her dress a deep purple. It wasn’t as clingy as the one she’d worn to the Christmas party—thank God—but she still looked breath-taking, and Lily averted her gaze.
She was grateful for the distraction of the students arriving, music from the DJ pulsing through the room, because it stopped her attention from wandering to Eva.
