“Come on, wife,” Levi says. I peek over to him as he reaches his hand to the small of Evelyn’s back. “You don’t want to come off as crazy now, do you?”
I’m not sure how I know it, but his tone toward her isn’t patronizing. He’s playful, and it’s strange how I can just feel that. This isn’t like how Michael treated me, though it does trigger a bit of anxiety for the girl.
Except… she did attack me—for really no reason.
So maybe she is crazy.
“Crazy for accepting this… partnership.”
I really don’t want to question anything that is happening, even if that statement is very weird.
“Alright. It was lovely meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Black.” I shift to look at Calista who giggles. “See you soon?”
She nods. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
“See ya, Wildhart,” Evelyn groans.
“Lovely to meet you, Ayden.” Levi nods his head and I simply just turn and walk away. This was the strangest thing to happen, and I’m not sure how to process it.
At least Calista seems normal.
19
Corey closes the door to my truck before leaning in through the passenger window. “We still good for Friday night?”
I nod, resting back and stretching my arms. “You bringing the missus?”
“Not this time. She’s got plans with her mom, but she told me I couldn’t get sloshed drunk because we have brunch with both her parents Saturday.”
“Agreed. I think I’m getting too old for it anyway.”
He scoffs, slapping his hand against the inside of the car door. “You haven’t even hit your thirties. Don’t give me that bullshit.”
“My knees and head feel like they’re retirement age.”
He rolls his eyes, but chuckles. “Whatever you say, brother. Tell Ayden I said what’s up. He’ll be hanging with us, right?”
My brow quirks up. “Yeah…”
“Taylor and Kali really like him. I do too. He’s chill.”
While they’ve only met him once, I have to agree: he is amazing. Honestly, more than that.
“We’re hanging at the cabin. I don’t know where else he’ll be.”
He hums. “Does he not work?”
I feel like this isn’t a conversation he and I should be having. “You can ask him—maybe he’ll open up to you…” I hate that it sounds bitter coming from my mouth. He’s trying. Just this morning, when he texted me, he was saying that after he graduated college, if it hadn’t been for immediately getting into SF General, he’d have tried to move back to Colorado.
It was the try that got me. Then I stupidly asked why it had to be a ‘try’ and not a ‘have just done.’
He recoiled and didn’t respond. Go figure.
“Alright, well, maybe I will.” He taps the door again before stepping back. “Thanks again for the ride. See you later.”
Only once he’s at his front door and stepping inside do I drive off. He lives only a ten-minute drive down the main road from the entrance to Sapphire Valley. I’m a little earlier than normal for a Wednesday night. I hadn’t told Ayden, but it’s only like thirty minutes, so I figured it wouldn’t make too much of a difference.
There were six calls back-to-back: someone stuck in a raft, Maple High School’s smoke alarm malfunctioned, and so much more. The one that got me was the last—a man fell, and when his wife tried to help… Well, let’s just say I regretted taking Kali with me and not Corey.
