Page 31 of The Challenge

I found condoms in Evan’s room. I wasn’t snooping. My mom gave me some of his clothes that she’d washed to put on his bureau. The drawer next to his bed was open a little, and I saw them. It made me jealous. But there’s nothing I can do. It’s not like I thought he was a virgin.

I’m scared. Anything can happen to him overseas. But Evan doesn’t seem scared. He says he wants to see the world. I wish I could see it with him. Just not in the Army. He’s brave. I’ll pray that everything turns out okay. I’m super sad. So is Fawn. I have a feeling she has a crush on Evan, too. The only thing good about him going away is that Fawn can’t date him. She’s old enough to have a better chance than me. But she’s only sixteen, and I don’t think Evan would date a sixteen-year-old. Evan is eighteen, and once I heard him say he thought our neighbor’s daughter was hot. She’s older than him—like twenty. But still, if he’s away, I don’t have to worry about Fawn liking him anymore. I’d still rather have Evan here, though. Safe and sound at home. Please, God, protect Evan.

Thankfully, Evan had made it home safely and virtually unscathed. I realized how lucky he was compared to so many others who had served the country and never returned. His time in the military had ended up being a very good decision for him. Not only was his tuition at the state college he’d eventually attended covered, but he said he’d learned so much about discipline and responsibility while serving. I was sure those four years away had helped shape who he was today, helped him to be a strong and responsible father.

I chuckled at what I’d written: I hope he’s not different when he comes back.

Of course he wasn’t the same when he returned to Dry River. But not in a bad way—he was older, with more life experience, and he carried himself a bit differently. The boy I remembered had transformed into a man, one with a buzz cut that would slowly grow back out into the thick mane of black hair he still had to this day. His shoulders had been broader after he got back, his muscles more defined. After he came home from Germany, the crush I’d had on him since I was twelve transformed into what had felt like a true connection as we spent more time together. Seventeen and twenty-two was nothing compared to twelve and seventeen.

My phone rang, interrupting my trip down memory lane. It was Evan, speak of the devil. We’d finally exchanged numbers last night. Maybe his ears were burning after all of the thinking about him I’d been doing this afternoon.

“Hey,” I answered.

“Where are you?” he asked, sounding a bit urgent.

My heart sank at the tone of his voice. “Is everything okay?”

Chapter 11

CHLOE

“Everything is fine,” Evan assured me. “Sorry to worry you.”

My pulse calmed. “Okay…”

He repeated his question. “Where are you?”

“At the storage unit.”

“I figured you might be there.”

“What’s up?”

“I hate to ask, but do you think you could come back here for like an hour? There’s a leak at one of my properties, and the management company is dropping the ball on having their people get down there in time. I’m gonna try to handle it myself, and I can’t leave Effie.”

“Gosh, of course. I’ll come back right now.”

“I appreciate it. I wouldn’t bother you if it wasn’t an emergency. The tenant is freaking out because she has guests coming in tonight, and her damn bathroom is a disaster.”

“Don’t even worry about it. I was wasting time daydreaming just a second ago.” Daydreaming about you. “It’s the least I can do.”

Ten minutes later, I pulled up at his house. He’d been waiting for me at the door and rushed out the moment I arrived.

I waved goodbye and turned to find Effie sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a chocolate milk.

“Hey, you.” I tossed my bag on a chair. “Looks like we’re gonna be hanging out for a little while.”

“Cool.” She slurped the last of her drink.

“What do you want to do?” I asked as I took a seat across from her at the table.

“Did my dad break up with Naomi?”

Talk about cornering me. This little girl did not play.

Evan had mentioned that Naomi gave him an ultimatum, but I wasn’t entirely sure of their final status or if they’d been back in touch with each other.

So I shook my head. “It’s not any of my business, honey.”