doesn’t work, I need somewhere to come home to.”
“Understandable. I’ll help you find a renter, Evie.”
I glanced out the window at the passing farmland that lined the highway just outside of town. Would I ever miss this?
“Are you sure Jax will be okay with me staying with you guys for a bit?” I asked.
“Jax doesn’t know what day it is half the time,” Jude said with a smirk. “And if he’s not okay with it, well, I own the condo. I’ll just tell him to take a hike.”
I rolled the window down, allowing the muggy July air to seep in and mix with the cool air conditioning that blew on my face, chilling my cheeks. As we entered town, red, yellow, and green lights from the stoplights on Main Street painted our faces and the chirping of crickets filled our ears.
These were the streets I’d driven down my entire life. These were the streets I’d cruised with Carys in high school. The streets I’d driven down on my way to Spencer’s. The curbs I’d sat upon during parades. The ice cream shop I’d frequented as a child. The dress shop I’d purchased my wedding gown from and the jewelry shop that sold Julian my ring.
Jude reached his hand over, taking my hand and giving me a reassuring squeeze. We pulled into my driveway a minute later, silence still surrounding us. I appreciated Jude giving me time to think.
I fanned my face as I stood outside his car, leaning against the door. The sweltering July heat and humidity made my hair cling to the back of my neck.
“You coming?” he asked, his face covered in a light sheen which reflected the moonlight. “I’m swimming in a thick haze out here.”
Though I’d lived there all my life, I’d never gotten used to the muggy summer nights. We headed inside, and I prayed the AC was still cranked and going strong. The second I set foot inside the door, I impatiently yanked off my t-shirt, revealing a thin, lace camisole that barely covered the waist band of my shorts.
Jude flashed a half smile as he looked me up and down. “You’re so fucking sexy, Evie.”
My cheeks burned hot, only from embarrassment that time. Julian had always told me how sexy I was, but I never fully believed him. I’d always thought he was just being nice. Jude’s words were validating.
“Stop,” I batted my hand toward him and then covered my face before trotting off to the kitchen to grab us bottled waters.
I stopped dead in my tracks over the spot where I’d found Julian lying unconscious the day he died. I forced myself to think of something else. I had to replace the bad memories with good ones, or I’d never move on. I’d be trapped, reliving that moment over and over again the rest of my days.
“What’s wrong?” Jude asked when I returned, studying my face.
I shook my head “Nothing.”
“I had fun with you tonight,” he said, taking the bottled water from me, making it look small in his strong hand.
“Me too,” I said. “I’m getting tired. Mind if I go to bed?”
Jude didn’t hide the disappointment on his face. “Nah, go ahead. I’ve got work to do, anyway. Not tired yet. Still on west coast time.”
I hesitated, wondering if I should give him a goodnight kiss.
One step at a time, I reminded myself. Baby steps.
“Goodnight, Jude,” I said with a smile before turning on my heel and walking away. I felt his eyes on me as I vanished into the dark hallway.
JUDE
“What would you be doing if you were back home right now?” Evie asked, sitting perched at the kitchen table, her hands cupping a gas station coffee I’d ran out to get that morning while she slept. A box of jelly-filled, sprinkle-covered donuts sat between us.
“I’d probably sleep in until eight or nine,” I said, sipping my own coffee. “Then I’d get up. Take a walk. Grab a coffee. Maybe meet up with friends. Get caught up on some reading.”
“Sounds like a peaceful Sunday morning,” she mused, staring out the window toward the tree-lined
“Understandable. I’ll help you find a renter, Evie.”
I glanced out the window at the passing farmland that lined the highway just outside of town. Would I ever miss this?
“Are you sure Jax will be okay with me staying with you guys for a bit?” I asked.
“Jax doesn’t know what day it is half the time,” Jude said with a smirk. “And if he’s not okay with it, well, I own the condo. I’ll just tell him to take a hike.”
I rolled the window down, allowing the muggy July air to seep in and mix with the cool air conditioning that blew on my face, chilling my cheeks. As we entered town, red, yellow, and green lights from the stoplights on Main Street painted our faces and the chirping of crickets filled our ears.
These were the streets I’d driven down my entire life. These were the streets I’d cruised with Carys in high school. The streets I’d driven down on my way to Spencer’s. The curbs I’d sat upon during parades. The ice cream shop I’d frequented as a child. The dress shop I’d purchased my wedding gown from and the jewelry shop that sold Julian my ring.
Jude reached his hand over, taking my hand and giving me a reassuring squeeze. We pulled into my driveway a minute later, silence still surrounding us. I appreciated Jude giving me time to think.
I fanned my face as I stood outside his car, leaning against the door. The sweltering July heat and humidity made my hair cling to the back of my neck.
“You coming?” he asked, his face covered in a light sheen which reflected the moonlight. “I’m swimming in a thick haze out here.”
Though I’d lived there all my life, I’d never gotten used to the muggy summer nights. We headed inside, and I prayed the AC was still cranked and going strong. The second I set foot inside the door, I impatiently yanked off my t-shirt, revealing a thin, lace camisole that barely covered the waist band of my shorts.
Jude flashed a half smile as he looked me up and down. “You’re so fucking sexy, Evie.”
My cheeks burned hot, only from embarrassment that time. Julian had always told me how sexy I was, but I never fully believed him. I’d always thought he was just being nice. Jude’s words were validating.
“Stop,” I batted my hand toward him and then covered my face before trotting off to the kitchen to grab us bottled waters.
I stopped dead in my tracks over the spot where I’d found Julian lying unconscious the day he died. I forced myself to think of something else. I had to replace the bad memories with good ones, or I’d never move on. I’d be trapped, reliving that moment over and over again the rest of my days.
“What’s wrong?” Jude asked when I returned, studying my face.
I shook my head “Nothing.”
“I had fun with you tonight,” he said, taking the bottled water from me, making it look small in his strong hand.
“Me too,” I said. “I’m getting tired. Mind if I go to bed?”
Jude didn’t hide the disappointment on his face. “Nah, go ahead. I’ve got work to do, anyway. Not tired yet. Still on west coast time.”
I hesitated, wondering if I should give him a goodnight kiss.
One step at a time, I reminded myself. Baby steps.
“Goodnight, Jude,” I said with a smile before turning on my heel and walking away. I felt his eyes on me as I vanished into the dark hallway.
JUDE
“What would you be doing if you were back home right now?” Evie asked, sitting perched at the kitchen table, her hands cupping a gas station coffee I’d ran out to get that morning while she slept. A box of jelly-filled, sprinkle-covered donuts sat between us.
“I’d probably sleep in until eight or nine,” I said, sipping my own coffee. “Then I’d get up. Take a walk. Grab a coffee. Maybe meet up with friends. Get caught up on some reading.”
“Sounds like a peaceful Sunday morning,” she mused, staring out the window toward the tree-lined
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