Everybody Loves Evie (33 page)

“Beckett isn't my—”

“Yes, he is. You don't want to admit it because friendship is an actual relationship. Now you're getting cold feet because
we're
in a relationship. At least I thought we were. Never attach yourself to anyone you can't walk away from. Wow. Beckett was right. When the going gets tough…” I choked back a sob.

Arch glared at me, hurt, angry. “I thought it was all about me, Evie.”

“It
is.
”

He got in my face. “Now who's being dishonest? You didn't look unwilling.”

I sensed more than heard Beckett approach. “Arch.”

“Shut up.”

I felt Arch draw away from me. As the seconds ticked by, his heat disappeared before my eyes, cooled into something scary. Quiet. Resolved. And I understood it because—oh, God—he was right. I could've pushed Beckett away sooner, but I didn't. Guilt settled in my stomach like a ton of bricks. My heart and mind jammed. “I'm sorry.”

“So am I.”

I backed away, eyes tearing, heart cracking. I thought about what Dad had said. If Arch and I fizzled, I'd always have the Corner Tavern. It was a comfort, as were my parents, but it's not where I wanted to be. “I'm going to stay at my folks' house tonight. Don't worry—I won't blow our cover. I'll come up with some…lie. Smoke and mirrors, right? I'll be back on the job tomorrow.”

I willed him to reach for me, but he didn't. He showed only the coldness I'd always feared, the detachment that would allow him to walk away. I wouldn't let him do it to me. I knew I'd crumple into a heap. I couldn't let that happen twice in my life.

I turned and walked away first.

I
WOKE UP IN MY
childhood bed, exhausted and sad. What little sleep I'd managed had been fitful. I stared at the ceiling, replaying last night's fallout over and over. Arch haunted me. The hurt in his eyes. The disappointment in his voice.
I thought it was all about me.

I ached for my journal, but it was at the B and B. I bolted upright. What if Arch read it? What if he wanted to know how I really felt about him? About Beckett? I cursed that damn list of pros and cons.

“He won't read it,” I told myself. “He respects my privacy.” Another pro. “Why didn't he fight for me?” Con.

Dammit.

Massaging the ache in my chest, I moved to the desk where I used to do my homework, where I journaled late at night. I searched the drawers and came up with a Scooby Doo notepad and a number-two pencil. Good enough.

Dear…Scooby Doo, Why didn't Arch fight for me? Because he thinks you're better off with Beckett. The safe guy, the nice guy. The better man. He told you the bad boy never gets the good girl. You told him it was all about him. Then you let the nice boy kiss you. Can you blame Arch for walking away? He's just giving in to what he thought would happen anyway.

“What should I do?”

He doesn't think he deserves you. Convince him otherwise. That's if you really want to be with him. If you honestly love him.

“I do.”

I set aside the pencil, tore the page out of the notepad, then located my purse. I folded and stuffed my musings inside, then flopped down on the bed. Head lighter, I plotted my strategy, which basically consisted of the truth.

I heard a tentative knock. “Come in.” I expected Mom, but it was Nic who pushed through the door. Dressed in sleek black pants and blood-red blouse, her dark hair combed into a sophisticated ponytail, she looked like a runway model. But instead of a designer purse, she carried a brown paper bag. I pointed, quirked a weak smile. “The latest trend?”

She rolled her eyes. “I stopped by the B and B this morning to grab my things and to say goodbye. Beckett told me you were here.” She placed the bag on my vanity chair. “Couldn't manage that monster suitcase of yours, so I just chucked a change of clothes and a few essentials in here.”

“Don't suppose my journal's in there.”

“No. Why? Do you need it?”

“No. It's just…Never mind. I'm good.”

“You sure?”

“Pretty sure.”

She sat next to me on the bed. “Beckett didn't tell me why you were here, but I assume it's because you and Arch fought. And I'm thinking maybe Beckett was the cause.”

I pushed myself into a sitting position, tucked my tangled hair behind my ears. “Why would you think that?”

She smiled. “Because I have eyes. Because I've had more experience with men than you.”

My cheeks heated. “I think Beckett likes me.”

“I'm thinking it's a little more serious than like.”

“He kissed me.”

She arched a brow.

“I sort of kissed him first.”

“Sort of?”

“An automatic response to great news.”

“What news?”

I shrugged, the thrill dampened because of the fight. “Beckett offered me an official position with Chameleon. Fieldwork, Nic.”

“Whoopee.”

I tugged at the sleeve of her blouse. “Hey. You said you'd try to be happy for me.”

“I am trying. It's just…Arch, Beckett, Chameleon—I can't see you thriving in that world.”

“I'm tougher than you think.”

“I don't want you to be tough. I want you to be you.”

I frowned. “You sound like Arch. Speaking of…”

“I didn't see him.”

My heart sank. “Oh.”

Nic frowned. “You're in love with that guy, aren't you?”

“Yes.”

“Beckett?”

“I'm a little confused about Beckett.”

“Terrific.”

“I don't love him. How can I? I love Arch.”

“Christ, Evie. It's possible to be infatuated with two different people for entirely different reasons.”

My stomach churned. “I don't like the sound of that.”

She shrugged, a worldly been-there-done-that shrug. “It can be thrilling. It can be ugly. Depends on the personalities. With you, I predict ugly.”

I frowned. “Terrific.”

She squeezed my hand. “Fly home with me.”

“I can't. I don't want to. Chameleon business.”

“Are you sure—”

“No. But I want to try.”

“Okay.”

My heart swelled. “Really?”

“Of course. Just know Jayne and I are here for you if—”

“I know.” I reached out and hugged her even though she wasn't the huggy type.

“I have to go,” she said, but not before hugging me back. “My plane.”

She was halfway to the door when a thought occurred. “Nic.”

“Yeah?”

“I have to ask. When you first arrived, I thought I sensed…I thought you were interested in Beckett.”

“Slick?” She grunted. “Please. No.”

“You're sure?”

“The man's a control freak.”

“I noticed.”

“Do me a favor,” she said, pausing on the threshold. “Don't keep us—Jayne and me—in the dark. We love you, Evie.”

Tears burned my eyes. I was leaving one world and entering another, but I didn't want to lose past ties. “I love you, too.”

In her wake, I scooted from beneath the covers, dredging up my inner bad girl. The tough girl. The girl who'd know how to fix things with Arch.

Mom walked in.

“Of course I'm happy that Nicole secured a commercial shoot, but it's a shame she had to leave before she and Northbrook kissed and made up. Such a handsome couple.”

I didn't know what to say, so I spoke a truth. “Nic's never been very lucky in love.”

“They'll come around. In time,” Mom said. “Mark my words.”

“Spoken like a true romantic,” I said, tongue in cheek. “When did that happen?”

She averted her gaze. “Don't be flip.”

I smothered a smile.

“I have something to say, Evelyn.”

I curled my fingers into the sheets, braced myself.

“You were wonderful last night. On stage. I'm ashamed I never encouraged that talent.”

“You did what you thought was right.” I could see that now and I didn't want her to feel guilty. “You wanted a secure future for your daughter. The entertainment industry is fickle.”

“Still…I was impressed with your voice and presence. So much energy. Your dad and I, we're so proud. We understand that your home is in Atlantic City. That you want to stand on your own two feet. And, not that you need our approval, but we very much approve of Archibald. Perhaps you'll soon be calling Broxley home? Whatever happens, we just want you to know that you're welcome here anytime. For as long as you like.”

Tears filled my eyes. “Arch and I had a fight.”

She quirked a sympathetic smile. “I had a feeling.”

“We'll work it out,” I said, though I worried we wouldn't.

“I'm sure you will.” She patted my leg. “Speaking of, Archibald called here a few minutes ago. Said he couldn't reach you on your cell.”

I crossed my arms over my queasy middle. “I shut it off.”

“He wants you to meet him behind the civic center in a half hour. He said you'd know the place.”

I knew it, and the memory of our sweet moment in the tree made me hurt. What would he say? I only hoped he'd listen to my heart.

Thirty-five minutes later, dressed in the contents of the paper bag—gauzy red sundress and wedge sandals—I crossed the civic center grounds, determined to set things right.

Dressed in a suit, looking handsome and regal and dangerous as hell, Arch stood with his back against Big Love. My heart raced when I thought about the way he'd climbed to my rescue.

“'Morning, Sunshine.”

“Good morning.”

My pulse skipped and paused when he produced a bouquet of wild daisies. “The florist was closed,” he said. Nicked these from the backyard of the B and B. Not as romantic as roses, but—”

“They're beautiful.” I clutched the long stems and inhaled the petals' simple fragrance, willing my nerves steady. Were the flowers a preface for a kiss-and-makeup or goodbye?

“Last night…you were right. Cold feet. Actually, more like scared
shiteless.
Seeing you in Beckett's arms…I'm not keen on the way it made me feel.”

I swallowed. “About me?”

“About myself. Beckett's a good man, Sunshine.”

“So are you,” I said. “I feel it in my heart, Arch. Otherwise I don't believe for one second I would've fallen in love with you.”

His lips curved into a soft smile as he caressed my cheek. “Let me finish. I spent a sleepless night assessing my asinine behavior.” His eyes glittered with sincerity, making me weak in the knees. “I worry I'm not the right man for you, but then I think I'm the only man for you.”

My pulse raced, but I held my tongue, grounded my imagination.

“I've spent a lifetime walking away from people, detaching from relationships. That's the way of it in my world, yeah?”

“And now?”

“Now you're in my world and things are different.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “I want to trust you, Arch.”

“Then I guess I have to earn it.”

“I want you to trust me, too. Beckett…I allowed him to kiss me because I wanted to prove to myself that I'm not attracted to him.”

“And?”

I swallowed hard.
The truth will set me free.
“I felt a little something, but nothing near what I feel for you.”

“I appreciate your honesty, Sunshine.” He brushed my bangs from my eyes, smiled.

Zing. Zap.

“I've been staying a step ahead of Beckett for years. More than ever, I have a reason to
oot
maneuver him, yeah?”

Okay, that was sweet. That was…disconcerting. I hugged the daises close to my heart. “You're not going to turn this into some kind of competition, are you?”

“Sunshine, we've been competing for your affections since you bounced into our lives and I
dinnae
intend to lose. You've got a stranglehold on my heart. A first.”

A smart woman would run away. I threw myself in his arms. “I want us to work, Arch. The bad boy and the good girl. I want you to prove your theory wrong. Fight for me. Woo me.”

“Challenge accepted.” He kissed me then, kissed me optimistic.

When he eased away, he angled me toward the tree and I burst into joyful tears. Carved in the ancient trunk for the world to see…

Arch loves Evie