Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
As I looked around, a deep need built within me. It felt like a huge fear of missing out, and it wasn’t about the house or the furniture. It was about Evan inside this house without me and the lingering knowledge that I no longer lived here, that my job was in Chicago, and that technically, even if those two things weren’t true, Evan hadn’t exactly indicated that he wanted a life with me.
Evan interrupted my thoughts. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I breathed. “It’s just overwhelming being back here.”
“You want to leave?”
“No. I want to take my time, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course.”
“Can I see the upstairs?”
He gestured toward the stairway. “You take the lead.”
Evan followed me. There were four bedrooms upstairs, and I walked straight into the one that used to be mine. It had a wallpapered accent wall with thick pink and white stripes now.
“Wow. I actually really like the wallpaper they put up in here. It’s girly, perfect for Effie. Is this gonna be her room?”
Evan nodded. “I think she’ll like this one best.”
“Has she seen it yet?”
“She came to visit once before the renovations started,” he said.
The idea of Effie taking over my old room made me happy. I had so many wonderful memories here. This room also provided an amazing view of the beautiful cottonwood tree outside. “She’s going to love looking out this window.”
“You know, I remember soon after I moved in with you guys, getting home from school after practice and seeing you looking out this window. I’d wave. And you’d wave back. You were so cute back then.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, his brows knitted together.
“Who do you think I was waiting for in that window?”
His mouth curved into a smile. “You were waiting for me?”
I bumped him with my hip. “Yes, you big dummy. I had the hugest crush on you back then. You were my first real crush.”
“I had no clue it started when you were that young.”
“You thought I just became obsessed with you when you came back from the military?”
“Well…yeah.”
“No. Unfortunately, I was a lovestruck tween, too.”
He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck. “If it makes you feel better, now I’m the one with the crush. I can’t stop thinking about last night.”
I felt my body come alive. Standing here at this window with Evan’s arms wrapped around me felt surreal.
“So, the crew will be back soon?” I asked.
“To be honest, I don’t know. They’re sort of on their own schedule.”
“I wanna see the other rooms.”
Evan led the way as we ventured back out into the hallway.
First, I peeked my head into Mom and Dad’s old room. While it triggered some sadness, I also remembered jumping into my parents’ bed when I was little, during happier times. That made me smile.
“Will this be your room?” I asked him.
“Probably, since it’s the primary. Is that weird?”
“Not at all. That makes sense.”
“The house is honestly a little too big for us,” he said. “But it will be nice to have two extra bedrooms.”
“What do you plan to do with them?”
He scratched his chin. “Not sure yet. For now, maybe one will be an office. The other has a bed in it that they left behind, so maybe I’ll keep that an extra bedroom for now. I could also make it a workout room at some point.”
“Well, it’s nice to have options.”
He walked behind me as we headed down the hall to what used to be Fawn’s room. It was empty, the walls painted a dark blue.
“This must’ve been a boy’s room,” I said.
“Yeah. I think the previous owners had a son, so that makes sense. This is what I’ll probably turn into an office.”
There wasn’t anything to see in there, so I walked out and headed to the last room, the one that used to be Evan’s. It had a full-size bed with a dark wooden frame. The walls were painted a sage green.
I sat down on the bed and ran my fingers along the comforter.
Evan joined me. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’m remembering how we used to hang out in here and talk.”
“All we did was talk in here, which is crazy to think about now.”
I tilted my head. “Crazy because…”
“Because nothing ever happened. I should get an award for all of the times you hung out in my room and I didn’t lay a hand on you.” He groaned. “I’m thinking I need to make up for it. Maybe we should christen this room right now.”
My body buzzed. “Won’t the workers be back?”
“That’s what locks are for.” He walked over to the door and locked it.
“Is that really why you took me to the house? To have your way with me before we pick up Effie?”
“Yup. That’s exactly why I bought the house—just for this moment, to fuck you in my old bedroom. And you know what? If that were true, it would be worth every red cent.” Evan kissed me. “I know it was just last night, but it feels like forever ago. We’re overdue for an encore. What do you think?”