“Never mind,” she says. “So what’s up?”
Shaking my head in amusement, I rifle through the top drawer for some clean underwear. I have no idea how my clothes get cleaned but in every city, Tyler has it arranged for it to occur. All we have to do is put our dirty stuff in a bag and place it by Red’s chair when we arrive in each city. It comes back in a few hours all fresh and clean.
“Tyler was just in here and wanted to talk,” I tell her as I nab a pair of boxers.
“Really?” she asks, sounding surprised. She knows things have not been good between us as she’s heard me grumble about it often enough.
“Really,” I assure her. “And he apologized, and said he was going to apologize to you as well, so don’t be surprised if he calls you. Or he might wait until you get back to do it face to face, not sure.”
“Well, that’s nice,” she says, and she sounds genuinely pleased. “So is everything okay between you two?”
“I think so,” I tell her as I head toward the bathroom, snagging my towel that’s hanging on the doorknob of the small bedroom closet that sits across from the foot of the bed. “I mean, we had a legitimately calm discussion about a label deal, and I think he gets where I’m coming from a bit better. He seems to think that maybe Phoenix could ease a few of my misgivings, but it’s something we can talk about when you get back.”
“Absolutely,” she says brightly, and her confidence and excitement makes me miss her even more.
“And when might that be?” I inquire hesitantly as I enter the bathroom, because while I wish she were back like right now, I also want her to be comfortable in leaving her dad. He’s only been out of the hospital for two days now.
“I’m thinking next Tuesday for your second Chicago show,” she says, and fuck… that’s like six days away. “It’s a short, easy flight and that gives me about another week here to make sure it’s cool that I leave and all.”
I want to tell her that’s unacceptable and that she needs to come now. I know damn well her dad’s in good hands because I’ve talked to Midge a few times and the woman’s a freakin’ goner where Cary Peterson is concerned. While my heart is overflowing with happiness for Midge, I’d also like to get back to my own happiness.
But instead, I play it cool so Emma doesn’t feel pressured and say, “That sounds like a great plan.”
Not really, but I’ll deal.
“Awesome,” she says cheerfully, and then she lowers her voice a little. “And Evan?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve got a surprise for you when I get there,” she says huskily.
“What is it?” I demand, pausing my reach to turn the shower on.
She gives a tinkling laugh and teases me, “I’m not telling you, but I might have bought it at Adam & Eve.”
Jesus Fuck. She’s killing me. Absolutely killing me.
“Emma?” I rasp out, my throat dry.
“Yes?” she asks sweetly.
“I really, really miss you,” I tell her truthfully. Painfully from the cock. Deeply from right in the center of my chest.
“I miss you too,” she says softly, and I know the next six days are going to drag by.
CHAPTER 22
Emma
My dad moves the little top hat.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four spaces.
Right onto Park Place.
“Son of a bitch,” my dad mutters.
“Yes,” Midge hisses with a fist pump of victory. She’s as big a mogul in Monopoly as she is in the legal game. She’s got two hotels on that space and it’s sure to bankrupt my dad.
“You seriously can’t let the sick person win?” he grumbles at her as he starts counting out money from his remaining pitiful stack.
“Oh, you’re fine.” Midge snickers as she holds her hand out across the board but not before she shoots me a sly wink.
And this is just…
So freaking weird.
Playing Monopoly with the Midge Payne at my father’s kitchen table.
No, it’s beyond weird. It’s outlandishly bizarre.
And yet, I have to say it’s been eye opening. I’m now able to see Midge as a real human being versus the recluse who was fabled to be able to smite us mere mortals to dust with just a single narrowed gaze. I’ve found the woman is charming, funny, and most importantly, she’s really, really into my dad. With him, she’s doting and affectionate, but she doesn’t let him get away with stuff. For example, she’s insisted he start a heart healthy diet and completely obliterated all of his junk food from the house. Each day this week, she’s come over and helped me cook something for him that’s nutritious and portion controlled, as I’ve insisted I stay at his house with him during the day. Not that my dad had a weight problem, because he exercised regularly, but he did love his sweets.