It doesn’t take us long to reach the Shack. The walk was a little tense but not as tense as the car journey here. Maybe the sea air is loosening us up a bit. That, and the fact that I know Grady will be with us soon, and he will monopolize all of her attention makes me feel a little better.
When we arrive, I open the door, letting Evie in first, and see that the shop is busy.
Grady is behind the counter. The second he sees her, his face lights up. He’s around that counter and sweeping her up into his arms in seconds.
“Look at you!” he says to her. “You look exactly the same. Still as beautiful as ever. God, I have missed you, Evie Girl.”
“Missed you, too,” she says in an almost whisper, as he lowers her to her feet.
I can see tears glistening her eyes. I didn’t think about how hard coming back here might be for her.
I was only thinking about how hard it would be for me.
Base comes out of the stock room, and he immediately spots her. “Holy fuck! Evie Taylor!” He charges at her like a bull and sweeps her up off her feet.
My body stiffens, and I have the sudden urge to take his head off his shoulders. I don’t care how big he is.
“Grady said you were back, and you’d be coming in today. But I wasn’t believing that shit until I saw you, and here you are,” Base says to her.
His face is right in hers, his hands still on her. I can feel my muscles bunching up.
“Yep. Here I am.” She gives him a weak smile.
“You here to stay?”
She shakes her head. “Just the weekend. But I only live fifty minutes away, up in Culver City, so I can visit anytime.”
Visit him without me. Over my dead body.
I don’t mind Base. He’s a cool guy, but I won’t hesitate in busting up his face if he doesn’t stop touching what’s mine.
Mine?
But that’s just it. Evie isn’t mine, and she hasn’t been for a long time.
“Fucking A!” Base yells, hugging her again.
I swear to God, mine or not, if he doesn’t get his fucking hands off her, I’m going to— “How are you doing over here?” Grady steps up beside me.
“I’m good,” I answer through gritted teeth.
“So, you’re sleeping with Evie again,” he says in a lowered voice.
What the hell?
My eyes flick to his. I hold his stare for a long moment, mine challenging him, but he doesn’t back down.
I look away and let out a sigh. “Yeah, I am.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“No, not really.”
“Look, I don’t want to interfere because that’s not my bag, but you’ve become like a son to me over the years, and I love Evie a whole lot. I don’t want either of you getting hurt. I know how bad things were for you after she left. I don’t want you going back there. And things like this usually end up going only one way—south.”
My chest is tight again. It happens every time Grady calls me son. It’s the same when Richard calls me it, too.
I’ve either got serious daddy issues, or I’m heading for a heart attack. And the way I’ve been feeling around Evie lately, I’m thinking it might be the latter.
“Neither do I.” I meet his eyes. Then, I look back at Evie. “So, how did you know that I was sleeping with her, old man?” Subtly has never been my specialty, but I didn’t think I was doing anything outwardly obvious.
He lets out a laugh. “I might be old, but I’m not fucking blind. You haven’t taken your eyes off her since you walked through the door, and right now, you look like you’re about to rip Base’s head off at any second.”
“Yeah, well, he’s being a handsy motherfucker, and he needs to be taught some manners.” I scowl over at Base.
He’s finally taken his hands off Evie, but he’s got her attention, talking to her about something that requires him to move his hands a lot, and she’s laughing at whatever it is he’s saying.
She’s laughing.