Chapter 29
EVIE
I drop the spoon and dive for my phone as it starts to ring, thinking that it’s Dad, and he’s calling to cancel our dinner plans.
“Hi,” I say, sounding a little out of breath.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Kyle says.
Hearing Kyle’s voice instead, I quickly turn back to the stove and continue to stir the pasta sauce.
“Oh, hey,” I say, stirring a little faster so it won’t make clots as it thickens.
“Who’s there?” he asks sharply.
“No one. I’m making dinner. You caught me while I was busy with the sauce.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Evie!” He shouts, scaring me. I almost drop the phone.
I’m shocked out of my mind that Kyle just shouted at me. He’s never spoken to me like that. Sure we’ve had our moments over the past month because I haven’t been spending as much time with him as I used to, but I thought he understood that it was important to me to spend time with my dad.
“Who the fuck is there? Are you fucking someone else? I swear if I catch you with another –”
“No one is here, Kyle,” I say. “I’m making dinner for my dad. He’s coming over. I told you this when we spoke earlier.”
“You fucking bitch. I knew it. You tell whoever’s there that you’re mine,” he hisses.
Before I can think of something to reply he cuts the call, leaving me staring at the ruined sauce.
I remove the pot from the stove and start the whole process over while my mind reels.
What just happened? That couldn’t have been Kyle. He’s always sweet and gentle with me.
I manage to make the sauce without it ruining, and when everything is ready, I go sit on the couch and stare blankly at the floor.
How could I have been so wrong about Kyle?
A knock on my door pulls me out of my confused thoughts, and I get up. Opening the door, I smile when I see Dad.
“You made it,” I say as I move forward to hug him.
We’ve spent almost every day together since we found each other a month ago. With Dad still working as an active Navy SEAL, we’re making the most of our time together before he gets sent away.
Hugging me tightly, he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“What smells so good?” he asks as we walk into the living room.
“The other day you mentioned that you loved pasta, so I made some for dinner.”
A broad smile spreads across his face, and it feels so good to know that I’m responsible for it.
“If it’s half as good as your mom’s, I’ll have to spend an extra hour at the gym tomorrow.”
I prepare two plates for us and hand Dad his as we sit down on the couch.
I’m just about to apologize that I don’t have a table we can sit at, when Dad says, “I know it’s soon, but I want you to think about moving into my apartment. I’m away quite often, and the place just stands empty.”
My lips part and I can’t make the words come out.