Chapter 36
RHETT
I’ve wasted so much time trying to fill the hole in my chest with meaningless sex. Turns out it wasn’t a hole. It’s a slot where Evie fits in perfectly.
Tomorrow she’s moving in with her dad. The three of us are having a goodbye dinner tonight. It was Evie’s idea, and Hayden and I are just going along with it.
That’s something I’m still getting used to – calling Evie’s dad by his first name.
I smile when I park my car outside Evie’s building and see Hayden and Evie getting out of his car. They notice me too and wait for me to catch up with them.
“Good, you’re just in time,” Evie says as she presses a quick kiss to my lips and shoves a bag into my arms.
She rushes into the building ahead of us, and before I can follow, Hayden says, “Hold up.” He waits for Evie to be out of hearing distance before he continues, “It’s Evie’s birthday in two weeks.”
“Yeah, I wanted to ask if you’ve made plans.”
“We come from different worlds, and it’s time they meet. Your group of friends and my team. Evie deserves to have everyone celebrate her birthday with her.”
“I can arrange that. What do –” A chill races down my spine and my eyes lock with Hayden’s.
“Evie,” he breathes as he breaks out into a sprint.
Halfway up the stair, we can hear her screaming.
“Daddy!”
“Rhett!”
My heart is beating out of my chest by the time we reach her apartment. I don’t know what I expected but seeing Evie standing on the couch with a frying pan in her hands is definitely not it.
She glares at something on the other side of the couch and figuring it’s a mouse, I move closer.
Hayden walks toward Evie as I head to see what has her cornered.
“Daddy,” she says as she drops the pan and throws her arms around him. She clings to him like a spider monkey and as I get closer the reason for Evie’s strange behavior groans.
“I didn’t know he was in here. He scared me, so I whacked him with the pan I was holding. Did I kill him?”
“Who the fuck are you?” I growl at the guy who’s holding his hand to a bleeding spot on his head.
Hayden sets Evie down on her feet and growls, “Stay right here.” He stalks around the couch and grabs hold of the guy's neck, hauling him into the air.
“Who is he?” Hayden asks Evie.
She shrugs and looking a little guilty she whispers, “A mistake. In my defense, I tried to fix the mistake once I knew better.”
I watch the interaction with fascination, not worried about the mistake that’s being strangled by Hayden.
“That’s why I’m here, Evie. Do me a favor?” Hayden waits for her to nod before he continues. “Go to your room and close the door.” His eyes flick to the guy, and his eyes turn to murder. “Daddy will take care of the mistake, and I don’t want you to witness it.”
We both watch Evie walk to her room. She glances at us from over her shoulder, and mouths the word, “Sorry.”
Before she closes the door, she says, “Don’t kill him. I don’t want to have to forfeit my deposit on this place because there are bloodstains on the carpet and walls.”
“Evie. The door,” Hayden says giving her a pointed look.
“Yes, Daddy.” She shuts it quickly.