chase what you want. Sometimes, you have to bonk the object of your affection over the head. I think the cavemen were on to something.”
That brought a smile to my face. “That is quite the image.”
“I should probably get going. I need to catch up on my laundry.”
“Don’t lie,” I teased. “You’re going home to watch Vampire Diaries.”
She giggled. “You know me so well.”
“You are so predictable. How many times have you seen that stupid show?”
“I will never grow tired of watching my man,” she said with that familiar dreamy look on her face whenever she spoke of the blue-eyed man that had captured her heart some ten years ago.
“Thank you for picking me up.”
“You’re welcome. I know I can’t tell you what to do because you are not going to listen, but I would strongly suggest you call him. Drop hints. Make it clear you are his to do with as he pleases.”
“Uh, not a chance in hell,” I told her.
“Fine, then drop subtle hints that you would consider leaving everything behind to be with him.”
I rolled my eyes. “You just don’t give up.”
“Nope, because I know this guy will make you very happy.”
“He hasn’t given me that idea,” I retorted.
“He will.”
I playfully pushed her out the door before closing it behind her. I leaned against the door, resting my forehead against it. I wanted to do what she said but I wasn’t that brave. Telling him how I felt would make me vulnerable. I had already put myself out there once. While he was nice about it, he didn’t necessarily say much.
He never invited me to stay with him. I knew him well enough to know if he wanted me to stay with him, he would have asked. We had spent a wonderful night together but that was all I could ask of him. I couldn’t push myself on him. I had some pride.
Chapter 55
Xander
I slowly pushed the lever, opening the throttle on my new boat. It was a ridiculous splurge and nothing that I needed but I wanted it. It was one of those things that just came to me in the middle of the night. Evie had teased me about my old boat. She was right. I could buy anything I wanted. I loved boats. I used to look at some of the other boats in the marina and get boat envy. Why was I envious when I could go and buy exactly what I wanted? And that was exactly what I did.
The wind blew across my face, sending a cold chill over me. I was still adjusting to the cooler weather. Not adjusting. I didn’t want to adjust. I wasn’t staying in Oregon. I was going to move on. I just wasn’t sure where. I felt like a man without a home. Technically, I did have a home, but it didn’t feel like my home.
I thought about Evie as the boat slowly bobbed up and down with a gentle sway. We had only spoken a few times since she left. There were plenty of texts between us, but it wasn’t the same. I could feel us drifting apart.
Not seeing her was difficult. I wanted her in my arms. In my bed.
The idea of not seeing her again was weighing heavily on my mind. I wanted her, but I didn’t want to be in California. She loved her work. I couldn’t possibly ask her to leave it behind. There was a huge divide between us and I didn’t know how to fix it. No, not true. I knew how to fix it, but I didn’t want to do that. I wanted the best of both worlds. I wanted my cake and my ice cream too.
My phone began to ring. I patted the pockets of the cargo pants I was wearing until I found the thing. “Hello?” I answered, hoping it would be Evie.
It wasn’t. “Where are you?” Charlie’s voice came through loud and clear.
I sighed, shaking my head. It was the same fucking question he asked me every single day. He called me every day, and every day, it was the same conversation. “I’m out on my boat.”
“Head in,” he ordered.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because I’m sitting on the dock waiting for you.”
I didn’t know why, but I turned to look behind me in the general direction of the marina. I couldn’t see the marina, but I was trying to picture him there. “What dock?” I questioned.