“You can stay here as long as you need to. I’ve got that extra room we could clean out. It’s just full of shit now.”
The little dip of disappointment in my stomach was so dumb. What did I think he was going to do, offer to let me mess up his bed with him every night? Obviously not.
“The couch is fine. It’s comfortable.” I picked up my fork and pushed the last of my eggs around. “How did you know I was out there?”
“Sasquatch found you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I got up to get some water and he’d managed to break out the back door. How he knew you were there is another question.”
“He’s such a good boy.”
Evan’s mouth twitched in that hint of a smile again.
“The good news is, I’ve had some time to think and I came up with a new plan.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll stay in Tilikum for a little while. I can get a temporary job, save some money, and when I’m in a better position that doesn’t involve the need to sleep in my car, I’ll go to my mom’s in Iowa.”
His brow furrowed and I wished I knew what he was thinking. “How long do you think you’ll stay?”
“I’m not sure. A few months, maybe? I know this probably all sounds crazy, but I can’t go back to my dad. And out here, I feel like I have at least a little bit of space from him.”
“It doesn’t sound crazy. What about your mom? Does she know you’re not coming right away?”
I looked down at my plate. “I actually haven’t called her yet.”
“You haven’t?”
“No. Things with my mom are… complicated. And I wanted to be able to tell her exactly when I’d arrive. Since I didn’t know how long it would take to go get the Pontiac and then fix my car, I waited.”
“But she’ll be okay with you coming?”
“Yeah, of course,” I said, ignoring the needle of doubt trying to poke tiny holes in my plan. “She’s my mom.”
He eyed me for a long moment, like he wasn’t sure he believed me. “So now what you need is a job.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll hire you.”
My lips parted but nothing came out. I just stared at him for a long moment. “Wait, what did you just say?”
“I’ll give you a job. If you want it. I’m sure you’ll hate working for me, but if it’s only temporary…”
“I thought you liked working alone.”
“I do, but I guess I can make an exception. Plus I obviously need the help.”
The humor in those whiskey eyes just about did me in. He smiled so rarely that when he did, it felt like basking in the summer sun.
“Okay. I accept. But there’s something you need to know, and I totally understand if this makes you want to retract your offer.”
“What?”
I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Luke Haven also offered me a job.”
His jaw hitched, but to his credit, he didn’t blow up. “He did?”
“That was the other thing he talked to me about at the diner yesterday. I wasn’t expecting that, so I told him I’d think about it. And then your brothers showed up and he left. But I’ll tell him no.”
Taking a slow breath, he glanced away. “If it’s a better job…”
“No. Even if it’s better, I’d much rather be here with you.”
Our eyes met and my heart fluttered behind my ribs. I didn’t think I’d ever uttered a truer statement.
I’d rather be here with you.
20
Fiona
With a new plan made, a job secured, and a place to stay—for now, at least; I didn’t want to overstay my welcome—things were finally looking up.
My bank account wasn’t convinced yet, but it wouldn’t take long before that started to change.
Evan and I trekked out to my car and drove it back to his place. Sasquatch ran around sniffing things while we brought my stuff inside, and I finally got a glimpse of the mysterious spare bedroom.
It was anti-climactic. Mostly just boxes. He used it for storage.
Although the way he side-eyed those boxes made me wonder what was in them.
Since everything about my temporary residency in Tilikum was more or less up in the air—how long I’d stay, when I’d find my own place—we stacked most of my stuff in the spare bedroom. He offered to clear it out and put a bed in there for me, but I assured him I was fine with the couch.
I certainly wasn’t hoping he’d decide to let me sleep in his bed with him every night. That wouldn’t