Three little dots appeared inside the tiny bubble at the bottom of the feed. They moved in waves, letting Evie know Beckett was typing back.
Really? Figured u would go straight to ur dad’s.
Evie’s thumbs hovered over the screen as her mind raced to create a valid reason to explain why she hadn’t. Something other than the heartbreaking truth.
He’s out of town on business.
She quickly deleted that and started over.
He’s out of the country on business.
Before she could convince herself otherwise, Evie sent the bold faced lie to Beckett, praying he didn’t press the topic further.
Those three little dots appeared once more. Seconds later, his return text came through.
This place ur house sitting. Anyone else there with u?
It wasn’t the question she’d expected, but he hadn’t asked anything else about her dad, so Evie took it as a win and started to type.
Nope. It’s just me. Safe neighborhood, though. Quiet, well-kept, and virtually no crime.
He wrote back almost immediately.
Good deal. But still be careful, ok?
Evie’s heart melted just a little.
I will. Don’t worry.
More dots appeared, but then they vanished. A breath later, they were back, as if he’d started to type something out again. And again, they disappeared.
The pattern repeated itself twice more before another text finally came through.
Where in the south?
Evie frowned.
Huh?
Beckett immediately wrote back…
U said south. What city?
Which city. Right. Of course, that’s what he’d meant.
Charlotte.
Evie sent the text and waited.
At first, there was nothing. No bubble. No typed words. But then those three little dots reappeared, and after what felt like an excruciatingly long wait, Beckett finally sent another message.
Can I call?
The breath in her lungs ceased to exist, and her eyes remained glued to the screen. He wanted tocallher?
Her pulse spiked, and her stomach twisted itself into knots.
Evie was torn between elation and trepidation. For weeks, she’d wanted nothing more than to hear that deep, masculine, slightly southern voice. But in order for that to happen, she’d have to actually talk back.